economy
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Is White, Working Class America 'Coming Apart'?In his new book, Charles Murray, co-author of the controversial The Bell Curve, argues that in an increasingly economically stratified America, the white working class is slipping behind.
npr.org | 06-Feb-2012 22:33
Unemployment Numbers Offer Hope And Concern
The jobs numbers at the start of 2012, shed a ray of positivity on a gloomy economic picture. Some economists warn against premature optimism. While the economy is creating jobs again, it will take years to return to full employment.
npr.org | 06-Feb-2012 19:00
Greece to Cut Government Jobs as Debt Pressure Intensifies
Announcement comes hours after blunt warning from German Chancellor Merkel, French President Sarkozy
voanews.com | 06-Feb-2012 18:05
Freddie Mac Good For Business, Bad For Homeowners?
An investigation by ProPublica and NPR sheds light on questionable practices by the government-owned mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with NPR's Chris Arnold and Arturo de los Santos, who is trying to save his house.
npr.org | 06-Feb-2012 18:00
China loosens grip on yuan
Foreigners allowed to invest directly using yuans
news.bbc.co.uk | 06-Feb-2012 17:35
Euro crisis 'could damage China'
A eurozone recession could almost halve Chinese growth this year, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund.
news.bbc.co.uk | 06-Feb-2012 11:27
Bank lending 'to shrink' in 2012
UK bank lending is set to shrink this year for the first time since 2009, according to the Ernst & Young Item Club.
news.bbc.co.uk | 06-Feb-2012 10:41
After Cuts, New Mexico Now Has Budget Surplus
In New Mexico, state lawmakers are figuring out what to do with a budget surplus. As NPR's Ted Robbins reports, Republicans want to give some of the money to businesses, in the form of tax breaks. Democrats want to restore some of the cuts to services made over the last three years.
npr.org | 06-Feb-2012 10:00
Bailout talks to resume in Greece
Party leaders in Greece are to resume crisis talks on new austerity measures demanded by EU leaders in return for funds needed to avoid defaulting on its debts.
news.bbc.co.uk | 06-Feb-2012 09:35
Sarkozy Sews Up Seamstress' Unemployment Fix
For most of the 20th century, high-end lingerie maker Lejaby has done well. But in 2010 it closed three factories. And now it is shuttering its last, the only place where French lingerie is still made in France. Until President Nicolas Sarkozky stepped in, 93 seamstresses were going to be unemployed.
npr.org | 06-Feb-2012 08:55
In Idaho, Two Workers Take Jobs, And Hope For Best
Before the recession, Idaho had one of the fastest growing economies in the country. But last year, its jobless rate peaked at nearly 10 percent. That number has begun to creep down – but many workers in the state are still struggling to replace the jobs they've lost.
npr.org | 06-Feb-2012 06:01
Businesses 'cautious' on future
UK firms plan to cut back on capital investment and hiring as the UK economic outlook remains gloomy, a report suggests.
news.bbc.co.uk | 06-Feb-2012 03:50
Bristol launches its own currency
Keeping it within the local economy
news.bbc.co.uk | 06-Feb-2012 02:14
US Economy Remains Focus of Presidential Race
White House hails economic data, while Republicans continue to criticize the president's economic policies
voanews.com | 06-Feb-2012 00:48
Stopping The 'Brain Drain' Of The U.S. Economy
Recent surveys show that a large percentage of graduates from the nation's top schools are taking jobs in consulting or finance. But students at some top schools have begun protesting recruitment drives by financial firms in an effort to steer students away from the financial sector.
npr.org | 05-Feb-2012 23:39
Greek leaders pause bailout talks
Party leaders in Greece's ruling coalition end talks on details for a crucial 130bn-euro EU rescue plan without agreement.
news.bbc.co.uk | 05-Feb-2012 22:01
El-Arian On Economic Uncertainty
PIMCO CEO Mohamed El-Erian says the economic future is still uncertain because of the euro zone crisis, China's slowing economy and worrisome U.S. structural components. He talks to NPR's Guy Raz about his Foreign Policy piece "The World On A Knife's Edge."
npr.org | 05-Feb-2012 21:00
Tales of woe from the roaming professionals
When working in a new country can prove unlucky
news.bbc.co.uk | 05-Feb-2012 16:42
Greece on 'Knife Edge' to Agree on Bailout
Greek PM asks political allies to support a rescue package before eurozone ministers cut off funds
voanews.com | 05-Feb-2012 15:00
Greece: Partial Agreement Reached With Creditors
The moment of truth has arrived for Greece. Sunday the government must finally reach agreement on the terms of a $170-billion bailout from the so-called troika: the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. John Psaropoulos reports from Athens.
npr.org | 05-Feb-2012 14:00
PM urged to cut wind farm subsidy
More than 100 Conservatives are among MPs who have written to the prime minister calling on him to slash subsidies for onshore wind turbines.
news.bbc.co.uk | 05-Feb-2012 10:59
Work contacts 'cut dropout rate'
The more young people come into contact with employers the less likely they are to drop out of school and become unemployed, research suggests.
