Fiscal cliff

President Obama made a new offer to the Republicans yesterday in the fiscal cliff negotiations. The President said he’ll extend Bush era tax cuts for households making less than $400,000, he’d previously drawn the line at $250,000.

The process of pushing through those Bush tax cuts 12 years ago might seem like ancient history, but some say we could stand to go back in time and learn from it.

Marketplace Wealth and Poverty reporter Shereen Marisol Meraji takes a look at how the charitable tax deduction has changed over time and why some think lowering it could benefit the middle class.

The Federal Reserve says it will keep interest rates near zero until the unemployment rate drops to 6.5 percent. But what will it take to get there?

Throughout the debate about the deficits and debt, you've probably heard a certain metaphor: One that compares the nation to a household. Well, that metaphor bothers one of the nation's leading economists, Robert Shiller of Yale University.

To avoid the fiscal cliff, some want to change the Consumer Price Index to reflect lower real inflation. That would cut Social Security payments.

Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said he's going to keep interest rates at or near zero as long as the unemployment rate is higher than 6.5 percent, and the inflation rate is 1.5 percent or less.

Some wealthy individuals say a higher estate tax is fair, but others are fighting against proposed changes.

President Obama and House speaker John Boehner are still tussling over the details of any fiscal cliff deal. But the Wall Street Journal reports that, now corporate tax rates have entered the discussion.

Fed boards hopes to nurture housing recovery with purchase of mortgage-backed securities.