Economy

Newspapers around the country have recently chronicled the dire economic plight of many black men. Commentator Marcellus Andrews says the issue has less to do with racism and more to do with the nature of our economy.

With the year half over, Rachel Dornhelm asked economists to grade the economy's 2006 performance so far and look ahead to the next six months.

An important indicator of American wealth shows personal incomes are up. But, savings are down. Marketplace's Amy Scott reports on what that means.

Today is high noon for the Federal Reserve and its long-awaited next move in US monetary policy. Ashley Milne-Tyte has this preview.

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates another quarter-point on Thursday. Fed officials have made it pretty darn clear they intend to stay tough on inflation. Maybe even a little too clear? Amy Scott reports.

The world body that acts as a forum for central banks, the Bank for International Settlements, has called for higher interest rates around the world. Stephen Beard reports.

Life is hard enough without having to decipher everything. Each week, Marketplace Money brings you a word or a phrase that has bubbled to the top of the news. For instance, naked short selling. You hear it, you see it, but do you really know it?

Some economists are worried about the return of stagflation -- the perfect economic storm that made the '70s such a financial bummer. David Wyes of Standard & Poor's tells Kai whether we should really be preparing for a fiscal downpour.

New figures on home construction suggest the housing market is officially slowing down. Kai speaks to Elizabeth Razzi, author of "Fearless Home Buyer," about the future of the housing market and what it means for home buyers and sellers.

Want to know what's been spooking the market lately? Two very similar words: inflation and stagflation. Host Kai Ryssdal talks with economist David Wyss about the terms.