PBS NewsHour: Business & Economy Archive | 2009

ABOUT US \| LOCAL TV LISTINGS E-MAIL PRINT


	2009 DECEMBER Dec. 4, 2009 Job Loss Slows in Nov., Signaling Some Recovery Employers cut the fewest number of jobs in November since the recession started in 2007. Judy Woodruff talks to experts about the unexpected good news and what this could mean for the country's economic future.

	Dec. 4, 2009 The Story Behind the Nov. Jobs Numbers Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Dec. 4, 2009 For Singles, Job Losses Hit Twice as Hard When it comes to job losses, the economy's slide has been twice as painful for singles as it has for married adults.

	Dec. 4, 2009 Topics Here's what we've covered in Making Sense:

	Dec. 4, 2009 About Making Sen$e with Paul Solman Making Sen$e with Paul Solman is funded by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

	Dec. 4, 2009 Financial Literacy Resources A collection of links to financial literacy sites around the Web.

	Dec. 3, 2009 Comcast, NBC Deal Reshapes Media Landscape Cable giant Comcast bought a majority stake in NBC Universal in a deal valued at approximately $30 billion. Jeffrey Browns talks to business journalists for more on the merger.

	Dec. 3, 2009 Other News: Bernanke Defends Tenure as Fed Chief In other news, Ben Bernanke defended his tenure as Federal Reserve chairman before Congress on Thursday, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested using money left over from the Wall Street bailout to create more jobs.

	Dec. 3, 2009 Tough Criticism for Bernanke Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faced tough criticism Thursday from a Senate committee for the central bank's failure to regulate risk-taking on Wall Street.

	Dec. 3, 2009 Obama Hears Ideas for Job Creation at Summit As CEOs, labor leaders, and economists gather at the White House Thursday to discuss how to accelerate U.S. job creation, their challenge is tackling double-digit unemployment while keeping the deficit under control.

	Dec. 2, 2009 Other News: Iraqi Election Postponed One Month In other news, the United Nations reported that Iraq will delay its national elections by one more month, and China, India, Brazil and South Africa refused to cut carbon emissions by 2050.

	Dec. 2, 2009 How Many Board Members at Bailed-Out Wall St. Firms Kept Their Jobs? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Dec. 1, 2009 General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson Resigns The CEO of General Motors, Frederick "Fritz" Henderson, has resigned, the automaker announced Tuesday. He has been replaced on a temporary basis by Ed Whitacre, chairman of the board of the troubled automaker.

	Dec. 1, 2009 Isn't Currency Control a Protectionist Policy? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."



	NOVEMBER Nov. 30, 2009 Is the UK Breaking Up Big Banks? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 27, 2009 'Black Friday' Has New Tone Amid Recession Kwame Holman has a look at how consumers are changing their shopping habits during this year's Black Friday because of the financial crisis.

	Nov. 27, 2009 Dubai's Debt Crisis Shakes World Economy The Middle East is roiling with news that Dubai will postpone repaying $60 billion in loans to international banks. Faisal Islam of Independent Television News has the story.

	Nov. 26, 2009 Other News: U.S. Planned Iraq War Just Hours After 9/11 In other news, a U.K. inquiry revealed that the U.S. focused on Iraq just hours after the Sept. 11 attacks, and the United Nations expressed frustration with Iran over its refusal to export its uranium for enrichment.

	Nov. 26, 2009 Student Questions: The Recession and the Middle Class Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 25, 2009 Toyota Recalls 4 Million Gas Pedals Over Concerns of Uncontrolled Acceleration Toyota recalled four million cars to fix or replace acceleration pedals that could get jammed. Jeffrey Brown reports.

	Nov. 25, 2009 Dollar's Weakness Inspires Modern-day Gold Rush As part of his series Making Sense of the financial crisis, Paul Solman looks at how the dollar's weakness has spurred a new gold rush.

	Nov. 25, 2009 Other News: Recession Complicates Holiday Travel for Many In other news, airlines are experiencing a 25 percent decrease in holiday travel this year as more people are opting for trains and buses. Also, weekly jobless claims dipped below 500,000 for the first time since January.

	Nov. 25, 2009 Conversation: T.J. Stiles, National Book Award Winner for Nonfiction The winner of this year's National Book Award for nonfiction tells the story of Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt, who rose from humble means to amass a vast fortune, build the country's largest fleet of steamships and control a railroad empire.

	Nov. 25, 2009 Jobs Claims Down, Hopeful Economic News on America's Heaviest Travel Day The number of people seeking unemployment insurance for the first time fell to its lowest point since September 2008, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

	Nov. 25, 2009 Student Questions: A Global Currency and Getting Out of a Recession Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 24, 2009 Record Crib Recall Revives Consumer Safety Concerns Over 2 million Stork Craft baby cribs have been voluntarily recalled due to safety concerns such as potential suffocation. Ray Suarez has more.

	Nov. 24, 2009 Military Debt Protection Could Hold Lessons for Congress, Consumers A special collaboration between the NewsHour and Frontline looks at how a military program aims to protect consumers from amassing too much debt.

	Nov. 24, 2009 Other News: U.K. Launches Inquiry Into Role in Iraq In other news, International Television News reports on the inquiry into the United Kingdom's role in the Iraq war, and the Philippines were placed under emergency rule after election violence continued to escalate Tuesday.

	Nov. 24, 2009 Report: 23% of Mortgaged Homes 'Underwater' The number of U.S. homes worth less than the mortgages owed on them reached 10.7 million, or 23 percent of all mortgaged homes, in the third quarter, according to a new report.

	Nov. 24, 2009 Student Questions: Obama's Economic Policies Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 23, 2009 In Dorothea Lange's Photos, Wisps of 'Great Recession' America's understanding of the Great Depression has, in large part, been shaped by the photography of Dorothea Lange. With the nation once again steeped in financial turmoil, Lange's images have taken on new relevance. Jeffrey Brown reports.

	Nov. 23, 2009 India's Economy Remains Robust Despite Global Downturn Amid a global economic crisis, India's economy has managed to remain robust, fueling the growth of a large middle class. As Fred de Sam Lazaro reports, however, about 800 million residents in India still try to survive on less than $2 a day.

	Nov. 23, 2009 Across the U.S., Shaky Signs of Economic Recovery Emerge A flurry of economic reports lately paint a mixed picture of a U.S. economy showing new growth, despite mounting job losses. Ray Suarez speaks to experts for a snapshot of just how well the recovery is faring.

	Nov. 23, 2009 Exactly Who Is the FDIC? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 20, 2009 Should the Gov't Anchor Its Economic Rescue to the Middle-Class Homeowner? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 19, 2009 Who Regulates the Student Loan Industry? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 19, 2009 Complex U.S.-China Ties Took Center Stage on Obama's Asia Trip President Obama concluded a four-nation Asian tour Thursday that marked a potential turning point in relations between the U.S. and an increasingly influential China. A panel of Asia experts discusses the trip's high points and low points with Jeffrey Brown.

	Nov. 19, 2009 News Wrap: House Rejects Cuts to Medicare Payments In other news, the House voted to spare doctors from a 20 percent cut in their Medicare payments, and Hamid Karzai was sworn in for a second term as president of Afghanistan.

	Nov. 18, 2009 Other News: Senate Health Bill Estimated at $849B In other news, Senate Democrats learned that the Congressional Budget Office estimated that their health reform bill would cost $849 billion over a decade and insure another 31 million Americans.

	Nov. 18, 2009 Did Tax Cuts Create U.S. Jobs? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 17, 2009 More Americans Facing Hunger, Report Finds A new report found that almost 15 percent of U.S. households had trouble finding enough food in 2008. Jeffrey Brown speaks with experts for more.

	Nov. 17, 2009 What's the 'Next New Thing' to Solve the Jobs Crisis? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 17, 2009 Obama Unveils Financial Fraud Task Force President Obama issued an executive order Tuesday establishing a multi-agency task force to crack down on financial fraud.

	Nov. 17, 2009 TARP Watchdog: N.Y. Fed 'Severely Limited' Savings on AIG The Federal Reserve Bank of New York ceded much of its negotiating power to AIG's trading partners during the insurance giant's rescue last year, according to a new report from the watchdog for the Troubled Asset Relief Fund.

	Nov. 17, 2009 Obama Cites Human Rights, Currency in China Talks between President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao yielded pledges to cooperate on climate change and the economy, but little by way of human rights and upping the value of the yuan currency.

	Nov. 16, 2009 Canadian Oil Sands Produce Economic Benefits, Environmental Costs Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW-Chicago looks at the economic benefits and the environmental costs of oil production in Canada's Alberta province.

	Nov. 16, 2009 GM to Repay Government Loans Early, Cites Profit Progress Despite reporting more than a billion-dollar loss since July, General Motors says it expects to pay the federal government's bailout money back five years early. Gwen Ifill speaks with David Shepardson of the Detroit News for more.

	Nov. 16, 2009 U.S., China Explore Deeper Ties as Partners, Contenders Jim Lehrer speaks with a panel of China experts about the political and economic implications of U.S.-China relations.

	Nov. 16, 2009 GM to Repay Government Loans Early General Motors announced Monday that it will begin repaying $6.7 billion in government loans before the end of the year and could pay back the full amount as early as next year, five years ahead of schedule.

	Nov. 16, 2009 Why Didn't the Gov't Bail Out People Instead of Banks? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 13, 2009 FDIC's Bair: Bank Bailouts Were 'Not a Good Idea' In an interview with Paul Solman, FDIC chairwoman Sheila Bair discusses lessons learned from the financial crisis, and looks back on the federal bailout of institutions deemed "too-big-to-fail," saying, "In retrospect, I think it was not a good idea."

	Nov. 13, 2009 Seven Questions for Sheila Bair Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 13, 2009 Madoff's 'Prisoner Watch' Among Items Set for Auction Block A trove of Bernard Madoff's belongings seized by U.S. Marshals from the Ponzi schemer's Manhattan penthouse and New York beach home are to set to go on sale Saturday in a government-run auction for victims of his fraud.

	Nov. 13, 2009 FDIC's Bair on 'Too Big to Fail,' Lessons Learned Tonight on the NewsHour, FDIC Director Sheila Bair weighs in on the state of the U.S. banking system. In a Web-exclusive excerpt, Bair speaks bluntly about the need to break up banks that are deemed "too big to fail."

	Nov. 12, 2009 The Overload Factor: Is President Obama Too Busy? As President Obama departs for Asia, he leaves a full menu of unfinished business at home: two wars to manage, a struggling economy and his push for health care reform, to name a few. Jim Lehrer speaks to a panel of experts about the so-called "overload factor" for presidents.

	Nov. 12, 2009 News Wrap: Falling Oil Prices Pull Markets Down In other news, falling oil prices drove down U.S. stocks markets, and the Federal Reserve issued a new rule preventing banks from charging overdraft fees on ATM and debit-card withdrawals.

	Nov. 12, 2009 Home Foreclosures, New Jobless Claims Decline Foreclosure numbers dropped for the third straight month in October, and new claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week, according to figures released Thursday.

	Nov. 11, 2009 States' Budget Woes Threaten Broad Economic Recovery With the national economy beginning to see glimmers of a comeback, the budget woes of at least 10 states threaten to derail a broad economic recovery. Gwen Ifill reports.

	Nov. 11, 2009 Fed's Regulatory Powers Challenged Under Senate Plan More than a year after the economic crisis hit, legislators continue to work on how to reform financial regulation and stave off a future crisis. The latest proposal comes from Sen. Chris Dodd of the Senate finance committee. Financial experts review the plan.

	Nov. 11, 2009 Ask the FDIC's Sheila Bair Your Questions Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 11, 2009 Student Questions: Measuring the Economy Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 10, 2009 Counting the Costs of Health Care Reform Can health care reform change the system and cut costs? Judy Woodruff gets one take from Gail Wilensky, a former administrator of the federal Medicare program.

	Nov. 10, 2009 Premiums 'Will Go Down' Under Health Bill, Orszag Says In an interview with Judy Woodruff, Peter Orszag, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, outlines how health care reform will reduce medical costs.

	Nov. 10, 2009 News Wrap: White House Disputes Reports of Afghan Troop Surge In other news, White House officials insisted President Obama has not decided how many more troops to send to Afghanistan, and a suicide car bombing in Pakistan killed at least 24 people.

	Nov. 10, 2009 Competing Senate, House Financial Reform Bills Differ Over Fed's Role Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn., unveiled legislation Tuesday that would dramatically reform how U.S. banks are regulated. The bill differs from legislation moving through the House of Representatives on several key issues.

	Nov. 10, 2009 How Will the Downturn Affect the Gambling Economy? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 9, 2009 News Wrap: G-20 Stimulus Pledge Boosts Markets In other news, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at a 13-month high after G-20 nations pledged to continue stimulus efforts, and Iraq set a date for national elections.

	Nov. 9, 2009 Student Questions: Is the Recession Over? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 6, 2009 Shields, Brooks Examine GOP's 'Morale Boost' Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks sort through the week's news, including impending health care legislation and a worsening job market.

	Nov. 6, 2009 Freelancers Struggle As Unemployment Worsens in U.S. As part of his Making Sen$e series on the financial crisis, Paul Solman looks at how freelancers are faring in the declining job market.