news.bbc.co.uk | 05-Feb-2012 01:37
President Obama Urges Congress to Help Homeowners
During weekly address, US president says housing crisis has been one of largest drags on recovery from recession
voanews.com | 04-Feb-2012 14:30
Houseboat Business Floats Back To Business
One employer just starting to come back from the brink is Majestic Yachts Incorporated, a houseboat manufacturer in Kentucky. Guest host David Greene checks back in with the CEO, Jim Hadley. He last spoke to Hadley in February 2009 as part of NPR's First 100 Days Project about the impact of the recession.
npr.org | 04-Feb-2012 14:00
Job Market Could Help Obama's Election Stock
All kinds of companies were hiring last month. U.S. employers added 243,000 jobs in January, and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent. Experts are cautiously optimistic, but the boost in hiring may give the president extra momentum going into November.
npr.org | 04-Feb-2012 12:13
'Buffett Rule' Becomes A Bill, And Congress Bickers
President Obama wants Congress to end certain tax breaks for the very wealthy. In response, Senate Democrats introduced legislation that would require those earning $1 million annually to pay no less than 30 percent in taxes. The bill faces Republican opposition, and is likely to be an election year issue.
npr.org | 04-Feb-2012 12:08
VIDEO: Do the super-rich pay their way?
Do the super-rich pay their way?
news.bbc.co.uk | 04-Feb-2012 00:53
Credit unions hoping to widen net
Credit unions hope a new law will boost membership numbers
news.bbc.co.uk | 04-Feb-2012 00:53
US job numbers show strong growth
The US economy created 243,000 jobs in January, while the unemployment rate fell to 8.3%, official figures show.
news.bbc.co.uk | 03-Feb-2012 22:45
Jobs Numbers May Boost Obama Re-election Effort
Friday's lower unemployment figures are good news for the Obama administration early in an election year.
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 21:00
Improved Job Figures Surprise Economists
The Labor Department released its monthly report Friday, which shows unemployment down to 8.3 percent. Is the dip strong enough to push the rate down further in the coming months?
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 21:00
Obama: Economic Recovery Is Speeding Up
President welcomes news that US unemployment rate dropped again in January
voanews.com | 03-Feb-2012 20:49
Have Economists Got It Wrong About The U.S.?
Five years ago, Federal Reserve head Ben Bernanke said the housing sector wasn't a major economic concern. In fact, most experts failed to see the looming subprime mortgage crisis that sank the U.S. economy. If they were so wrong about the Great Recession, it's possible they could also be blind to a "Great Recovery."
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 19:53
US Labor Market Surges, Jobless Rate Falls
January figure is biggest in nine months, substantially exceeding economists' estimates
voanews.com | 03-Feb-2012 18:10
Uganda Government Defies Parliament, Signs Oil Agreements
Tullow oil to sell $ 3 billion assets to France’s Total and China’s CNOOC
voanews.com | 03-Feb-2012 18:04
U.S. Unemployment Rate Falls To 8.3 Percent
The Labor Department says employers added 243,000 net jobs in January, the most in nine months. Hiring was widespread across many high-paying industries.
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 14:36
Unemployment Rate Edges Down To 8.3 Percent
Private employers added 257,000 jobs to their payrolls, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also says. A slight drop in employment at government agencies brought the overall gain in jobs down to 243,000.
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 14:32
Personal insolvencies 'down 11%'
Fewer people were declared insolvent in 2011 in England and Wales than in 2010, but the number of companies going bust increased.
news.bbc.co.uk | 03-Feb-2012 12:09
Service sector sees strong growth
The UK's service sector grew at its fastest rate since March 2011 in January, according to to a closely watched survey.
news.bbc.co.uk | 03-Feb-2012 12:01
No Doubt: U.S. Remains 'Tremendously Influential'
Some believe America is in decline. But author Robert Kagan disagrees. He talks to Steve Inskeep about his new book The World America Made ." President Obama recently discussed an article Kagan wrote for The New Republic called "The Myth of American Decline."
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 11:14
Eurozone service sector growing
The eurozone's service sector grows for the first time in four months, although Spain and Italy continue to struggle.
news.bbc.co.uk | 03-Feb-2012 10:47
Jobless Rate Expected To Hold Steady In January
On Friday, the Labor Department releases the unemployment report for January. Most analysts expect last moth's jobless rate to remain unchanged at 8.5 percent.
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 08:25
Why IMF Loans Always Get Repaid
Greece is trying to make a deal to slash the amount of money it owes bondholders. Hedge funds will take significant losses. But the International Monetary Fund also loaned Greece a lot of money, and it will be paid back in full. If the IMF isn't paid back, most countries will not lend Greece any more money.
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 08:16
Regulator: Freddie Investments 'Nothing Unusual'
Senators on Capitol Hill have criticized Edward DeMarco for the investment practices of Freddie Mac. DeMarco heads the federal agency that controls Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. NPR and ProPublica reported that certain trades at Freddie Mac amounted to bets against homeowners being able to refinance their mortgages. DeMarco tells Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep that the trades were not particularly risky, and would not have prevented homeowners from refinancing their loans.
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 08:14
Senate Passes Ban On Insider Trading
The bill would explicitly prohibit members of Congress, top aides and senior administration officials from using nonpublic information to trade. Passed 96-3, the act now goes to the House.
npr.org | 03-Feb-2012 01:09
UK recession looms, says report
The UK will enter recession in the first half of the year as households continue to cut back, says the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
news.bbc.co.uk | 03-Feb-2012 01:02