Aug 11, 2010

Marketplace for Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Segments From this episode

Why is the U.S. importing so much?

by Scott Tong

Aug 11, 2010

In the month of June, the U.S. imported a whole lot more stuff than we sent overseas. By "whole lot," we mean $49.9 billion worth. That's the worst number in almost two years. But here's the thing, if our economy's so weak, why are we importing all this stuff? Scott Tong reports.

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Banks find themselves in a tough spot

by Alisa Roth

Aug 11, 2010

The Federal Reserve said it wouldn't add more money into the economy. But that it would continue to reinvest the money it put in during the financial crisis. That money is meant to help banks shore up their balance sheets and encourage them to lend more. Alisa Roth reports that's putting banks in a bind.

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A quick roundup of economic data

by Marketplace Staff

Aug 11, 2010

Sometimes the editors here at Marketplace can be long-winded, and all-together confusing. So we asked them to explain the news, and keep it short.

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Commentary

Long-term economic woes fuel anger

by Marketplace Staff

Aug 11, 2010

Someday the recession will end. There won't be any more talk of double dips and extending unemployment benefits. And then everything's gonna be OK. Isn't it? Commentator Robert Reich worries that it won't.

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Retailers tailor products to shoppers

by Adriene Hill

Aug 11, 2010

Macy's announced that second-quarter profits went through the roof. Adriene Hill went to find why, and what retailers are doing to get customers in the door

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Zimbabwe sells controversial diamonds

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Aug 11, 2010

Zimbabwe is selling diamonds after getting the go-ahead from a group designed to prevent trafficking of so-called "conflict diamonds." But human rights groups say the diamonds sold were mined from an area where government soldiers killed people, raped women and forced children into hard labor. Nancy Marshall Genzer reports.

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A green way to dispose human remains

by Stephen Beard

Aug 11, 2010

Six U.S. states have approved of a new, low-carbon way to dispose of human remains called resmomation. It involves reducing the body to a mixture of liquid and minerals. A group of funeral directors in a northern Belgian province wants Belgium to take the lead and adopt the new approach. Stephen Beard reports.

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Brown relishes campaign spending gap

by Marketplace Staff

Aug 11, 2010

California gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown served two terms as governor in the '70s, and is now the state's attorney general. His campaign offers are meager compared to Whitman's. She's already spent $100 million so far. He, less than a million. And he seems to relish the spending gap. April Dembosky reports.