	Nov. 6, 2009 Unemployment Hits 26-Year High Despite Economic Growth The U.S. Labor Department announced that unemployment jumped to over 10 percent on Friday, the highest it's been since 1983. Jeffrey Brown talks to an economist for more.

	Nov. 6, 2009 Freelancers Lack Safety Net When Jobs Are Scarce Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 6, 2009 U.S. Jobless Rate Hits 10.2%, Highest in 26 Years U.S. unemployment rose more than expected to a 26-year high of 10.2 percent, shedding 190,000 jobs in October, according to figures released by the Department of Labor Friday.

	Nov. 5, 2009 Hedge Fund World Rocked by Insider-trading Charges Judy Woodruff speaks with a Financial Times reporter about 14 people facing insider-trading charges for allegedly netting $20 million in illegal profits.

	Nov. 5, 2009 Obama Expected to Sign Extended Unemployment Benefits, Homebuyer Credit The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to extend aid to jobless workers and offer tax breaks to homebuyers. President Obama was expected to sign the measure on Friday. Ray Suarez reports.

	Nov. 5, 2009 Other News: Stocks Rally on Falling Jobless Claims In other news, falling weekly jobless claims contributed to a Wall Street rally, and there are new warning signs that the U.S. might be facing a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine.

	Nov. 5, 2009 Reinhart and Rogoff Answer Questions on the History of Financial Crises Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 5, 2009 Aid for Jobless, Homebuyers Clears Congress Congress has passed legislation that would expand a popular homebuyer's tax credit and extend unemployment benefits in a bid to breathe more life into the struggling American economy.

	Nov. 5, 2009 Student Questions: The Unemployment Outlook Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 4, 2009 Student Questions: Health Care and Education Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 4, 2009 Christie's Art Sale Underwhelms Buyers In the first autumn auction held Tuesday evening at Christie's in New York, total sales fell short of pre-sale estimates -- only $65.6 million instead of $68.6 to $97.1 million -- making for a slow start to the U.S. art market season.

	Nov. 4, 2009 GM Reversal on Opel Deal Rankles German Officials In a surprise reversal that has left politicians across Germany fuming, General Motors' board has voted to abandon a deal to sell its European operations to car-parts supplier Magna International Inc. and Russian bank Sberbank.

	Nov. 3, 2009 Stimulus Money Trickling Into the Classroom John Tulenko of Learning Matters Television explores how stimulus money is making its way into classrooms in upstate New York.

	Nov. 3, 2009 Madoff Accountant Pleads Guilty in Federal Court The consequences of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme continue to trickle down as his accountant pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Judy Woodruff reports.

	Nov. 3, 2009 Auto Industry on the Road to Recovery? The auto industry signaled recovery after GM reported a sales gain and Ford announced an unexpected profit. Jeffrey Brown reports.

	Nov. 3, 2009 Other News: Gubernatorial Contests Held in Key States In other news, the Taliban denied that the Pakistani army has made gains against militants, and ballots starting rolling in as the key states of Virginia and New Jersey voted for governors.

	Nov. 2, 2009 Kindle, Price War Changing the Way We Read Jeffrey Brown explores the shifting world of book publishing, and examines how technology and readers are changing the industry.

	Nov. 2, 2009 Taxpayers' $2.3 Billion 'Gone' in CIT Bankruptcy The recession claimed another major financial institution, as lending giant CIT filed for bankruptcy after months of struggling to keep the company, which funds about 1 million small- to medium-sized businesses, afloat.

	Nov. 2, 2009 Arrogance, Ignorance Recurring in Economic History Paul Solman speaks with economists Carmen Reinhart and Ken Rogoff about the financial crisis and how it compares to previous economic meltdowns.

	Nov. 2, 2009 Other News: Bomb Kills 35 as Pakistan Violence Continues In other news, a suicide bombing in Pakistan killed 35 people, and Secretary of State Clinton was criticized by Arab states for her talks with Israel.

	Nov. 2, 2009 CIT Bankruptcy Produces Winners and Losers CIT, a major lender to small U.S. businesses, filed on Sunday for one of the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections in history.

	Nov. 2, 2009 Ask Rogoff and Reinhart Questions About the History of Financial Failures Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Nov. 2, 2009 Ford Posts Surprise Profit, Expects Profit in 2011 Ford Motor Co., the only U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy this year, posted a surprise $997 million profit in the third quarter and said it expects 2011 to be "solidly profitable." The report sent Ford's shares up 8.3 percent in premarket trading.



	OCTOBER Oct. 30, 2009 Shields and Brooks on 'New Candor' with Pakistan, Biden's Poll Numbers Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the top stories of the past week, including Hillary Clinton's visit to Pakistan, Vice President Joe Biden's poll numbers, and upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia.

	Oct. 30, 2009 With Jobs Still Elusive, White House Defends Stimulus President Obama's $787 billion stimulus package has saved or created about 650,000 jobs, the White House said Friday. But with unemployment at a 26-year high, the administration is facing increased criticism about ongoing weakness in the labor market.

	Oct. 30, 2009 News Wrap: Stocks Slide on Weak Consumer Spending In other news, stocks dropped on Friday on news of weak consumer spending, and the White House said it was unhappy with the output of swine flu vaccine.

	Oct. 30, 2009 Stimulus Created, Saved 650,000 Jobs, White House Says More than 650,000 jobs have been created or saved by the government's fiscal stimulus program, the White House said Friday.

	Oct. 29, 2009 Economy Shows New Signs of Growth, but Jobs Still Lag The U.S. economy ended a year of contraction in the third quarter, expanding by 3.5 percent. While much of the growth is being attributed to President Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan, critics continue to ask, when will jobs return?

	Oct. 29, 2009 U.S. Economy Rebounds 3.5% in Third Quarter The U.S. economy expanded at a 3.5 percent annual pace from July to September, according to Commerce Department figures released Thursday, in a signal that the worst recession since the 1930s may be easing.

	Oct. 28, 2009 Crackdown Targets Banks Deemed 'Too Big to Fail' The head of a key House committee unveiled legislation Wednesday that would grant the federal government sweeping new powers to police giant financial firms. Jim Lehrer talks to two financial analysts about the debate over "too big to fail" institutions.

	Oct. 28, 2009 Other News: Obama Expands Hate Crimes Law In other news, President Obama signed an expansion of the federal hate crimes law, and new home sales fell unexpectedly by 3.6 percent in September.

	Oct. 28, 2009 Reports: GMAC in Talks to Receive Third Bailout from Government GMAC, the consumer finance company and onetime subsidiary of GM, is reportedly in talks with Treasury to receive a fresh lifeline of up to $5.6 billion in aid, on top of the $12.5 billion the government has already injected into the company.

	Oct. 28, 2009 How Will the Fannie and Freddie Takeovers Affect U.S. Debt? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 28, 2009 Bill: Biggest Firms Would Fund Future Rescues The U.S. government would be given broad new powers to shrink financial firms deemed "too big to fail" and shift the cost of rescuing troubled companies from taxpayers to other large firms, according to draft legislation released Tuesday.

	Oct. 27, 2009 Labor's 'Bulldog' Trumka Challenged by Dwindling Ranks, Public Perception As AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka works to protect organized labor from the excesses of big business, he faces dwindling ranks, splits among union groups, and diminished public support. Paul Solman reports.

	Oct. 27, 2009 'Neglected Infections' Resurface Among America's Poor In poor rural areas, inner cities, and among Latin American immigrants, exotic diseases classified by the CDC as "neglected infections" are now affecting millions of people. As Jeffrey Kaye reports, the rarer the illness, the harder it is to find treatment.

	Oct. 27, 2009 Inside the AFL-CIO's Health Care Lobbying Efforts Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 27, 2009 Paul Solman Answers Students' Economic Questions Economics correspondent Paul Solman takes his Business Desk blog inside classrooms across the United States to respond to high school students' most pressing questions about Wall Street, the recession and unemployment.

	Oct. 26, 2009 Why Doesn't the Govt. Sponsor Jobs Programs Like Those During the Depression? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 23, 2009 Shields, Brooks: Obama Risks Looking Petty in Fox Fight Columnists David Brooks and Mark Shields review the week's news, including the coming Afghan runoff and the war of words between the White House and Fox News.

	Oct. 23, 2009 Credit.com's Levin Makes Sense of New Credit Card Rules Dramatically hiked interest rates, new hidden fees, slashed credit lines -- many consumers have felt their credit cards go from convenience to liability over the past year. But new reforms are forcing credit card companies to change the way they do business. Paul Solman speaks with Credit.com's Adam Levin for insight.

	Oct. 23, 2009 What Can We Do About "Too Big to Fail"? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 22, 2009 Stimulus Money Plows Through Tractor Country Ray Suarez speaks with Dante Chinni of the Patchwork Nation project about tracking federal stimulus money as it is dispersed through America.

	Oct. 22, 2009 Other News: House OKs Consumer Protection Agency In other news, the House voted Thursday to establish a new consumer protection agency, and federal agents carried out a massive 19-state drug bust.

	Oct. 22, 2009 Feinberg Hopes More Companies Adopt Executive Pay Rules The Federal Reserve curbed pay packages for executives of companies that received bailout money in an effort to discourage risky business practices. Jeffrey Brown speaks with executive pay czar Kenneth Feinberg.

	Oct. 22, 2009 Pay Slashed for Bailed-out Firms' Executives The government has ordered seven firms that received billions in bailout money to dramatically cut compensation to their highest-paid employees.

	Oct. 22, 2009 Examining a 'Patchwork Nation' Patchwork Nation project director Dante Chinni answers your questions about how funds from President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package are making their way across the country and about the Patchwork Nation reporting project itself.

	Oct. 22, 2009 Which Is Better for the Economy: Spreading Money Around or Spending It in One Place? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 21, 2009 Report Explores New Models for Journalism Jeffrey Brown talks to Nick Lemann of Columbia Journalism School and former Washington Post editor Leonard Downie Jr. about journalism's future.

	Oct. 21, 2009 Former Car Czar Rattner: No Reason GM Can't Succeed "People will start buying cars again," former car czar Steve Rattner tells Judy Woodruff. He also discusses ousting GM's CEO and how the auto industry will evolve.

	Oct. 21, 2009 Barofsky: TARP Program Fueled Public Distrust The biggest cost of the TARP program might be the public's distrust of the government, according to inspector general Neil Barofsky. Ray Suarez reports.

	Oct. 21, 2009 Obama: Small Businesses to Be Offered TARP Help President Barack Obama unveiled plans Wednesday to shift government bailout efforts from Wall Street's banks to Main Street's small businesses by increasing lending and access to credit.

	Oct. 21, 2009 Author Katz: Tough to Say When Foreclosures Will Crest Journalist Alyssa Katz has written a sweeping history of home ownership in America, "Our Lot: How Real Estate Came to Own Us." In a discussion with economics correspondent Paul Solman, Katz answered viewer questions on the roots of the foreclosure crisis and the outlook for the future.

	Oct. 21, 2009 What's the Difference Between a Recession and a Depression? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 21, 2009 Stimulus Bill Data Offer Glimpse of Effectiveness Americans and government watchdogs are getting their first glimpse at the results of the massive economic stimulus package heralded by President Barack Obama soon after taking office.

	Oct. 20, 2009 Other News: Obama Renews Vow to Withdraw From Iraq In other news, President Obama vowed to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by next October, and an Iranian-American was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in an Iranian jail for participating in demonstrations against the nation's government.

	Oct. 20, 2009 How Can the Economy Be Growing While Unemployment Is Rising? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 19, 2009 Retraining Workers Sounds Great. But For What Jobs? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 19, 2009 Arrests, Scrutiny Put Hedge Fund Sector on Edge The arrests of a prominent Wall Street hedge fund founder and five others on Friday have unsettled the hedge fund world and could spur calls for new rules governing the largely unregulated financial sector.

	Oct. 16, 2009 Bank Earnings Reveal Mixed Recovery on Wall Street Third-quarter earnings revealed a mixed picture on Wall Street as Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Chase posted healthy profits, while Bank of America continued to struggle under the weight of rising credit card delinquencies and mortgage defaults.

	Oct. 16, 2009 News Wrap: Police Station Bombing Kills 13 in Pakistan In other news, a suicide bombing at a police station in Pakistan has killed at least 13 people, and in Iraq a bomber opened fire on a mosque in Tal Afar.

	Oct. 16, 2009 Loan Losses Drive Down Bank of America Earnings Bank of America reported Friday that it lost more than $2.2 billion in the third quarter, largely due to loan defaults and credit card delinquencies.

	Oct. 15, 2009 IRS Ends Amnesty for Use of Overseas Tax Havens In an interview with Jeffrey Brown, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman discusses the agency's efforts to close overseas tax shelters.

	Oct. 15, 2009 Making Sense of the Foreclosure Crisis In the latest in a series of reports making sense of the economy, NewsHour economics correspondent Paul Solman examines the ongoing foreclosure crisis.

	Oct. 15, 2009 News Wrap: Dozens Killed in Attacks Across Pakistan In other news, at least 39 people were killed in a wave of attacks across Pakistan on Thursday, and the Social Security Administration announced it will not enact a cost of living increase in benefits next year.

