 | 2008 AUGUST
August 28, 2008
Economy Grows Faster Than Predicted in Second Quarter
The U.S. economy grew at a faster-than-predicted pace this spring, spurred by growing exports abroad and a tax rebate at home, new figures show.
| |
 |
| August 26, 2008
Democratic Leaders Mull Obama's Economic Policy
Two leading Democrats, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer discuss what an Obama administration would do to address the economic difficulties facing the nation.
   
| |
|
| August 26, 2008
Denver Offers Testing Ground for 'Obama-nomics'
Apart from hosting the Democratic National Convention, Denver residents are also assessing the possible impacts of Sen. Barack Obama's economic policies, including middle class tax cuts and investments in education and alternative energy. Paul Solman examines Obama's plan.
 
| |
|
| August 26, 2008
Health Insurance Rates Rise, Poverty Unchanged in 2007
The number of people without health insurance in the United States fell last year for the first time since the beginning of the Bush administration, according to a report released by the Census Bureau Tuesday on poverty, income and health insurance.
| |
|
| August 26, 2008
Home Prices Dip, but Market Signals Improvement
While the U.S. housing market continues to suffer from a slide, new statistics released Tuesday show some evidence that the situation is improving as reluctant buyers return to the market to snatch up bargains.
| |
|
| August 22, 2008
Does the U.S. export domestic oil? If so, how much, to where and why?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 20, 2008
The 'Whale Oil Myth'
Paul Solman answers your business and economic questions in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 20, 2008
Wall Street Role's in the U.S. Mortgage Crisis Examined
As part of an ongoing series of conversations on recent U.S. economic woes, Paul Muolo co-author of "Chain of Blame: How Wall Street Caused The Mortgage and Credit Crisis" discusses his investiation into Wall Street's connection to the current housing and mortgage crisis.
| |
|
| August 19, 2008
Rice Production Makes a Comeback in War-ravaged Cambodia
Amid rising food prices and supply shortages, Cambodia has managed to increase its food production by turning the war-ravaged country's former "killing fields" into rice fields. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the transformation.
| |
|
| August 19, 2008
Wholesale Inflation Rises, Home Construction Falls
Wholesale inflation surged in July, leaving prices for the past year rising at the fastest pace in 27 years, while construction of homes and apartments fell to the lowest level in more than 17 years, the government reported Tuesday.
| |
|
| August 18, 2008
Bottling Giant, Maine Residents Battle over Water
Bottled water is a hot commodity -- Americans drank almost 9 billion gallons of it last year. But some Maine residents think less of it should come from their state. They are challenging Poland Spring over rights to the state's spring water aquifers. Tom Bearden reports.
| |
|
| August 18, 2008
Americans' Reliance on Credit Leads Many Into Debt
The ease with which Americans can make purchases using credit cards and loans has led to increased personal debt. Jeffrey Brown speaks with Stuart Vyse, author of "Going Broke: Why Americans Can't Hold On To Their Money," about the roots of the country's financial troubles.
| |
|
| August 18, 2008
Black Communities Struggle with Soaring Energy Costs
Energy and food prices are skyrocketing. Some people are forgoing necessities, simply because they costs too much. Some black communities have been hit particularly hard because residents pay a larger percentage of their incomes on energy costs.
| |
|
| August 15, 2008
Struggling Economy Hitting America's Middle Class Hard
In the second installment in a series of conversations about the struggling economy, Ray Suarez speaks with author Nan Mooney about what she found to be troubling America's middle class. She interviewed more than 100 people for latest book, "(Not) Keeping Up With Our Parents: The Decline of the Professional Middle Class."
| |
|
| August 15, 2008
Environmental Demand Drives Eco-friendly Products
As public demand for eco-friendly products increases, businesses rush to fill the gap with "green" products touting a lower carbon footprint. Spencer Michels reports on this growing development.
| |
|
| August 15, 2008
Extended Interview: Clorox CEO and Sierra Club Chief on Green Products
In January, Clorox launched a line of all-natural cleaners called "Green Works" -- with an endorsement from the Sierra Club. In this extended interview, Clorox CEO Don Knauss and Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope discuss the products, and their decision to work together, with the NewsHour's Spencer Michels.
