Feb 7, 2012

Marketplace for Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The U.S. is now 81 percent self-sufficient when it comes to energy. Congress passed legislation that will open up more of the sky to unmanned aircrafts. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified to the Senate today on his outlook for the economy. What happens to a super PAC whose candidate pulls out of the race? Health reporter Gregory Warner explores the problems with hospital readmissions. And Kai Ryssdal talks to Patricia Cohen about her new book on the middle age.

Segments From this episode

Citigroup to offer credit cards in China

by Rob Schmitz

Feb 7, 2012

Banking giant Citigroup is to become the first global bank to issue its own credit cards in China. Debit cards are much more common there.

Rethinking hospital readmissions

by Gregory Warner

Feb 7, 2012

Starting this fall, hospitals that readmit the same patients over and over in a short period of time will be fined. That has medical providers looking for better ways to keep people healthy when they're off hospital grounds.

Drones get the drop on us

by Adriene Hill

Feb 7, 2012

They aren't just for the military anymore. Within the next few years, the skies could be full of private drones -- searching for everything from real estate to Britney Spears.

Campaign Trail

Super PACs live on after campaigns die

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Feb 7, 2012

The end of a political campaign does not mean the end of a super PAC. In fact, candidates who pull out of a race have no claim to the unused cash, and PAC staffers can use this so-called zombie money however they want after the candidate drops out.

Glencore, Xstrata to form commodities giant

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Feb 7, 2012

The merged trading and mining company would create a soup-to-nuts commodities giant that could impact prices of everything from, yes, soup to nuts.

A women holds a bottle representing polluted drinking water in front of the headquarters of Swiss commodities and mining giant Glencore on Oct. 12, 2011 in Baar. The demonstrators protested against Glencore and Swiss mining group Xstrata against the environmental impact of their mining activities.

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

Bernanke stands firm on low interest rates

by Heidi Moore

Feb 7, 2012

How does Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke know the economy will need low interest rates through 2014? He doesn’t, but we listen anyway.

Inventing the economic industry of middle age

by Kai Ryssdal

Feb 7, 2012

In the 1920s, an entire industry devoted to denying age and inviting youth emerged. The "midlife industrial complex," as author Patricia Cohen describes it, created a culture that pressures middle-aged adults to pass as young.

U.S. surprisingly close to energy independence

by Sarah Gardner

Feb 7, 2012

America produces 81 percent of its own energy, mostly with oil, gas and coal. But don't celebrate our energy independence just yet.

Final Note

Consumer borrowing rises again

by Kai Ryssdal

Feb 7, 2012

A borrowing consumer is a confident consumer. But it's not all good news.

Music from the episode

Dreamy Eyes Azure Blue

I Wanted To Tell Her - Instrumental Holy Ghost!, The Juan Maclean, Nancy Whang

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