	Oct. 15, 2009 Are the Latest Foreclosure Numbers Good News or Bad News? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 15, 2009 Ask Alyssa Katz, Author of 'Our Lot', About Foreclosures and the Housing Crisis Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 15, 2009 Inner Workings at the NewsHour, or The Tale of a Keynes Rap Video Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 14, 2009 Cash Strapped California Towns Eye Tax Hikes for Medical Marijuana With budget woes causing cuts to essential services across California, several communities in the state are weighing whether to raise additional revenue through tax hikes on medical marijuana. Spencer Michels reports.

	Oct. 14, 2009 Wall Street Set for Record Payouts a Year After Crash Despite heightened scrutiny from both the public and regulators in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal, compensation on Wall Street is set for a record year in 2009. Jeffrey Brown reports.

	Oct. 14, 2009 Dow Closes Above 10,000 for First Time in a Year The Dow Jones industrial average closed Wednesday above 10,000 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2008. Ray Suarez speaks with a Washington Post reporter about the significance.

	Oct. 14, 2009 Can We Identify Bills that Led to Deregulation Over the Past 30 Years? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 14, 2009 Retail Sales Up, but Auto Sales Sag Without 'Clunkers' Retail sales for September fell by the largest amount this year, though most of the drop is attributed to cars sales plummeting at the end of the government's popular 'cash for clunkers' program.

	Oct. 13, 2009 Emanuel: Cost, Competition Central to Health Reform In an interview, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel discusses the Senate Finance Committee's passage of a health reform bill, the future for the public option and more.

	Oct. 13, 2009 What Is a Jobless Recovery? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 12, 2009 San Francisco Ramps Up Care for City's Uninsured While the U.S. has struggled with an imperfect health care system, San Francisco has launched its own initiative to extend coverage to the more than 60,000 adult residents in the city without insurance. Spencer Michels reports.

	Oct. 12, 2009 Health Reform Carries Heavy Price, Insurers Claim A new report paid for by the insurance industry has concluded that health care reform would increase the costs of coverage faster and higher than under the current system.

	Oct. 12, 2009 News Wrap: Afghan Official Leaves Election Commission In other news, an Afghan official resigned from a commission charged with determining whether fraud occurred in the nation's presidential election, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the world will not be deterred by new missile testing in North Korea.

	Oct. 12, 2009 Battle of the Stand-Up Economists Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 9, 2009 Why Is the Price of Gold So High? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 8, 2009 Tracking Tainted Food a Near Impossibility in U.S. Lee Hochberg reports on the difficulty in tracking the source of tainted foods and the complicated trail from production to sale.

	Oct. 8, 2009 News Wrap: House OKs Hate Crime Protections for Gays, Lesbians In other news, the House voted to include homosexuals in federal hate crime laws, and first-time claims for unemployment fell more than expected last week.

	Oct. 8, 2009 Senate Committee Set for Health Reform Vote The Senate Finance Committee will vote Tuesday on a sweeping revamp of the U.S. health care system as the debate over President Barack Obama's top domestic policy enters a new stage.

	Oct. 8, 2009 Will the New G-20 Eclipse the United Nations? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 8, 2009 The Personalities and Priorities of Obama's Economic Team Ryan Lizza, Washington correspondent for The New Yorker magazine, has penned a new account of how the main players on the White House economic team negotiate their different backgrounds and priorities in crafting high-stakes economic policies.

	Oct. 8, 2009 How Much Will the H1N1 Flu Cost the U.S.? Distribution centers around the country began receiving shipments of the much anticipated H1N1 flu vaccine this week. Those costs, as well as the economic blow of closed schools and lost productivity, could set back the fragile U.S. economy.

	Oct. 7, 2009 What the U.S. Can Learn From Health Care Abroad Gwen Ifill speaks with health experts about what the United States can learn from health care systems throughout the world.

	Oct. 7, 2009 How Does Global Financial Regulation Affect the Doha Round? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 6, 2009 Commercial Real Estate May Be Next Victim of Recession Just two years ago an office space in midtown Manhattan could fetch close to $1.7 billion. Today, the same property trades for about $600 million. A sign the commercial real estate market will be the next shoe to drop in the U.S. economy? Paul Solman reports.

	Oct. 6, 2009 In Netherlands, Insurers Compete Over Quality of Care In the first of a series on health care abroad, Ray Suarez looks at how the Netherlands achieved a massive health care overhaul four years ago.

	Oct. 6, 2009 Other News: Flooding in India Leaves Millions Homeless In other news, flooding in Southern India left millions homeless and hungry, and heating bills are expected to be lower this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration.

	Oct. 6, 2009 Is the High Jobless Rate Due to the Return of Discouraged Workers to the Pool? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 6, 2009 Recession Grads Not Afraid to Turn Down Jobs A recent survey has found just 45 percent of college students offered a job this past spring accepted a position, begging the question, are recent graduates grasping the severity of the financial crisis?

	Oct. 5, 2009 New Court Term Puts Spotlight on Gun Rights, Free Speech, Business The Supreme Court opened a new term on Monday with a docket full of cases concerning corporations, compensation, and the financial markets. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal previews the term with Gwen Ifill.

	Oct. 5, 2009 The Great Recession Through an Economist's Walk to Work Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 2, 2009 Job Losses Rise, Dampening Hopes for a Quick Recovery Employers shed 263,000 jobs in September, more than analysts expected, bringing the jobless rate to 9.8 percent. Economics columnist David Leonhardt and labor expert Jacob Kirkegaard look at the numbers.

	Oct. 2, 2009 More Grim News in the Sept. Jobs Numbers Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 2, 2009 Unemployment Hits 9.8%, Job Losses Accelerate September was a rough month for the economy, with the unemployment rate rising from 9.7 percent to 9.8 percent as employers cut more jobs than expected, and more unemployed workers gave up searching for jobs.

	Oct. 1, 2009 News Wrap: Markets Drop on Mix of Weak Reports In other news, markets fell on a rise in claims for unemployment benefits and drops in auto sales and factory activity, and a key Senate committee neared the end of its work on health care reform.

	Oct. 1, 2009 Portrait of B of A's Ken Lewis, Soon to Be Retired Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Oct. 1, 2009 Few Profits, Many Cost Overruns Expected for Olympic Hosts As the International Olympic Committee prepares to anoint a host for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games Friday in Copenhagen, cities vying for the honor are unlikely to receive much of a direct economic boost as host.

	Oct. 1, 2009 Bernanke Calls for 'Council of Regulators' Testifying before lawmakers Thursday, Ben Bernanke reiterated a call for the Fed to be given supervisory powers over institutions that pose a systemic risk to the financial system, and proposed that a council of regulators help monitor risk.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2009 One Man's Trash, Another Man's 'Earthship' In the latest installment in his series on innovation during the recession, Tom Bearden examines how one architect is turning unlikely items into environmentally friendly homes he calls "earthships."

	Sept. 30, 2009 Senate Bill May Mark New Start for Climate Legislation Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent over 2005 levels. But with health care dominating the national debate, is Congress ready to tackle more big legislation? Jeffrey Brown talks to a reporter for more.

	Sept. 30, 2009 News Wrap: Typhoon Rips Through Southeast Asia In other news, the typhoon that caused massive flooding in the Philippines last weekend has advanced through Vietnam and Cambodia, and U.S. forces in Iraq will be able to withdraw faster than originally planned.

	Sept. 29, 2009 First Year Lawmakers Face Daunting To-do List In a discussion with Gwen Ifill, four freshmen lawmakers reflect on their experiences thus far dealing with a recession, overseas conflicts, and the health care debate.

	Sept. 29, 2009 Other News: Ahmadinejad Lashes Out at U.N. In other news, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of "parroting" the baseless charges of Western nations, and flooding in the Philippines has left at least 280 people dead.

	Sept. 29, 2009 Jeffrey Sachs on the New World Economic Order Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 28, 2009 Other News: 30 Taliban Fighters Killed in Afghanistan In other news, U.S. forces reported killing at least 30 Taliban fighters in Western Afghanistan, and in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel set to work building a new center-right coalition following her election win on Sunday.

	Sept. 28, 2009 Back Home From Pittsburgh (and the G-20) Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 25, 2009 Clinton Group Unites Private, Public Spheres on Big Issues Amid the G-20 and U.N. summits, former President Bill Clinton's foundation brought together big names from both the private and public sectors to tackle major issues.

	Sept. 25, 2009 Shields, Brooks Examine Obama's Moves on Iran, G-20 Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks sift through this week's headlines, including Iran's nuclear surprise, the G-20 summit and U.N. talks.

	Sept. 25, 2009 Growing Economies More 'Empowered' at G-20 Jeffrey Brown speaks with economic experts Simon Johnson and Eswar Prasad about the next moves for the G-20 and its members a year after the global economic crisis began.

	Sept. 25, 2009 G-20 to Replace G-8 as Global Economic Forum World leaders announced that the G-20 will replace the G-8 as the main forum for coordinating global economic policy. Jeffrey Brown and Paul Solman report.

	Sept. 25, 2009 News Wrap: McChrystal Surprised by Taliban's Strength In other news, five more Americans were killed in Afghanistan on Thursday, and a U.S. missile strike in Pakistan killed 12 militants.

	Sept. 25, 2009 G-8 Will Expand Permanently to G-20 for Economic Issues World leaders plan to announce Friday the Group of 20 will replace the Group of Eight as the main forum for coordinating global economic policy, a reflection of the increasing importance of fast-growing economies such as Brazil, China, and India.

	Sept. 24, 2009 Lula: 'Blue-Eyed' Bankers and Emerging Markets Paul Solman interviews Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva at the G-20 about the role of developing nations in the global economy, the state of Latin American politics and controversial comments the Brazilian leader recently made about the role of "blue-eyed bankers" in the financial meltdown.

	Sept. 24, 2009 News Wrap: Afghan Man Indicted for U.S. Terror Plot In other news, an Afghan immigrant was indicted Thursday in New York for allegedly plotting to detonate bombs in the U.S., and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick named Paul Kirk to fill the senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy.

	Sept. 24, 2009 G-20 Leaders Urge Financial Reforms, but Dramatic Results Seen as Unlikely As the leaders of the G-20 meet in Pittsburgh to discuss how to overhaul the global financial system, countries are calling for a wide spectrum of reforms. But a dramatic overhaul of how the global economy is run may be unlikely.

	Sept. 24, 2009 Snapshot: Economies of the G-20 The financial crisis barreled through industrialized and developing nations, bruising once vital economies, and thrusting unhealthy ones further into decline. With G-20 leaders in Pittsburgh this week, here is a look at where their economies stand.

	Sept. 24, 2009 Extended Interview: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the G-20 In an interview with Paul Solman from the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva clarifies his infamous remarks on 'blue-eyed' bankers and weighs in on where emerging markets like Brazil fit in the global economy. Read the full version of their conversation here.

	Sept. 23, 2009 Top Banks Rethink Policies on Overdraft Fees Leading banks move to change overdraft fees deemed harmful to consumers. Jeffrey Brown speaks with a banking expert about the overhaul.

	Sept. 23, 2009 Ahead of G-20, How Are World Economies Faring? Ahead of the G-20 summit, Paul Solman asks small business owners at a New York health and beauty show how the economy is faring in their home countries.

	Sept. 23, 2009 News Wrap: General to Seek More Troops for Afghan War In other news, General McChrystal will send a formal request to the White House asking for additional troops in Afghanistan, and a death was reported in Honduran clashes following deposed President Manuel Zelaya's return.

	Sept. 23, 2009 Joe Stiglitz on How the G20 Should Tackle Global Financial Reform Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 23, 2009 President Obama Tells U.N. World Can't 'Wait for America' to Lead In his first address to the U.N. General Assembly, President Barack Obama bluntly said world leaders who once accused the United States of acting alone must now join with him to solve global crises rather than "wait for America" to lead.

	Sept. 22, 2009 Better Storage Options Sought as Wind, Sun Power Catch on Tom Bearden reports on new innovations that would allow for better storage of electricity generated by the wind and sun.

	Sept. 22, 2009 Senate Debate on Health Reform Hinges on Affordability As the Senate Finance Committee opens debate on the so-called Baucus plan for health care reform, the issue of affordability remains a key sticking point. After a recap of Tuesday's hearing on the bill, Susan Dentzer of the journal Health Affairs takes a closer look at costs with Judy Woodruff.

	Sept. 22, 2009 News Wrap: Zelaya's Return to Honduras Leads to Embassy Standoff In other news, deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya remained holed up at the Brazilian embassy, and the Los Angeles Police Department cracked down on gangs in a massive sweep.

	Sept. 22, 2009 Are Older Workers More Vulnerable in this Recession? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 21, 2009 News Wrap: Deposed Leader Zelaya Returns to Honduras In other news, Manuel Zelaya, the deposed president of Honduras, announced Monday he has returned to the country, and AIG repaid the federal government $60 billion.