| |
|
| August 15, 2008
How do speculators affect the price of crude oil?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 15, 2008
How can the U.S. government be continuously providing billions of dollars to various countries (we have trillions of dollars in debt)?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 14, 2008
American 'Lust' for Homeownership Tied to Credit Crisis
The drive to own more homes and renovate old ones in the U.S. fueled the number of bank loans that underlie the country's meltdown. In the first in a series of interviews on the economic downturn, Daniel McGinn, author of "House Lust," details his take on the factors behind the housing and credit crises.
| |
|
| August 14, 2008
Elderly Face Soaring Prices Amid Economic Slump
Among Americans hit hard by the country's economic downturn are senior citizens, who are struggling to pay energy and food bills and reeling from cuts to community services due to budget constraints. Tom Bearden reports from Denver.
| |
|
| August 14, 2008
Energy, Food Costs Push Consumer Prices up, Fueling Inflation Fears
The Labor Department reported a 0.8 percent rise in consumer prices in July -- double the expected rate -- sending inflation on its fastest annual pace in 17 years.
| |
|
| August 13, 2008
Sagging Interest in Motor Vehicles Drives July Retail Sales Down
Driven down by sagging demand for vehicles, U.S. retail sales had their worst showing in five months in July, according to newly released government figures.
| |
|
| August 12, 2008
Denver Battles Fuel Prices with New Mass Transit Plan
In response to soaring fuel costs, Denver city planners are taking steps toward expanding the city's public transportation system.
| |
|
| August 12, 2008
Report: Many Companies Able to Avoid Paying U.S. Income Taxes
Despite trillions of dollars in revenue, a large swath of domestic and foreign corporations paid no U.S. income taxes between 1998 and 2005, according to a government study released Tuesday.
| |
|
| August 12, 2008
Can you explain "moral hazard" in how it increases the cost of health care?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 11, 2008
Former Oilman Makes Bid for Homegrown Alternative Energy
T. Boone Pickens, a Texan oil tycoon, has made it his mission to promote massive new investment toward alternative energy sources. Pickens discusses his plan and efforts to make energy independence a central issue in the fall campaign.
| |
|
| August 11, 2008
What can be done about today's unemployment statistics?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 5, 2008
Can we hear from people inside the financial sector who really want reform?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 5, 2008
Fed Opts to Leave Key Interest Rate Unchanged
The Federal Reserve decided Tuesday for a second consecutive meeting to keep a key interest rate at 2 percent, saying that overall the economy is doing well despite inflationary fears.
| |
|
| August 5, 2008
Do you believe that some of the run up in oil prices is based on speculation?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 4, 2008
Why didn't the private mortgage insurance avert the current banking crisis?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 1, 2008
Matched Savings Program Targets Miss. Poverty
AJFC Community Action works with low-income families in nine poverty-plagued counties in southwest Mississippi to help them learn financial skills and save for homeownership. In this slide show, hear participants describe their experiences.
| |
|
| August 1, 2008
How exactly did the banks lose money?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 1, 2008
Programs Aim to Break Cycles of Poverty in the South Through Home Ownership
As near-daily reports of housing woes -- from lenders and homebuyers alike -- grip the United States, community-based programs around the country are continuing the slow work of trying to encourage responsible asset building for lower-income workers.
| |
|
| August 1, 2008
FCC Rules Comcast Violated Internet Access Policy
A divided Federal Communications Commission ruled Friday that Comcast Corp. violated federal policy when it blocked Internet traffic for some subscribers. The cable giant has been ordered to change the way it manages its network.
| |
|
| August 1, 2008
I am graduating from high-school. What can I expect to see in the future?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| August 1, 2008
U.S. Employers Cut 51,000 Jobs in July
The U.S. unemployment rose to its highest level in four years in July as employers slashed 51,000 jobs, according to a Labor Department report released Friday.
| |
|
|
|
| JULY
July 31, 2008
Why do some people refer to the current price of oil as a "bubble"?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| July 30, 2008
Trade Talks Collapse Highlight Differences Between Developing, Developed Worlds
Opposition from increasingly important China and India derailed efforts to negotiated a global trade deal Tuesday. With the talks stalled, two economic experts assess the impact on American and international businesses and farmers.
