Dec 11 What is the "Real Economy"? Question/Comment: I’m confused by the term “real economy.” Lots of people are using it, but no one has explained it that I can find. It’s something different than what Wikipedia defines as not the “virtual economy.” What’s going on?… Continue reading
Dec 11 U.S. Unemployment Claims Hit 26-Year High By Admin, PBS News Hour More than 570,000 people filed initial applications for jobless benefits during the first week of December, the highest one-week filing rate in 26-years, the Labor Department said Thursday. Continue reading
Dec 11 GOP Could Put Brakes on Auto Rescue Bill By Admin, PBS News Hour As a compromise deal between Democrats and the White House to extend $14 billion in emergency loans to struggling U.S. automakers moves forward, it faces strong opposition by some GOP lawmakers. Continue reading
Dec 10 Watch Investors Turn to Low-risk Securities With Little Return As economic turmoil continues to rock the financial market, some investors are more willing to buy U.S. Treasury securities with low or zero yields in the short term. Analysts examine how the struggling economy is driving investors to minimal-risk investments. Continue watching
Dec 10 What is Free Trade? Question/Comment: What is free trade? I know the simple answer, no tariffs. But if a government subsidizes the production of a product or provides subsidies to farmers isn’t this interfering with the intent of the process? Paul Solman: Free trade… Continue reading
Dec 09 Watch Congress Debates Details of Automaker Rescue Plan Senate leaders continued to hammer out details of a rescue plan for U.S. automakers Tuesday, including limits on executive compensation and federal oversight of industry restructuring. Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., debate the plan's merits. Continue watching
Dec 09 What Are the Top U.S. Industries? Question/Comment: There’s been a lot of talk recently about saving the financial industry, the auto industry. What are the top U.S. industries, in terms of total dollar value, number of employees, etc? I tried Googling it, but did not use… Continue reading
Dec 08 Watch Auto Rescue Plan Advances as Congress, White House Near Deal Congressional leaders are hammering out a deal with the White House to offer General Motors and Chrysler $15 billion in low-interest loans. Two reporters discusses the details. Continue watching
Dec 08 If Big Companies Need Help, Then Why Do the CEO's Still Get Huge Bonuses? Question/Comment: I am writing this with my mom’s permission. I am 12 years old and my question is if companies like Freddie and Fannie needs government help to bail them out, then how come the… Continue reading
Dec 08 Tribune Co. Files for Bankruptcy Protection By PBS News Hour Media conglomerate Tribune Co. filed for bankruptcy protection Monday, as the owner of the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Cubs and several other newspapers and TV stations tries to restructure its debt of $13 billion. Continue reading