	Sept. 21, 2009 Reflections on the Week of 'Almost Armageddon' Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 18, 2009 No 'Plan B' for Copenhagen Climate Summit, U.N. Negotiator Says Ahead of a U.N. conference on global warming this December in Copenhagen, the organization's top climate negotiator speaks with Margaret Warner about the outlook for a global pact to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

	Sept. 18, 2009 Brooks and Marcus on Health Bill, Obama Media Push Columnists David Brooks and Ruth Marcus sort through the week's top stories, including the state of the health reform push, President Obama's media strategy and U.S. plans to revamp missile defense in Europe.

	Sept. 18, 2009 One Year On, Hurdles Remain for Reforming Wall Street One year after the fall of Lehman Brothers' brought the global economy to the brink of collapse, questions remain as to whether the government has been tough enough on Wall Street. Experts explain why.

	Sept. 18, 2009 Lehman's Lawyer on the Decision to Let It Fail Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 18, 2009 Former Regulator on Lehman's Collapse Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 17, 2009 Ted Kennedy Jr. Reflects on His Father's Legacy Judy Woodruff speaks with Ted Kennedy Jr. about his father's posthumously published memoir, "True Compass." The book offers new insights into Edward Kennedy's famous family and his political career, including the dark moments.

	Sept. 17, 2009 Boehner Says GOP Support Unlikely for Baucus Health Plan In an interview with Jeffrey Brown, House Minority Leader John Boehner describes the prospects for GOP support of the president's health reform push and describes what he sees as a "modern-day political rebellion in America" over the expanding role of government.

	Sept. 17, 2009 For Young Americans, Health Insurance is Often Elusive President Obama took his health reform call to young people Thursday with a speech at the University of Maryland. Kwame Holman reports on the challenges faced by the more than 10 million Americans between the ages of 19 and 26 without health insurance.

	Sept. 17, 2009 Other News: Afghan Bombing Kills 6 Italian Soldiers In other news, a bombing in Kabul killed at least six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians, while a government panel in Afghanistan determined a NATO airstrike killed 30 civilians earlier this month.

	Sept. 17, 2009 What Has Been the Most Surprising Effect of the Financial Crisis? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 16, 2009 Ahead of G-20, IMF Chief Seeks New Global Finance Rules The global economy is slowly starting to rebound, but in order to prevent another crisis nation's must embrace stricter financial oversight, said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the IMF, in an interview with the NewsHour's Paul Solman.

	Sept. 16, 2009 Other News: 3 American Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan In other news, NATO announced three American soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, and election officials there declared Hamid Karzai the outright winner of last month's presidential election.

	Sept. 16, 2009 What Financial Reforms Do We Still Need? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 16, 2009 A Year After Bailout, Uncertain Future for AIG A year after the U.S. government came to the rescue of insurance giant American International Group (AIG), the company has a new CEO and its share price is up. Yet the company's future remains uncertain.

	Sept. 15, 2009 Trade Tensions Flare Between U.S., China as G-20 Nears New U.S. tariffs on Chinese tire imports have created a feud between the two nations ahead of next week's meeting of the Group of 20 industrial and developing nations. Trade experts speak with Jeffrey Brown about how the dispute will affect future U.S.-China trade.

	Sept. 15, 2009 Other News: House Reprimands Rep. Wilson for 'You Lie' In other news, the House of Representatives formally reprimanded Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., for his "You lie" outburst during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress last week, and the White House unveiled new fuel economy standards for cars and trucks.

	Sept. 15, 2009 Obama Touts Economic Policies in Health Care Push President Obama traveled to Pennsylvania and Ohio on Tuesday to tout his administration's economic policies. Separately, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the recession is "likely over," but that a drop in the jobless rate is in all likelihood still months away.

	Sept. 15, 2009 A Year Later: Which Reforms Have Made a Difference? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 15, 2009 Health Premiums Rise, Outstripping Inflation The cost of employer-sponsored health care insurance has risen by about 5 percent this year, according to a new report, outstripping overall inflation and workers' wages.

	Sept. 15, 2009 Mergers May Signal New Life in Business Sector Mergers and acquisitions are often seen as an indicator of the economy's health; the more companies join forces, the healthier the market. After big deals came to a virtual halt over the past year, a new wave of M&A may signal the recession is over.

	Sept. 14, 2009 'Green Revolution' Founder Borlaug Dies at 95 A look back at the life of Norman Borlaug, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize who developed important agricultural strategies for countries around the world. Borlaug died over the weekend at the age of 95.

	Sept. 14, 2009 One Year After Financial Crisis, Reform Questions Loom On the one year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Jeffrey Brown talks to economists and experts about what has been learned and the future of financial reform.

	Sept. 14, 2009 A Look Back at the Collapse of Lehman Brothers Lehman Brothers survived the Civil War, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and the attacks of 9/11, yet under the leadership of Richard Fuld the investment bank went from storied Wall Street firm to catalyst of last year's economic crisis. What went wrong? Paul Solman reports.

	Sept. 14, 2009 Other News: U.S.-China Trade Dispute Escalates In other news, China filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over a U.S. tariff on Chinese tires, and election officials in Afghanistan put off announcing when they would release official results from last month's presidential contest.

	Sept. 14, 2009 Obama Urges Wall Street to Embrace Stricter Oversight On the one-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, President Obama visited Wall Street to urge financial firms to remember the lessons of the economic crisis and to press for regulatory reforms.

	Sept. 14, 2009 A Year After Lehman: Lessons Learned Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 14, 2009 Obama Urges Sweeping Overhaul of Financial Regulation A year after the collapse of Lehman Brothers set off one of the toughest weeks in Wall Street's history, President Barack Obama delivered a speech Monday outlining "the most ambitious overhaul of the financial system since the Great Depression."

	Sept. 14, 2009 Reporting the Crisis Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 11, 2009 News Wrap: Training Exercise Prompts Security Concerns In other news, a Coast Guard training exercise in Washington caused security concerns during the nearby 9/11 anniversary services, and the world's oldest person died at the age of 115.

	Sept. 11, 2009 If the FDIC Asks for More Credit from Treasury, What Happens to Inflation? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 10, 2009 Even in Tough Times, Innovation Flourishes Despite the recession, one Boston-based company is creating new technology that could redefine the auto industry.

	Sept. 10, 2009 Public Voices on Obama's Health Care Address Spencer Michels gets reactions from the public to President Obama's health care speech.

	Sept. 10, 2009 Other News: White House Says Stimulus Has Saved 1 Million Jobs In other news, White House economic advisers reported Thursday that stimulus efforts have already created or saved more than 1 million jobs. Also, the Labor Department reported that first time unemployment claims fell last week.

	Sept. 10, 2009 Presidential Heckling Quite Rare, Historian Says South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's interruption of President Obama's address to Congress Wednesday night was a rare instance of presidential heckling, but it was not the first. Historian Richard Norton Smith discusses past instances and the context.

	Sept. 10, 2009 How Can I Preserve, Protect, and Grow My Savings? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 10, 2009 U.S. Poverty Rising, Family Incomes Fall The poverty rate increased in 2008 to its highest point since 1997 and median household income declined 3.6 percent as the effects of the recession set in, according to new census data released Thursday.

	Sept. 9, 2009 Full Text: GOP Response to Obama Reform Speech Following is the text of Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany's GOP response to President Obama's health reform address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday, as distributed to news organizations.

	Sept. 9, 2009 Decades Later, Beatles Hits Continue to Draw New Fans Jeffrey Brown speaks with NPR music critic Tim Riley about the Beatles' influence decades later.

	Sept. 9, 2009 Beatlemania Returns with Re-mastered Catalogue More than 20 years after Beatlemania took hold of music fans across the globe, a newly re-mastered Beatles catalogue and video game are being released.

	Sept. 9, 2009 Shields and Brooks Mull Stakes for Obama Speech Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the lead up to President Obama's health reform speech and developments in Congress.

	Sept. 9, 2009 The Business of Beatlemania Wednesday on the NewsHour, Jeffrey Brown talked to Tim Riley, a contributing music critic for NPR, about the release of the Beatles Remastered. Earlier Wednesday, Michelle Steele of Bloomberg News gave the business angle on the Beatles' releases.

	Sept. 9, 2009 Axelrod Optimistic About Health Care Reform Push Judy Woodruff speaks with White House senior adviser David Axelrod about what is at stake for President Obama ahead of Wednesday night's speech.

	Sept. 9, 2009 Dip in Home Prices Could Stunt Consumer Spending A look at home prices over the course of a year in Patchwork Nation's community types found that many home owners saw the value of their large lifetime investment fall, a troubling sign for the economy as a whole.

	Sept. 9, 2009 What Has Been Done to Insulate the U.S. From Systemic Risks Overseas? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 8, 2009 News Wrap: 4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq Bombing In other news, four American soldiers were killed by roadside bombings in Iraq, making Tuesday the bloodiest day for U.S. troops there in more than two months. And four other Americans died in eastern Afghanistan.

	Sept. 8, 2009 In Case You Missed It: The Realities of the Recession Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 7, 2009 Realities of the Recession and the Changing Workforce Paul Solman looks at the faces and places that illustrate the realities of the recession and Jeffrey Brown talks to experts about its impact on jobs.

	Sept. 7, 2009 Obama Kicks Off Critical Week for Health Reform President Barack Obama renewed his push for health care reform from Ohio where he addressed the AFL-CIO on Labor Day. Gwen Ifill reports.

	Sept. 4, 2009 The Value of Work in 'Shop Class as Soulcraft' Jeffrey Brown speaks with philosopher, author and motorcycle-repair shop owner Matthew B. Crawford about the fulfillment found in building and fixing things, which he details in the new book "Shop Class as Soulcraft."

	Sept. 4, 2009 Shields and Brooks on Health Reform, Afghan Strategy Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the top news of the week, including the escalating violence in Afghanistan, and President Barack Obama's upcoming speech on health care to a joint session of Congress.

	Sept. 4, 2009 Jobless Rate Hits 26-Year High, but Hints of Recovery Remain Unemployment jumped to 9.7 percent in August, but new data shows job cuts have slowed. Ray Suarez speaks with a financial expert about the labor market and economic recovery.

	Sept. 4, 2009 How Do We Compare Unemployment Across Decades If More People in a Household Are Working Now? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 4, 2009 In a Difficult Job Market, Settling for Less Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 4, 2009 Unemployment Rises to 9.7%, Though Hints of Recovery Remain U.S. employers shed 216,000 jobs in August, increasing the unemployment rate to 9.7 percent, the highest level since 1983.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Clock Ticks as U.S. Mulls Solution to Honduran Stalemate With less than three months until presidential elections in Honduras, the White House is running out of time to resolve a coup that resulted in the ouster of the nation's now deposed president, Manuel Zelaya. The dispute has also strained U.S.-Honduran ties.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Entrepreneurship? There's an App for That While the recession has battered most industries, it has sparked innovation across a range of many others. Case in point: the cell phone application market. Simon Marks reports.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Madoff Report Highlights SEC Lapses in Detecting Fraud A scathing report by an inspector general for the Securities and Exchange Commission has found the agency missed numerous chances to uncover Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. A financial reporter and a law professor speak with Jeffrey Brown about the SEC's framework for detecting fraud.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Other News: Firefighters Gain on Calif. Blaze; Biden Defends Stimulus Program In other news, firefighters have contained approximately 40 percent of a massive wildfire burning through Southern California, and Vice President Joe Biden defended the federal stimulus program, saying it has helped create or save as many as 750,000 jobs.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Health Care Reform Splits Retailers In a summer of health care reform twists and turns, few things may have surprised the public more than the debate over the positions that their favorite -- and least-favorite -- places to shop have taken on the issue.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Of Dollars and Spidey Sense: Disney Has Much to Gain by Purchasing Marvel Disney's plan to buy Marvel Entertainment, Inc. for $4 billion opens up the gates of the Magic Kingdom to a whole host of new characters and helps complete the evolution of comics from a dime-store fringe market to a global economic powerhouse.

	Sept. 3, 2009 Can the Economy Truly Recover With So Many States in the Red? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 2, 2009 Pfizer Settles Unlawful Marketing Case for $2.3 Billion Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drugmaker, agreed to plead guilty under a $2.3 billion federal settlement over unlawful marketing of the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra. Ray Suarez reports on the record fine.

	Sept. 2, 2009 Other News: Worker Productivity Soars Most in 6 Years In other news, the Labor Department reported worker productivity jumped last spring by the most in six years, and an SEC investigation concluded that agency flaws enabled Bernie Madoff.

	Sept. 2, 2009 If Big Banks Were Allowed to Fail, Would the FDIC Need a Bailout? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Sept. 1, 2009 Other News: Stocks Slide on Bank Fears In other news, stocks in the U.S. were hit by fears about additional bank failures, and Iran signaled it may be ready to restart talks over its disputed nuclear program.

	Sept. 1, 2009 What Sectors Will Keep America an Economic Superpower? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."



	AUGUST Aug. 31, 2009 Few Glimmers of Hope for Unemployed Americans With the long-term unemployment rate at its highest level since 1948, the nation's jobless are taking little solace in recent data suggesting the recession is winding down. In the latest installment of his Making Sen$e series, Paul Solman explores the sometimes grueling search for work in an battered economy.

	Aug. 31, 2009 Other News: General Warns of 'Serious' Challenges in Afghanistan In other news, Gen. Stanley McChrystal warned "the situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable," as the military reported the deaths of two more American soldiers there.