| |
|
| July 30, 2008
On the Campaign Trail, Candidates Talk Energy Prices
Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain each outlined their positions on the debate over allowing more off-shore drilling to ease energy prices and overall voter concerns on energy costs.
| |
|
| July 29, 2008
Economy Returns to Center Stage of Campaign Trail
Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama focused their campaigns on the sluggish U.S. economy this week amid voter concerns over economic troubles and a looming record budget deficit. Campaign advisers debate the effectiveness of the rivals' plans.
| |
|
| July 29, 2008
Home Prices Slid 15.8% in May, Survey Finds
Home prices slid by a steep 15.8 percent in 20 U.S. cities in May, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home-price index released Tuesday, offering the latest evidence of continuing struggles in the nation's housing market.
| |
|
| July 28, 2008
FDIC Chief: Most Banks Will Survive Credit Crunch
Poor lending and underwriting caused two more banks in the U.S. to close over the weekend, yet regulators and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, are helping banks remain stable as the economy struggles. Sheila Bair,the chair of FDIC, explains the process.
| |
|
| July 28, 2008
White House Announces Record Budget Deficit
Whoever wins the presidency in November will be saddled with a record budget deficit of $482 billion, according to a Bush administration estimate released Monday.
| |
|
| July 25, 2008
Foreclosures More than Double; Uptick Seen in Durable Goods
U.S. homeowners lost 220,000 homes to foreclosure in the second quarter, according to a report issued Friday by RealtyTrac, Inc., a marketer of foreclosed homes.
| |
|
| July 24, 2008
Housing Rescue Bill Awaits Senate, but Questions Linger
A hotly-debated housing bill aimed at helping struggling homeowners and shoring up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is next headed for the Senate. Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., discuss the details.
| |
|
| July 24, 2008
Ford Reports $8.7 Billion Second-Quarter Loss
The Ford Motor Co. on Thursday posted a second-quarter loss of $8.7 billion, due mostly to the declining value of its SUV and pickup truck lines, and announced a plan to overhaul its North American production to focus on small cars.
| |
|
| July 23, 2008
Wide-reaching Housing Rescue Legislation Moves Forward
The House approved Wednesday a hotly-debated housing rescue package aimed at helping strapped homeowners avoid foreclosures after President Bush dropped his opposition to the bill. Experts examine the measure.
| |
|
| July 23, 2008
The Health Care Debate: Eliminate the for-profit middle man and all is solved?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| July 23, 2008
Why can't the U.K.'s fuel efficient vehicles be sold in the U.S.?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| July 23, 2008
President Bush Drops Veto Threat for Housing Bill
President Bush will sign into law a housing rescue bill hammered out in a compromise among House and Senate leaders, the White House said Wednesday.
| |
|
| July 22, 2008
Wachovia Posts Surprising $8.9 Billion Loss
Banking giant Wachovia Corp. reported a nearly $9 billion second-quarter loss Tuesday, surprising Wall Street analysts who had expected a smaller drop. The company plans to cut 6,350 jobs and slash dividends to offset the losses.
| |
|
| July 22, 2008
Is capitalism the best arangement under which greed will do the least harm?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| July 22, 2008
What is the future of home loans?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
| |
|
| July 21, 2008
Airplanes Scale Back Service as Oil Prices Soar
Despite efforts to ease the burden of soaring fuel costs by adding luggage fees and slashing flights, major airlines continue to suffer losses and predict fare hikes this fall. Tom Bearden reports on the latest woes of the airline industry.
| |
|
| July 18, 2008
Analysts Tackle Economy Woes, Obama's Overseas Trip
Analysts David Brooks and Ruth Marcus take up the U.S. economy's shaky health and Sen. Barack Obama's trip to the Middle East and Europe, which has drawn vast media coverage and was described by Sen. John McCain's camp as a publicity stunt.
| |
|
| July 18, 2008
Bailout of Mortgage Firms Could Set Risky Precedent
As the nation's housing woes continue, the government announced a plan this week to shore up mortgage-giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Paul Solman weighs the role of government intervention and the possible ramifications of rewarding risky financial behaviors.
| |
BUSINESS & ECONOMY