Apr 08 As the Amount of Money in Circulation Increases Rapidly, How Does the Fed Prevent Hyperinflation? By Business Desk Question: If the Fed and Treasury have increased the amount of money in circulation by $1.6 trillion in an effort to stave off deflation in the near term, how does the Fed take this money back out of circulation to… Continue reading
Apr 07 Watch Americans' Attitude Toward Recession Shows Mix of Optimism, Despair A new poll reveals that many Americans are more optimistic and confident about the general economy's recovery than they are about their own personal financial situations. The Hotline's Amy Walter assesses the new data. Continue watching
Apr 07 Why Is Deflation Bad? Question: Why is deflation so bad? I have certainly benefited from the drop in gas prices, so I wonder what is wrong with things becoming cheaper in general? And wouldn’t that make up for previous inflation? Paul Solman: Another good… Continue reading
Apr 07 Why Does the United States Have to Borrow Money From Other Countries? Question: If the federal government (and/or Treasury) can just create money, why does it have to borrow it from other countries? Paul Solman: Great question. Because it’s so cheap to do so right now, the thinking goes, why… Continue reading
Apr 07 Winners and Losers in Proposed Pentagon Budget By Admin, PBS News Hour This week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveiled large proposed Pentagon budget cuts that would slash spending on missile defense and increase funding for new weapons systems designed to fight insurgencies. Continue reading
Apr 06 Weekly Poem: 'Weebles wobble but they don't fall down' Bob Hicok is the author of five collections of poems, including "This Clumsy Living" (2007), which won the 2008 Bobbitt Prize from the Library of Congress. Continue reading
Apr 06 Where Does Money Go When It's Taken Out of the Stock Market? Question: As the Dow continues to fall, I keep wondering where the money is going. Obviously, money is being pulled out of the stock market, even though we all are still buying and using products, and companies are still functioning. Continue reading
Apr 03 Watch Amid Downturn, Communities Sacrifice to Avoid Layoffs Though the jobless rate continues to rise, workers across the country are making sacrifices to avoid more layoffs and "share the pain" of the economic slump. NewsHour business correspondent Paul Solman reports. Continue watching
Apr 03 Watch Jobless Rate Climbed to 8.5 Percent in March The latest report from the Labor Department showed the unemployment rate climbed to 8.5 percent in March. Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project, offers insight on the numbers. Continue watching
Apr 03 How Are You Sharing the Pain at Work During This Economic Downturn? The economic downturn has left few industries untouched, and companies across the country are resorting to drastic cutbacks in jobs and spending. But many organizations are also encouraging workers to “share the pain” of the downturn — by accepting lower… Continue reading