	Aug. 31, 2009 Sudhir Venkatesh on the New Meaning of Recovery Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 31, 2009 Japanese Election a Major Turning Point for World's No. 2 Economy Voters in Japan on Sunday rejected their incumbent political party for just the second time in postwar history, choosing instead a party that promised to reverse the nation's struggling economy and to redefine Tokyo's relationship with Washington.

	Aug. 28, 2009 News Wrap: 2 U.S. Soldiers Die in Iraq Roadside Bombing In other news, two U.S. soldiers died Friday in Iraq from wounds sustained in a roadside bomb attack, and a new report from the U.N. shows that Iran has not suspended its nuclear weapons program.

	Aug. 28, 2009 Would Shortening the Workweek Stimulate the Economy? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 28, 2009 Consumer Spending Rises Slightly, But Confidence Falls Again As the nation looks for more signs of economic recovery, there were mixed signals on Friday as reports showed consumer spending rose slightly last month thanks in part to an increase in auto sales but incomes remained flat.

	Aug. 27, 2009 FDIC Losing Money as Many More Banks Face Collapse The FDIC reported that its insurance fund shrank 20 percent in the second quarter. Jeffrey Brown speaks with a reporter and analyst about troubled banks.

	Aug. 27, 2009 Other News: Bomber Kills 19 Pakistani Border Guards In other news, 19 border guards were killed Thursday when a security checkpoint in Pakistan was hit by a suicide bomber, and an American service member was killed in Afghanistan.

	Aug. 27, 2009 Simon Johnson Previews Next Month's G20 Meeting in Pittsburgh Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 27, 2009 GDP Reading May Signal Stability for Economy The U.S. economy contracted only slightly in the second quarter with gross domestic product decreasing by an annual rate of 1 percent, another sign that the nation's economic situation could be stabilizing.

	Aug. 26, 2009 Other News: S.C. Lt. Gov. Calls for Sanford Resignation In other news, the lieutenant governor of South Carolina asked Republican Gov. Mark Sanford to resign, and new economic data showed better-than-expected recoveries in the manufacturing and housing sectors.

	Aug. 26, 2009 Simon Johnson on Consumer Protection Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 26, 2009 Why Isn't Single Payer on the Table in the Health Care Debate? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 25, 2009 Across the U.S., All Eyes on Health Reform, Economy At the end of an especially eventful August recess, Jeffrey Brown speaks with reporters and analysts from around the nation about how the economy and health care debates are shaping up.

	Aug. 25, 2009 As Bernanke Tapped for a Second Term, U.S. Deficits Appear Likely to Soar Judy Woodruff speaks with journalists about federal deficit projections and President Obama's nomination of Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke for a second term.

	Aug. 25, 2009 White House Projects U.S. Debt Will Nearly Double in Coming Decade Fallout from the recession is expected to drive up the government's budget deficit by $9 trillion over the next decade, $2 trillion higher than a May estimate, according to a report issued Tuesday by the White House.

	Aug. 25, 2009 Simon Johnson on Bank Bonuses and 'Too Big to Fail' Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 25, 2009 Obama Taps Bernanke for Second Term at Fed Ending speculation that he might appoint a new central bank chief, President Obama said he would nominate Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term Tuesday as the administration continues its efforts to stabilize the embattled U.S. economy.

	Aug. 24, 2009 Popular 'Cash for Clunkers' Program Winds Down The government is ending its popular 'Cash for Clunkers' program two months early due to dwindling funds. Jeffrey Brown speaks with an automotive journalist about its impact on the auto industry and the economy.

	Aug. 24, 2009 Simon Johnson on Jobs in the Recovery Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 24, 2009 More on Our Correction to Friday's Segment Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 24, 2009 Author of 'Cheap' Answers (More of) Your Questions Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 23, 2009 Correction to Friday's Segment on Inflation Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 21, 2009 Reviving the Economy Tests Convential Views on Inflation With the economy showing hints of a recovery, the threat of inflation is testing policy makers at the Federal Reserve as they work to determine how quickly to unwind emergency moves taken during the height of the financial crisis. Paul Solman reports.

	Aug. 21, 2009 Fed Chairman Upbeat on Prospects for Economy Ben Bernanke offered a hopeful forecast for the U.S. economy Friday, saying "prospects for a return to growth in the near term appear good." Economists weigh in on the outlook.

	Aug. 21, 2009 Simon Johnson on the Falling Dollar Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 21, 2009 Taking a Lesson from Cash for Clunkers, Why Don't We Recycle Old Cars? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 21, 2009 Bernanke: U.S. Economy Poised for Recovery Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke offered an optimistic assessment of the U.S. economy's chances for recovery Friday in a much-anticipated speech to fellow central bankers and top economists.

	Aug. 20, 2009 Wind Energy Fuels Job Hopes for Oklahoma Youth In the final installment of her Generation Next series, which has aired on both the NewsHour and NPR, Judy Woodruff reports on how wind energy is generating new career prospects for young Americans in the Sooner State.

	Aug. 20, 2009 Former Insurance Exec Speaks Out on Health Reform Until last year, Wendell Potter worked for both Cigna and Humana health care for two decades. He's now a senior fellow on health care with the Center for Media and Democracy, a liberal research group. He speaks to Gwen Ifill as part of an ongoing series of conversations on health care reform.

	Aug. 20, 2009 Tougher Credit Card Rules Offer New Consumer Guards New rules for credit card companies took effect Thursday, the first in a series of measures designed to protect consumers from changes to the terms of their card agreements. Jeffrey Brown gets perspective from a consumer advocate and a banking industry representative.

	Aug. 20, 2009 Other News: Death Toll Climbs from Baghdad Attacks In other news, the death toll from Wednesday's bombings across Baghdad climbed to at least 101 people, and ten alleged leaders of Mexican frug cartels have been indicted in the U.S.

	Aug. 20, 2009 Simon Johnson on Economic Green Shoots Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 20, 2009 Is GDP a Good Metric for Gauging Economic Health? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 19, 2009 Generation Next: Young Grads Turn to Service Amid Tight Job Market At community resource centers across the country, young people like Brian Marroquin, a recent graduate of VCU, are deferring their careers to focus on community service. Judy Woodruff examines the trend as part of the Generation Next series.

	Aug. 19, 2009 IRS Deal Pierces Veil of Swiss Banking Secrecy A New York Times reporter assesses the impact of Swiss banking giant UBS agreeing to give the U.S. Internal Revenue Service names of some account holders.

	Aug. 19, 2009 California Budget Woes Squeeze Overcrowded Prisons As California continues to struggle over budget gaps, Spencer Michels measures the likely effects of funding cuts on the state's overcrowded prisons.

	Aug. 19, 2009 Other News: Taliban Threat Looms on Eve of Afghan Vote In other news, a wave of fresh attacks struck Afghanistan one day before the nation's second presidential election, and Saudi Arabia announced the arrests of 44 suspected Islamist militants.

	Aug. 19, 2009 Is the Stimulus Working? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 19, 2009 UBS to Surrender 4,450 Client Names to IRS UBS AG, Switzerland's largest bank, will provide the names of some 4,450 account holders to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as part of a tax-evasion settlement reached between the two countries' governments.

	Aug. 18, 2009 'Losing the News' Examines Journalism's Shifting Future Journalist and author Alex Jones speaks with Jeffrey Brown about the uncertain future of journalism, as well as his new book, "Losing the News."

	Aug. 18, 2009 Record-setting Cyber Theft Stirs Questions on Security The Justice Department indicted three men on Monday for stealing more than 130 million credit and debit card numbers by hacking into the computer systems of five major companies. Cyber-securiity experts discuss the case with Ray Suarez.

	Aug. 18, 2009 Aetna CEO: Public Insurance Option 'Wrong Way to Go' Efforts to overhaul the health care system would be damaged by creating a public option to compete with private insurers, Ron Williams, chief executive of Aetna Inc., the nation's third-largest health insurer, tells Judy Woodruff.

	Aug. 18, 2009 Other News: Wholesale Prices Take Surprise Dip in July In other news, the Labor Department reported wholesale prices fell unexpectedly in July, and President Barack Obama met with Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak to discuss jumpstarting Mideast peace talks.

	Aug. 18, 2009 Why Do Medical Costs Vary So Much Across the Country? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 17, 2009 California Grapples with Cuts to Safety Net Programs Local governments across the Golden State are beginning to feel the impact of the $4 billion in budget cuts made by lawmakers in the state's general assembly earlier this year. Spencer Michels explores the impact on California cities and counties.

	Aug. 17, 2009 Budget Gap Shuts Down City Services in Chicago A $469-million budget gap forced a shutdown of non-essential city services, such as garbage collection, in Chicago on Monday. Ray Suarez talks to Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW about the move.

	Aug. 17, 2009 Have the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Hurt the Economy? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 17, 2009 Japanese Economy Pulls Out of Recession Japan's economy climbed out of yearlong recession in the second quarter, the government said Monday, expanding 3.7 percent at an annual pace as it joined Germany, France and other regions that appear to be emerging from the global financial crisis.

	Aug. 17, 2009 Wessel Answers Questions on the Changing Fed A year after Wall Street went into a tailspin, the Fed continues to take unprecedented steps to revive the economy. David Wessel has penned a book about Ben Bernanke and the changing role of the Fed. He answered questions in an Online NewsHour forum.

	Aug. 14, 2009 U.S. Consumers Still Worried About Economy A new survey shows that despite positive economic forecasts, Americans are still concerned about scarce jobs and falling income.

	Aug. 14, 2009 GlobalPost Among Organizations Looking to Fill International Reporting Gaps As economic turmoil hits news organizations and cutbacks abound, a number of experimental journalism models are emerging to fill the gaps. GlobalPost executive editor Charles Sennott reflects on the media model driving his organization's focus on foreign reporting.

	Aug. 14, 2009 Who Gets the Interest on U.S. Government Debt? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 14, 2009 Consumer Prices Go Unchanged in July The cost of living in the United States went unchanged in July, easing concerns among many experts that economic recovery will be hampered by rising inflation.

	Aug. 13, 2009 Other News: Pakistani Forces Pummel Taliban Bases; Taiwan Dispatches More Aid In other news, Pakistani forces pummeled key Taliban bases near the Afghanistan border, and a double suicide bombing in Iraq killed at least 21 people.

	Aug. 13, 2009 The Hidden Cost of the Discount Culture Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of the new book "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture," answers questions from NewsHour viewers about what effect our love of bargains has on wages, the environment and international trade.

	Aug. 13, 2009 U.S. Retail Sales Sink After 2 Months of Gains Sales at U.S. retailers sank in July for the first time in three months despite the government's popular 'cash for clunkers' incentive program, indicating that the American economy faces a bumpy recovery from its worst recession since World War II.

	Aug. 13, 2009 When Did Formerly Safe Bonds Become Unsafe? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 13, 2009 Home Foreclosures Set Third Record in Five Months Foreclosure filings in the United States jumped in July, again setting a record for the third time in five months. The increase was due to falling home prices and the recession, which kept some homeowners from making payments or refinancing.

	Aug. 12, 2009 Crisis Turned Federal Reserve Into Fourth Branch of Government, Author Says "In Fed We Trust" author David Wessel discusses how the central bank reacted to the financial crisis and its changing role in setting U.S. and global financial policy.

	Aug. 12, 2009 Other News: U.S. Marines Storm Taliban Stronghold In other news, Marines launched an offensive in Afghanistan, storming a Taliban compound in Helmand province. Also, government troops in the Philippines attacked militants tied to al-Qaida.

	Aug. 12, 2009 Fed Decision Signals Optimism for Economy The Fed decided Wednesday to keep short-term interest rates at a record low to help stabilize the economy. Jeffrey Brown speaks with a Washington Post reporter about the economic outlook.

	Aug. 12, 2009 Hard Times Leveling Off In Patchwork Nation As economists and politicians point to a possible economic turnaround, Patchwork Nation's September Hardship Index found that troublesome economic indicators are starting to level off, as they did in August, yet times are still getting tougher in some places.

	Aug. 12, 2009 'In Fed We Trust' Nearly a year after the financial markets went into a tailspin and the Federal Reserve began to take unprecedented steps to revive the economy, David Wessel has penned a new account of how the crisis unfolded and the people charged with containing it.

	Aug. 12, 2009 Fed Holds Key Interest Rate at Record Low The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will keep short-term interest rates at a record low in order to further stabilize the U.S. economy. But it signaled confidence in the recovery, saying economic activity is "leveling out."

	Aug. 12, 2009 Where Are Toxic Assets Now? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 11, 2009 Did Hank Paulson Just Want to Save Goldman Sachs? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 11, 2009 GM Unveils 230 MPG Claim for Chevy Volt General Motors announced Tuesday that its long-awaited Chevrolet Volt hybrid, a battery- and gas-powered electric vehicle, can get 230 miles per gallon in city driving, dwarfing every other car on the market in fuel efficiency.

	Aug. 10, 2009 Ala. Highway Exposes Challenges of Transit Planning As part of an ongoing series of reports on the nation's infrastructure, special correspondent Rick Karr examines a dispute in Alabama over a nearly 50-year-old federal highway program.

