Mar 04 Do I receive a rebate if my only income is social security? Question/Comment: The only income I have is social security. Do I have to file my social security in order to get the rebate or will I get it automatically? Do I receive a rebate? Paul Solman: This Internal Revenue… Continue reading
Mar 03 Looking to Help Ailing Cities, Ohio Mayors Split Over Democratic Nomination By PBS News Hour In a county west of Cleveland, the mayors of two remarkably similar Ohio cities have endorsed different Democratic candidates in Tuesday's presidential primary -- highlighting just how tough the choice is for many voters in the state. Continue reading
Feb 26 Consumer Confidence Drop Among Economic Woes By Admin, PBS News Hour Consumer confidence and home prices plunged while wholesale inflation and home foreclosures jumped, a swath of new negative U.S. economic reports showed Tuesday. Continue reading
Feb 22 Do countries such as China react to counter downward trends in the U.S. economy? Question/Comment: Do countries such as China, which are so dependent on a healthy stable U.S. economy, react to counter downward trends in the U.S. economy (e.g., recession)? If so, what kinds of steps do they take? Paul Solman: Yes,… Continue reading
Feb 20 Watch Consumer Price Index Reports Unexpected Inflation Rise The Consumer Price Index, the Labor Department's yardstick of inflation, indicated greater inflation in January than had been anticipated. Paul Solman discusses how the CPI determines inflation and the meaning of this new report. Continue watching
Feb 20 Inflation Grew in Jan., Led by Food, Health Costs By PBS News Hour Inflation jumped by a bigger-than-expected amount in January, with large increases in the cost of food and health care, the government reported Wednesday. Continue reading
Feb 19 How much of the U.S. economic problems are caused by the deficit and what percentage of the deficit is the Iraq war? Question/Comment: 1. How much of the U.S. economic problems are caused by the deficit? 2. What percentage of the deficit is the Iraq war? 3. How can the U.S. ever pay off the deficit, and how… Continue reading
Feb 19 If excess liquidity has caused these investments that are now going bad, how does the Fed increasing liquidity with lower interest rates help the economy? Question/Comment: If excess liquidity has caused these investments that are now going bad, how does the Fed increasing liquidity with lower interest rates help the economy? Paul Solman: Because it prevents the system from freezing up entirely. It’s a calculated… Continue reading
Feb 15 What is better, inflation or a recession? Question/Comment: I am a saver whose income is mostly CDs. We seem to be facing both a recession and inflation. Which of those two is better for me? I assume it is recession? Paul Solman: Neither is better for you… Continue reading
Feb 15 It’s been a long time since I took Econ. 101, but as I remember, if you keep printing ever-greater amounts of currency, inflation takes on a life of its own. Question/Comment: It’s been a long time since I took Econ. 101, but as I remember, if you keep printing ever-greater amounts of currency, inflation takes on a life of its own. Isn’t that what we’ve been doing at the rate… Continue reading