The index of leading economic indicators has been a strong tool for analysts to determine the likelihood of a recession. But Amy Scott reports the LEI coming out today might point to something else, if it matters at all.
The amount of cargo being moved on ships is up nearly 150 percent over last year. China and India are buying up boatloads of food, coal and other raw materials to fuel their explosive growth. John Dimsdale reports.
The Office of Thrift Supervision reported today that earnings for the nation's savings and loans plunged 84 percent in the third quarter. Yep, more mortgage problems. Jill Barshay reports.
The Federal Reserve followed up on its announcement of increased openness by releasing the minutes of its last meeting. That led to a volatile day on Wall Street, as traders sought to figure out which way the Fed is leaning on interest rates. Bob Moon reports on the action with Kai Ryssdal.
With the U.S. dollar continuing to fall, officials in China are beginning to worry about the value of their reserves. Bill Marcus reports on the further effect those concerns could have on U.S. currency.
The Federal Reserve will be sharing more information with the public when it releases the minutes today for last month's meeting. Nancy Marshall Genzer tells us what the Fed added and whether critics are appeased.
China has ordered its banks to take money out of circulation as a way to cool the country's red-hot economy just a little bit. But Chinese consumers aren't necessarily playing along. Correspondent Scott Tong says they've discovered the joys of credit cards.
Most analyst estimates for this year's holiday retail sales are for about a 4% increase over last year. But how do they know? Marshall Cohen, the chief analyst at the market research firm NPD Group, explains to Kai Ryssdal.
Iran announced today it will no longer use the lowly dollar to price its oil. Should Americans be worried about a global abandonment of their currency? John Dimsdale reports.