	Aug. 10, 2009 Bargain-hunting Adds Up to Unexpected Costs In the new book "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture," author Ellen Ruppel Shell explores modern consumers' love of cheap, mass-produced products, and the downsides -- on wages, the environment, and quality -- that a discount culture creates.

	Aug. 10, 2009 Medicare Misinformation Remains Issue in Reform Debate As the health care reform debates continues, some seniors are concerned over potential changes to Medicare payments.

	Aug. 10, 2009 Other News: U.S. Commander Warns of Taliban Gains In other news, a top U.S. military official warned that the Taliban has the upper hand in Afghanistan. Also, a typhoon tore through Taiwan over the weekend.

	Aug. 10, 2009 Ask Ellen Ruppel Shell, Author of 'Cheap', About the High Cost of Discounts Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 10, 2009 What Are Warrants Issued by Financial Institutions? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 7, 2009 Health Reform Push, Clinton's N. Korea Trip Top Week's News Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the news of the week, including tensions in the health care debate and former President Bill Clinton's trip to North Korea to obtain the release of two U.S. journalists.

	Aug. 7, 2009 Other News: Markets Jump on Positive Jobs Report In other news, Wall Street rallied on a Labor Department report that showed the U.S. economy lost fewer jobs than expected in July, and President Obama signed a $2 billion extension of the "cash for clunkers" incentive program.

	Aug. 7, 2009 Job Losses Ease in July, but Economic Picture Still Mixed The U.S. economy shed fewer jobs than expected in July, according to new Labor Department figures. Experts discuss what the data says about the job market and an economic recovery.

	Aug. 7, 2009 During August, Public Weighs in on Reform The Senate remained in session this week, but as House members headed home to their districts the focus of health care reform efforts moved off Capitol Hill.

	Aug. 7, 2009 Is the "Perfect Storm" Metaphor Appropriate for the Economic Crisis? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 7, 2009 U.S. Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly to 9.4% For the first time since April 2008, the U.S. unemployment rate fell slightly in July, to 9.4 percent, down from 9.5 percent in June.

	Aug. 6, 2009 Dealers, Detroit Look for Boost With 'Clunkers' Extension The government's popular "cash for clunkers" incentive program -- aimed at replacing gas guzzlers with more fuel-efficient vehicles -- nearly exhausted its $1 billion budget in just days. Analysts look at who benefits from the program and its effects on the troubled U.S. auto industry.

	Aug. 6, 2009 Other News: 4 Marines Killed in Afghan Explosion In other news, four U.S. Marines died in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan, and the Obama administration is considering a new plan to remove billions of dollars worth of troubled loans from the books of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

	Aug. 6, 2009 Are Credit Card Companies Raising Rates to Repay the Government? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 6, 2009 If Banks Just Changed Their Accounting Rules, Why Do They Need Bailout Money? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 5, 2009 Obama Addresses Criticism on Stimulus Spending Amid the continuing debate over the effectiveness of the federal stimulus funds, President Obama unveiled new grants that he said can help rebuild the economy. A ProPublica reporter discusses how some hard-hit areas are getting more money, but others are not.

	Aug. 5, 2009 Other News: In Kenya, Clinton Pushes for Accountability In other news, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spent the first day of her seven-nation African tour calling for improved accountability in Kenya, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn into office for a second term.

	Aug. 5, 2009 Should We Have Dealt With 'Too Big to Fail' in the 1980s? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 4, 2009 Despite Federal Aid, Lenders Slow to Modify Home Loans Fewer than 8 percent of eligible borrowers have successfully modified their mortgages under a $75 billion federal plan aimed at halting home foreclosures, according to a Treasury Department report. Jeffrey Kaye reports on the early struggles of the program.

	Aug. 4, 2009 Why Does the Govt. Pay Farmers to Not Grow Crops? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 3, 2009 Other News: New Prison for Gitmo Detainees Considered; Pilot's Remains Found In other news, White House officials confirmed that the administration is weighing creating a prison inside the U.S. to both house and prosecute suspected terrorists, and a bombing carried out by the Taliban killed 11 people in western Afghanistan.

	Aug. 3, 2009 Why Do Cars Have Fuel Doors on Different Sides? Paul Solman answers questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 3, 2009 What's the Basic Function of the Stock Market? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	Aug. 3, 2009 Despite Critics, Senate Considers $2B Boost for 'Cash for Clunkers' The government's "cash for clunkers" program helped prop up sagging auto sales in July, but the popular program is almost out of cash and the Senate is considering a $2 billion infusion by the end of the week.



	JULY July 31, 2009 Congress Considers Plan to Influence Executive Pay Congress might give the government some say in how much Wall Street executives are paid. A former SEC accountant and a law professor give their take on the plan.

	July 31, 2009 Other News: House to Add $2 Billion to Cash for Clunkers The House rushed to inject $2 billion into the cash for clunkers program, and the Associated Press reported that thousands of decaying bridges are suffering under the stimulus package.

	July 31, 2009 Recession Shows Signs of Easing Grip on U.S. Economy New economic figures hinted that the U.S. recession could be slowing down. Jeffrey Brown gets analysis from a banker and a journalist.

	July 31, 2009 U.S. Economy Shrinks Less Than Expected The U.S. economy sank at a pace of just 1 percent in the second quarter of the year, the Commerce Department reported Friday, in a better-than-expected showing that the recession could be winding down.

	July 31, 2009 Tales From the Fed: Blinder on Greenspan Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 30, 2009 Fed Struggles with Perceptions of Transparency As the debate over the Federal Reserve's transparency heats up in Congress, Paul Solman looks at the agency's attempts to balance public disclosure and the secrecy it uses to protect financial markets.

	July 30, 2009 Tales From the Fed: Blinder on Fed Transparency Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 30, 2009 Tales From the Fed: Rivlin on Fed Independence Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 30, 2009 How Can the Repaid TARP Money Be Used? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 30, 2009 Exxon, Shell Report Massive Drops in Profits Oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. reported Thursday that its earnings plunged 66 percent in the second quarter, following a steep decline in fuel prices over the past year.

	July 29, 2009 In Forum, Bernanke Says Fed Was Late Addressing Subprime Crisis The third and final installment of a special forum with Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke, moderated by Jim Lehrer in Kansas City, Mo.

	July 29, 2009 Other News: Economy Stabilizing in Parts of U.S., Fed Says In other news, the Federal Reserve indicated that the recession might be easing up but said the labor market remains soft, and Microsoft announced a long-awaited partnership with Yahoo.

	July 29, 2009 Microsoft, Yahoo Pair up With Sights on Google After years of courting, Microsoft announced Wednesday that it finally inked a deal with Yahoo in hopes that a partnership could help topple Google from being the Internet search and advertising leader.

	July 29, 2009 Tales From the Fed: Rivlin on Popular Misunderstandings of the Fed Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 29, 2009 What About Banks That Didn't Take TARP Money? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economics news on "The Business Desk."

	July 29, 2009 U.S., China End Two Days of Talks With Few Concrete Results The United States and China ended two days of high-level talks Tuesday, pledging to improve cooperation on economic and security issues, including on policies aimed at economic recovery and international non-proliferation agreements.

	July 28, 2009 At Forum, Fed Chairman Calls for Patience on Stimulus In part two of Jim Lehrer’s conversation with Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chief discusses the state of the Obama administration’s economic recovery efforts, and the central bank's efforts to help homeowners facing foreclosure.

	July 28, 2009 Other News: Sotomayor Nomination Heads to Full Senate In other news, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 to recommend Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic justice, and consumer confidence fell for a second straight month.

	July 28, 2009 Making Sen$e of the Federal Reserve Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 28, 2009 U.S. Home Prices Rise Slightly, Consumer Confidence Drops Again A key measure of the housing market shows that U.S. home prices rose slightly in May, posting the first monthly increase since the summer of 2006. Meanwhile, consumer confidence continued to decline, according to another closely watched measurement.

	July 28, 2009 Tales From the Fed: Blinder on the Fallout from Lehman's Failure Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 28, 2009 Thaler Responds to Posner on Consumer Protection Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 27, 2009 Other News: New Home Sales Surge 11% in June In other news, new home sales leapt 11 percent in June, the largest monthly gain in nearly nine years, and the U.S. warned Iran it could face tough sanctions if it rejects talks on its nuclear program.

	July 27, 2009 Bernanke Reflects on Fed's Aggressive Actions In the first of a three-part discussion, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that jobless rates may continue to rise and discussed his fears of another Great Depression.

	July 27, 2009 With Trade Hub History, K.C. a Crossroads for Commerce Economics correspondent Paul Solman explores Kansas City, Mo., home to one of 12 regional Federal Reserve banks and a crossroads for the U.S. economy.

	July 27, 2009 Tales From the Fed: Rivlin on the Perfect Storm Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 27, 2009 Bernanke Reflects on Fed's Actions in Forum In a forum on the Fed's role in the handling of the economic crisis and recovery, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reflected on his desire not to be the Fed chief who "presided over the second Great Depression."

	July 27, 2009 At Forum, Bernanke Defends Fed's Aggressive Moves At a forum in Kansas City, Mo., Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke discussed the central bank's actions in handling the economic crisis, saying he did not want to be the Fed chief who "presided over the second Great Depression." Here is the full transcript of the forum, which was moderated by Jim Lehrer.

	July 26, 2009 Jim Lehrer Moderates a Forum With the Fed Chief Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke answers audience questions in a forum moderated by Jim Lehrer in Kansas City, Mo.

	July 26, 2009 Bernanke on the Record: Fed Chief Answers Questions from Public In a forum on the Fed's role in the handling of the economic crisis and recovery moderated by Jim Lehrer, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reflected on his desire not to be the Fed chief who "presided over the second Great Depression."

	July 26, 2009 Federal Reserve Timeline The subject of much confusion and countless conspiracy theories, the Federal Reserve is one of the most powerful government entities in the United States.

	July 24, 2009 Should the Government Set Up a National Lottery? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 24, 2009 Watchdog Role at Center of Regulator Showdown Three federal government officials charged with reforming the U.S. financial system testify Friday in front of the House Financial Services committee who should become the nation's top consumer watchdog.

	July 23, 2009 Other News: Dow Closes Over the 9,000 Mark In other news, better-than-expected earnings from several companies, combined with strong housing figures pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average above 9,000 for the first time since January, and three mayors in New Jersey were arrested on corruption charges.

	July 23, 2009 Is Unemployment Any Guide to Future Growth? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 22, 2009 Bernanke Signals Slow Recovery, Defends Fed's Powers Fed chief Ben Bernanke told a Senate panel on Wednesday that economic recovery should begin soon, albeit slowly at first. A financial analyst and a lawmaker speak with Ray Suarez about the testimony.

	July 22, 2009 Patchwork Nation: Bumping Along the Economic Bottom Patchwork Nation's Hardship Index -- a short-term barometer of how communities are faring each month -- rose in July, indicating that the country's not out of the downturn quite yet.

	July 22, 2009 Are Geithner and Summers Too Close to Wall Street? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 21, 2009 Calif. Strikes Deal to Close $26 Billion Budget Gap Lawmakers in California on Tuesday agreed on a plan to close a $26 billion budget gap, ending weeks of stalemate that left the state's chief accountant having to issue IOUs to creditors. Ray Suarez reports.

	July 21, 2009 Senate Vote Against F-22 Funds a Win for Obama In a key political victory for President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the Senate on Tuesday voted 58-40 to block $1.75 billion in financing for new F-22 fighter jets. Kwame Holman reports.

	July 21, 2009 Bernanke Details Stimulus Exit Plan to Congress Despite recent improvements in the economy, the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates near zero, chairman Ben Bernanke told lawmakers Tuesday. Greg Ip of "The Economist" examines the chairman's testimony with Gwen Ifill, and discusses the central bank's plans to roll back crisis measures taken during the credit crunch.

	July 21, 2009 Other News: Bailout Funds Come Under New Scrutiny In other news, lawmakers asked new questions on the spending of federal bailout dollars, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed a vote on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor by one week.

	July 21, 2009 Bernanke: Fed has Stimulus Exit Strategy Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke looked to assure lawmakers and Wall Street that the central bank will be able to scale down its massive stimulus efforts and avoid inflationary concerns when the economic recovery is more certain.

	July 21, 2009 Why Do CEOs Make So Much Money? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 20, 2009 Other News: Army to Add 22,000 Soldiers In other news, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the Army would add 22,000 more soldiers to its ranks, and in Mumbai, India, the only surviving gunman in last November's shooting attacks changed his plea to guilty.

	July 20, 2009 Obama Outlines Expectations for Health Reform Timeline, Economic Recovery In an interview with Jim Lehrer, President Barack Obama said he could be flexible on the August deadline for a health care reform plan if most details are in place and discussed the state of the economy.

	July 20, 2009 Is Madoff's Sentence a Deterrent for Future Swindlers? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 20, 2009 Ask Fed Chief Ben Bernanke About the Economy Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 17, 2009 Other News: Troops Killed in Iraq, Summers Says Economic Catastrophe Avoided In other news, three American soldiers were killed when their base was attacked, and reports showed that unemployment climbed to double digits in 15 states last month.

	July 17, 2009 Bank of America, Citigroup Report Strong Profits Two ailing banks that just a few months ago symbolized many of the troubles afflicting the American banking system posted strong second-quarter profits Friday, exceeding analysts' expectations.

