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Who Gets the Interest on U.S. Government Debt?

Question: We have a $12 trillion dollar debt and add to it pretty much every year. How does that work? I take on debt to buy, say, a car and I pay interest to the bank that loaned me…

Consumer Prices Go Unchanged in July

By Online DA

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.

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.

When Did Formerly Safe Bonds Become Unsafe?

Question: My question is: What about U.S. bond holders? I’ve seen bailouts of incompetent banks and businesses and some selective shareholder groups. Investment grade bonds were considered to be the safest investment next to…

Home Foreclosures Set Third Record in Five Months

By Online DA

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.

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."…

Where Are Toxic Assets Now?

Question: TARP was originally proposed to deal with “toxic assets” to unclog the books of financial institutions and prevent them from becoming insolvent. The toxic assets to date have not been bought up, so…

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.

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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.

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Did Hank Paulson Just Want to Save Goldman Sachs?

By Business Desk

Question: [In the Bernanke on the Record forum hosted by the NewsHour,] Chairman Bernanke did not mention the bailout of Goldman Sachs — the first bank to receive such funds. Was it more critical to the survival of the…