	July 17, 2009 A Little Poetry for California's Crisis Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 16, 2009 Cyber Attacks on Governments On the Fourth of July, cyber attacks started targeting computers at the White House, the Pentagon and other major U.S. government agencies. The New York Stock Exchange and the South Korean government were also targets. Who and what are behind the attacks? Two experts answered your questions.

	July 16, 2009 Publishing Industry Confronts Changing Reader Habits As the recession pushes more readers into cash-strapped libraries, some are turning to electronic books to satisfy their literary appetites. Ray Suarez looks at this nascent industry with two publishers.

	July 16, 2009 Paulson Defends Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Deal Former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson testified Thursday in the third and final House hearing looking into the government's role in the Bank of America purchase of Merrill Lynch. Jim Lehrer discusses the hearings with Binyamin Appelbaum of the Washington Post.

	July 16, 2009 Other News: Markets Advance, Auto Dealers Gain Congressional Support In other news, Wall Street advanced on tech stocks, and House members introduced a proposal that would force GM and Chrylser to restore franchise agreements with auto dealers.

	July 16, 2009 China Holds Workers, Stirring Diplomatic Spat China's detention of four employees of the Australian mining company Rio Tinto on suspicion of stealing government secrets earlier this month has caused a stir on the global business front.

	July 16, 2009 China's Economy Rebounds With Sizable Growth The Chinese government reported that the country's economy grew by 7.9 percent in the second quarter of this year, fueled by massive stimulus spending and more than $1 trillion in lending by state-run banks.

	July 16, 2009 Paulson Rebuts Congress' Rebuke on Bank Merger Lawmakers grilled former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Thursday over the government's role in Bank of America's merger with Merrill Lynch, saying authorities withheld information about losses and intimidated bank executives into sealing the deal.

	July 16, 2009 How is the U.S. Savings Rate Determined? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 15, 2009 Other News: Markets Jump, Plane Crashes in Iran In other news, large gains in the banking and tech sectors led markets higher, and a passenger plane crashed in Iran, killing all 168 people on board.

	July 15, 2009 Simon Johnson on Cap and Trade Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 15, 2009 Reader Response: What Will Drive America's Future Growth? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 14, 2009 In Slumping Economy, a Shift in Shopping Habits Economics correspondent Paul Solman speaks with author Paco Underhill about how consumer habits have changed during this recession.

	July 14, 2009 Fallout Continues from California's Budget Woes After failing to plug a $26 billion budget gap, California has begun sending out IOUs to cover its costs, but most banks are refusing to accept them. Spencer Michels reports on the ongoing financial crisis in the Golden State.

	July 14, 2009 Other News: Obama Predicts More Job Losses, Helicopter Crashes in Afghanistan In other news, President Barack Obama predicted job losses would likely continue to rise for the next few months, and six civilians working for NATO died in Afghanistan when their helicopter crashed.

	July 14, 2009 Simon Johnson on China and the U.S. Economy Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 14, 2009 Goldman Sachs Reports Quarterly Profits of $3.4B Just a month after paying back $10 billion in government bailout funds, Goldman Sachs reported impressive second-quarter earnings Tuesday, comfortably surpassing analysts' expectations.

	July 13, 2009 Union Leaders Press President Obama for More Support Nearly a dozen union leaders met with President Obama Monday in an effort to gain support for key legislation now before Congress. Ray Suarez talks with experts about the bills and their potential impact on workers and employers.

	July 13, 2009 Global Recession Impacts Dairy Prices, Farmers Amid the economic slowdown, the dairy industry is being hit with high costs and lower profits, forcing many farmers to make tough decisions. NewsHour special correspondent Jeffrey Kaye looks at how some California farmers are responding to depressed global demand.

	July 13, 2009 Other News: Markets Rise, Obama Resumes Push for Health Care Reform In other news, the Dow Jones industrial average made significant gains after an analyst expressed optimism for the banking industry, and President Obama warned Congress not to delay or block passage of comprehensive health care reform.

	July 13, 2009 Major Eurasian Pipeline Deal to Help Diversify Gas Supplies The highly anticipated $11 billion Nabucco pipeline, connecting the energy-rich Caspian region to Eastern Europe, moved forward Monday when five countries signed an agreement in the Turkish capital Ankara.

	July 13, 2009 Simon Johnson on Whether Wall Street Has Changed Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 13, 2009 Is California Printing Its Own Money? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 10, 2009 Brooks, Marcus Mull Court Politics, Health Care Reform Columnists Ruth Marcus and David Brooks discuss top political news, including next week's hearings on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, the pace of health care reform and President Obama's trip abroad.

	July 10, 2009 As G-8 Summit Wraps Up, Obama Heads to Ghana Margaret Warner, who has been reporting on the scene of the G-8 summit, discusses the meeting's conclusion and President Obama's next stop in Ghana.

	July 10, 2009 Other News: Markets Drop, Health Reform Meets Delays In other news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 36 points to close at 8146, and the push to overhaul the health care system ran into new delays in Congress.

	July 10, 2009 Post-Bankruptcy, GM CEO Pledges New Course After the announcement that General Motors Corp. had completed its 40-day stay under bankruptcy protection, CEO Fritz Henderson speaks to Judy Woodruff about the company's goals for remaking the struggling auto maker.

	July 10, 2009 Timeline: Big Three Automakers' Recent Troubles Review some of the key developments and coverage of the auto industry's troubles over the past year in this timeline.

	July 10, 2009 Staying Positive in a Down Job Market Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 10, 2009 GM Emerges From Bankruptcy Protection Facing Tough Car Market General Motors Corp. CEO Fritz Henderson announced Friday that the company emerged from bankruptcy and now begins the task of remaking the struggling American carmaker that was once the world's largest and most powerful.

	July 10, 2009 For Inmates, Job Training for a Tough Market At D.C.'s Central Jail, inmates nearing their release dates are poised to enter a difficult market. Some are receiving job training at a new employment readiness center.

	July 10, 2009 By Saving on Cheap Goods and Services, Do We Pay More in the End? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 9, 2009 Other News: Bombings Kill Nearly 60 Iraqis In other news, nearly 60 Iraqis were killed in a series of bombings, and some two million Pakistani refugees will be allowed to return home after fleeing from a Taliban offensive.

	July 9, 2009 Why Do Tube Drivers Earn More than Bus Drivers in the UK? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 8, 2009 Questions Surface on Impact of Stimulus Plan Five months after President Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package, some of the money has begun making its way to states. Experts measure the impact the funds have had on local communities.

	July 8, 2009 At G-8, Small Steps on Emissions, Economic Recovery Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations gathered in Italy on Wednesday to assess risks to the global economy and other key issues at their annual meeting. Margaret Warner reports from the summit.

	July 8, 2009 For Ex-Cons and Laid-off Execs Alike, Dim Job Hopes In the next in his series on making sense of the financial news, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on those in society -- such as executives or ex-convicts -- who are struggling to find employment.

	July 8, 2009 Other News: Chinese Troops Move to Halt Ethnic Violence In other news, Chinese troops moved into the Xinjiang Province to stop the ethnic rioting that has left 156 dead since Sunday, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has appeared in public for the first time since last April.

	July 8, 2009 Why Does the London Tube Charge More If You Use a Paper Ticket? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 8, 2009 The Cap and Trade Debate Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 7, 2009 Other News: Stocks Drop on Economic Recovery Doubts In other news, stocks dipped to their lowest levels in more than two months on doubts about the strength of the economic recovery, and the president of Costa Rica agreed to mediate the political crisis in Honduras.

	July 7, 2009 Send Robert Frank Your Questions Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 7, 2009 Why Is the iPhone on a Single Network? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 6, 2009 Foreclosures in Wealthier Monied 'Burbs May Signal Trouble Ahead As economists search for signs that the recession is abating, a look at the breakdown of foreclosures in Patchwork Nation's community types finds that a new wave may be impacting the U.S. differently and could stall recovery.

	July 6, 2009 Why Are Christmas Tree Stands Different in NYC? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 6, 2009 Judge OKs Plan to Sell GM Assets; Appeal Looms A New York judge has approved General Motors Corp.'s bankruptcy sale in a move that will allow the company's most-profitable assets to quickly emerge from bankruptcy protection under government ownership.

	July 5, 2009 Reader Response: The Uncounted Unemployed Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 3, 2009 Palin Resignation, Minnesota Senate Election Resolution Top Week's News Columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson mull Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's surprise resignation announcement and the Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling that Democrat Al Franken defeated Republican Norm Coleman for a U.S. Senate seat.

	July 3, 2009 Why Are Newspapers Sold in Vending Machines That Allow You to Take More Than One? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 2, 2009 Many Left Uncounted in Nation's Official Jobless Rate Paul Solman examines how the number of jobless people who fall outside of official unemployment counts offer a different picture of the nation's economic recovery.

	July 2, 2009 Other News: After Budget Failure, California Begins Issuing IOUs In other news, California began issuing IOU notes after the governor failed to reach a deal on the state's budget, and Vice President Joe Biden visited troops in Iraq.

	July 2, 2009 June Unemployment Dims Prospects for Recovery After employers shed more jobs than expected in the month of June, the unemployment rate hit a 26-year high last month. New York Times columnist David Leonhardt talks about what the latest job numbers mean for the overall economic picture.

	July 2, 2009 Why Does Your Refrigerator Have a Light, But Not Your Freezer? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 2, 2009 Employers Shed More Jobs Than Expected in June, Unemployment Reaches 9.5 Percent Employers cut more jobs than expected in June, nudging the unemployment rate closer to double digits and quashing hopes for a quick economic recovery.

	July 1, 2009 Russia Navigates Fallout of Economic Crisis With its fortunes tethered to volatile natural gas and oil prices, Russia has suffered record inflation and unemployment in the global financial crisis. In the second of her series of reports from Russia, Margaret Warner examines the country's economic picture.

	July 1, 2009 Other News: Markets See Modest Rise; Iran Opposition Leader Urges More Protests In other news, markets rose on positive reports from the manufacturing and housing sectors. Also, in auto news Ford reported its best showing in months but Chrysler and GM each posted a greater than 30 percent loss.

	July 1, 2009 California Leads States Facing Deepening Budget Crises Several states are struggling to find solutions for deep budget gaps as a new fiscal year begins. Jeffrey Brown examines the budget picture across the country.

	July 1, 2009 Why Do Brides Buy Dresses While Grooms Rent Tuxes? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	July 1, 2009 Several States Fail to Pass Budgets for Fiscal Year With revenues dwindling in the recession, legislators in several states frantically worked Tuesday to avoid government shutdowns and service cuts.



	JUNE June 30, 2009 Other News: Markets Slip on Consumer Confidence Data In other news, U.S. stocks fell after an unexpected decline in consumer confidence, and the F.D.A. may seek to ban certain common painkillers.

	June 30, 2009 Why Do Drive-Up ATM Machines Have Braille Dots? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 30, 2009 Video Collection: Margaret Warner's Reports From Russia On the eve of President Barack Obama's meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Margaret Warner presents a series of reports on Russia's politics, economy and social issues.

	June 29, 2009 Barcalounger Closure Marks Continued Manufacturing Decline in Edgecombe County Last week was a tough one for the people of Edgecombe County, about 80 minutes east of Raleigh with Friday, June 26th, marking the last day of operations for the Barcalounger factory in Rocky Mount.

	June 29, 2009 Wind Energy Fuels Job Hopes for Oklahoma Youth In the final installment of her Generation Next series, which has aired on both the NewsHour and NPR, Judy Woodruff reports on how wind energy is generating new career prospects for young Americans in the Sooner State.

	June 29, 2009 Madoff Sentenced to 150 Years in Prison for Ponzi Scheme Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff was sentenced Monday to 150 years in prison after pleading guilty in March to defrauding investors out of as much as $60 billion. Ray Suarez talks to New York Times reporter Diana Henriques about the day in court.

	June 29, 2009 Other News: President of Honduras Ousted in Coup In other news, the president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, was ousted in the first coup in Central America since the end of the Cold War, and Iran's top electoral oversight committee reaffirmed the disputed results of the nation's disputed presidential election.

	June 29, 2009 What Do You Make of the Madoff Sentence? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 29, 2009 Madoff Sentenced to 150 Years in Prison Financier Bernard Madoff was sentenced Monday to 150 years in prison after pleading guilty in March to bilking investors out of as much as $65 billion over two decades.

	June 29, 2009 Guest Host: Robert Frank as the Economic Naturalist Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 26, 2009 In Hartford, Stimulus Funds for Schools Leveraged for State Budget Crunch John Tulenko of Learning Matters reports on how one school district in Connecticut is weathering the recession, and how the state is using stimulus funds to close budget deficits rather than increase education spending.

	June 26, 2009 Other News: Iran Cleric Pushes Punishment for Protesters In other news, a leading cleric in Iran told worshipers that opposition protesters should be punished "ruthlessly and savagely," and President Obama met in Washington with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

	June 26, 2009 Amid Recession, U.S. Savings Rate Hits Highest Mark Since 1993 As the longest recession since World War II drags on, Americans are responding by shying away from spending, opting instead to save money at the fastest pace in 15 years, a new report shows.

	June 26, 2009 Did U.S. Tax Policy Contribute to the Housing Bubble? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 25, 2009 Bernanke Faces New Questions Over Role of the Fed Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faced fresh questions from a House committee Thursday over the central bank's role facilitating Bank of America's purchase of Merrill Lynch. Experts discuss the acquisition, as well as the expanding power of the Federal Reserve, with Jeffrey Brown.

	June 25, 2009 California Lawmakers Struggle With $24B Budget Gap Spencer Michels reports on California's struggles to address a $24 billion shortfall in the state budget, which lawmakers say puts the state in danger of running out of money.

	June 25, 2009 Other News: Wall Street Rises Off Housing, Retail In other news, markets rose on Wall Street after positive news from the homebuilding and retail sectors, and billionaire banker Allen Stanford pleaded not guilty to to bilking investors out of their investments.

	June 25, 2009 How Regulatory Reforms Will Affect Consumers (Cont.) Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 25, 2009 Fed Chief Denies Wrongdoing in BofA Deal Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before a House committee Thursday, facing questions on the Fed's role in pushing Bank of America to acquire the struggling Merrill Lynch during the height of the Wall Street meltdown.

	June 25, 2009 Will the Actions of the Fed and Treasury Keep Asset Prices Artificially High? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 24, 2009 Sebelius: Health Reform Puts Focus on Lower Costs, Better Choices Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday urged lawmakers to approve the White House health care reform plan. She outlines the case for the overhaul with Judy Woodruff.

	June 24, 2009 Other News: Bomb Blast Kills Dozens at Baghdad Market In other news, a bombing at a Baghdad market killed at least 69 people, and the Federal Reserve said it will leave interest rates unchanged.

	June 24, 2009 Wealthier Areas of U.S. Experience Largest Rise in Uninsured Rates As President Obama's administration and Congress tackle the challenging task of health care reform, an examination of the number of uninsured people in Patchwork Nation communities reveals that the areas hardest hit between 2000 and 2005 were the wealthier Monied Burbs and Boom Towns.

	June 24, 2009 Fed Keeps Key Rate at Record Low The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that the recession is easing, but that the U.S. economy likely will remain fragile and limit the threat of inflation.

	June 24, 2009 Kodak Retires Iconic Kodachrome Film Eastman Kodak Co. announced this week that it was retiring its iconic Kodachrome film because of declining demand. Introduced in 1935, Kodachrome became the world's first commercially successful color film.

	June 23, 2009 Deciphering the Shape of Economic Recovery When economists discuss economic recovery, it's often in terms of the alphabet. In the latest installment of his Making Sen$e series, Paul Solman explains what phrases such as "V-shaped recovery" or "U-shaped recession" say about the economic outlook.

	June 23, 2009 Other News: National Security Adviser Meets with Afghan Candidates In other news, U.S. national security adviser James Jones met with candidates in Afghanistan's upcoming presidential election to press for a free and fair contest, and U.S. airstrikes in Pakistan reportedly killed nine people at a Taliban training camp.

	June 23, 2009 What's the Relationship Between Inflation and Interest Rates? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 22, 2009 Generation Next: Young Grads Turn to Service Amid Tight Job Market At community resource centers across the country, young people like Brian Marroquin, a recent graduate of VCU, are deferring their careers to focus on community service. Judy Woodruff examines the trend as part of the Generation Next series.

	June 22, 2009 Other News: Violence in Iraq Kills 33 In other news, a series of attacks in and around Baghdad on Monday killed at least 33 people, and the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan is planning to announce new rules of engagement aimed at reducing the number of civilian casualities.

	June 19, 2009 Shields and Brooks Mull U.S. Response to Iran Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the Obama administration's response to political turmoil in Iran and new plans to overhaul the financial regulation system.

	June 19, 2009 Other News: 2 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan In other news, two U.S. soldiers were killed in Afghanistan on Friday after a bomb struck their convoy and billionaire Texas banker Allen Stanford was indicted on federal charges of fraud and obstruction.

	June 19, 2009 Billionaire Stanford, Bank Officials Indicted in Massive Fraud Case Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford and several associates have been indicted on fraud and obstruction charges in what U.S. Justice Department officials say was a $7 billion pyramid scheme to defraud more than 5,000 investors over more than a decade.

	June 19, 2009 Instead of Capping Pay, Could the Government Police Banks' Risk Models? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 18, 2009 Geithner Defends Plan for Regulatory Overhaul In an interview with Jim Lehrer, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner details the administration's case for a sweeping overhaul of the financial regulation system and discusses the government's role in shaping an economic recovery.

	June 18, 2009 Other News: Senate Passes $106 Billion War Funding Bill In other news, the U.S. Senate approved a $106 war funding bill, and a Pakistani intelligence official said a U.S. drone attack killed 13 people at a Taliban encampment.

	June 18, 2009 How Will the Regulatory Reforms Affect Consumers? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 17, 2009 Five Things to Know About the Financial Regulatory Overhaul Plan The White House has proposed a sweeping overhaul of the way the government regulates financial markets. Amid the lengthy regulatory outline, here are five key points to consider in the administration's proposed plan.

	June 17, 2009 Jobless Find a Creative Voice in Southern California In Southern California, a photographer has been documenting the stories of the jobless -- the irony being that he himself was laid off at the end of 2008. Spencer Michels reports on the stories behind the unemployed.

	June 17, 2009 Obama's Regulatory Reform Plan Stirs Mixed Reaction Gwen Ifill speaks with a banking expert and an economist about what the administration's plans for reforming financial oversight mean for businesses and consumers alike.

	June 17, 2009 Other News: Chrysler to Reopen 7 Plants In other news, Chrysler said it will reopen seven auto plants, and the National Security Administration's domestic surveillance program may have been broader than first realized, according to The New York Times.

	June 17, 2009 Regulatory Reform Plan Aimed at Protecting Larger Economy President Barack Obama proposed a major overhaul of financial industry regulation Wednesday. White House adviser Christina Romer explains the administration's plans.

	June 17, 2009 President Obama Seeks Overhaul of Financial Market Oversight President Barack Obama proposed Wednesday sweeping changes to the way the government oversees financial institutions in an attempt to remedy the regulatory system that failed to detect the global economic crisis.

	June 17, 2009 Will the Administration's Regulatory Overhaul Work? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 16, 2009 Other News: Presidential Campaign Begins in Afghanistan In other news, Afghanistan kicked off its two month-long presidential election campaign, and a U.S. soldier was killed in a roadside bombing about 230 miles southeast of Baghdad.

	June 16, 2009 Patchwork Nation's Community Types Patchwork Nation is a NewsHour/Christian Science Monitor reporting project that explores what is happening in the United States by examining different kinds of communities over time. Project director Dante Chinni explains how America's 3,141 counties are divided into 12 types of communities.

	June 16, 2009 Why Doesn't Washington Simply Give Households Money to Stimulate the Economy? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 15, 2009 Business Students Rethink Wall Street Plans After the economic slump scuttled their plans to enter the financial sector, business students at Duke University look at different alternatives, such as graduate school, or rethink their career paths altogether. Judy Woodruff talks to some recent graduates in the second part of her Generation Next series.

	June 15, 2009 Other News: North Koreans Protest New U.N. Sanctions In other news, North Koreans turned out to protest tough new U.N. sanctions and U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal officially took command of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

	June 15, 2009 Why Is the Cost of Gasoline Increasing? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 12, 2009 Other News: Mosque Bombings Kill at Least 9 in Pakistan In other news, two bombings at Pakistani mosques killed at least nine people and the U.N. Security Council expanded sanctions against North Korea.

	June 12, 2009 Finance Fallacy: Stocks in the Long Run Financial advice is often loaded with misconceptions and misinformation. In the latest edition of Finance Fallacy, Paul Solman and Boston University professor Zvi Bodie debunk the belief that investing in stocks is the safest, smartest route to financial security over the long run.

	June 12, 2009 Finance Fallacy: Stocks in the Long Run Financial advice is often loaded with misconceptions and misinformation. In the latest edition of Finance Fallacy, Paul Solman and Boston University professor Zvi Bodie debunk the belief that investing in stocks is the safest, smartest route to financial security over the long run.

	June 12, 2009 Could the Government Limit the Number of Layoffs a Profitable Company Could Make? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 11, 2009 'Frontline' Investigates Bank of America Deal An excerpt on Frontline's upcoming report on Bank of America and the government's new role in the banking system, told from the perspective of CEO Ken Lewis and the financial reporters who covered the story.

	June 11, 2009 Lawmakers Examine Bank Purchase of Merrill Lynch Officials from the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve pressed Bank of America into purchasing Merrill Lynch last year, the bank's chief executive Ken Lewis told a House committee. Spencer Michels reports on the hearing.

	June 11, 2009 An Overview of St. Lawrence County, N.Y. St. Lawrence County is the largest land mass county east of the Mississippi, and its low population, around 110,000, makes it one of the most rural.

	June 11, 2009 Retail Sales Up for First Time in Three Months Fewer Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week and retail sales grew in May for the first time in three months, raising expectations that the recession could be abating.

	June 11, 2009 What Happens to California State Bonds if the State Goes Bankrupt? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 10, 2009 Administration Proposes New Steps to Regulate Executive Pay The Obama administration outlined a plan for new executive compensation regulations Wednesday, putting the politically charged issue of executive pay back in the spotlight. Analysts examine how more oversight will affect the industry.

	June 10, 2009 Other News: Guard Killed at U.S. Holocaust Museum In other news, an attacker shot and killed a security guard inside the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and at least 28 people were killed in a car bombing in Iraq.

	June 10, 2009 After Chrysler Deal, Fiat to Face Tough U.S. Car Market Chrysler finalized the sale of its assets to Italian automaker Fiat Wednesday after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the deal. Analysts examine the future for the newly merged company.

	June 10, 2009 Administration Proposes New Regulations of Executive Pay The Obama administration on Wednesday proposed new regulations for executive compensation at financial firms.

	June 10, 2009 If China Pulls Away From the Dollar, What Happens to the U.S. Economy? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 10, 2009 Chrysler Finishes Deal With Fiat After Court Strikes Down Request to Delay Sale Italian automaker Fiat became the new owner of most of Chrysler's assets Wednesday, in a move that largely ends the U.S. company's bankruptcy process and staves off concerns about liquidating the company.

	June 9, 2009 Amid Rush to Repay Rescue Funds, Banks Face New Scrutiny Big U.S. banks passed key government "stress tests" and are now working to repay federal rescue funds. Does that mean they're out of the woods and the government rescue plan worked? Financial experts offer insight.

	June 9, 2009 Deciphering the Results of Banking 'Stress Tests' NewsHour economics correspondent Paul Solman explains how stress tests played into the government's decision to let ten big banks pay the Treasury back for the money they received from the federal rescue.

	June 9, 2009 Other News: Judge OKs Chrysler Dealer Closings In other news, a bankruptcy judge approved the closing of 789 Chrysler dealership franchises, and on Wall Street, financial markets stayed relatively stable.

	June 9, 2009 Treasury Clears 10 Banks to Repay $68 Billion in Bailout Money Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner faced lawmakers' questions after the announcement that ten large banks have been cleared to begin paying back billions of dollars in federal rescue money. Jeffrey Brown talks to Washington Post reporter Binyamin Appelbaum about the details.

	June 9, 2009 Which Banks Are Repaying TARP Funds? The U.S. Treasury announced Tuesday that 10 large banks would be permitted to start repaying approximately $68.3 billion in total bailout funds they received from the government in the past nine months.

	June 9, 2009 Ten Banks Allowed to Repay $68B in Bailout Funds Ten large U.S. banks have been cleared by the Treasury Department to start repaying $68 billion in bailout money and begin to free themselves from an extraordinary government intervention program that began amid the global financial crisis.

	June 9, 2009 If Banks Still Followed Mark-to-Market Rules, What Would Their Losses Look Like? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 8, 2009 GM Woes Hit Close to Home for Young Graduates In the first of a new set of reports for the Generation Next series, Judy Woodruff traveled to Detroit to profile recent graduates from a GM training program who are now facing the prospect of finding a new career.

	June 8, 2009 Other News: Obama Touts Stimulus, Ruling Party Wins in Lebanon In other news, President Barack Obama predicted stimulus funds will help create or save 600,000 jobs this summer and Lebanese election results show the ruling, pro-Western bloc beat back a political challenge from Hezbollah.

	June 8, 2009 How Do the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds Work? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic new on "The Business Desk."

	June 5, 2009 Fraud Charges Filed Against Countrywide Mortgage Chief The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed civil fraud charges against Angelo Mozilo, head of the Countrywide Financial mortgage firm, for misleading investors about the company's lending practices. Analysts assess the case's impact.

	June 5, 2009 Other News: General Motors Strikes Tentative Saturn Deal In other news, General Motors Struck a tentative deal to sell its Saturn brand, and Brazilian investigators said the debris they discovered in the Atlantic Ocean was not from Air France Flight 447.

	June 5, 2009 Unemployment Rate Hits 26-Year High, but Job Cuts Slow Although the rate of U.S. job losses slowed in May, unemployment rose to 9.4 percent, the highest rate in 26 years. Economist Lisa Lynch explains the new job numbers.