Jul 08 Bernanke to Propose Stricter Mortgage Regulation By PBS News Hour Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke outlined a new set of mortgage-lending rules Tuesday, which will be aimed at shielding future homebuyers from risky lending practices and avoiding a repeat of the country's current mortgage crisis. Continue reading
Jul 08 For retailers, cash or credit? Question/Comment: Maybe 10 years ago I heard that cash was the costliest payment to exchange or process by a retailer. Also credit was costlier than debit for a retailer to have processed by a bank. Lately, I've heard just the… Continue reading
Jul 03 Watch Economy Burdened by Job Losses, Slipping Sales, Oil Costs The Labor Department announced the sixth consecutive month of job cuts Thursday as employers cut 62,000 workers, further fueling U.S. economic concerns. Analysts examine the news. Continue watching
Jul 03 U.S. Employers Cuts Payrolls by 62,000 in June By Admin, PBS News Hour The Labor Department announced the sixth consecutive month of job cuts as U.S. employers cut 62,000 non-farm workers from their payrolls in June, creating the longest-running decline since 2002. Continue reading
Jul 02 Watch Starbucks Plans to Close 600 Stores as Sales Slide Starbucks announced Wednesday the closure of 600 stores and plans for staff cutbacks after a drop in sales. Lee Hochberg reports on the economic shifts behind the company's losses and how the coffee giant plans to recover. Continue watching
Jul 02 Are the stimulus checks only a loan? Question/Comment: My accountant told me the government’s gift of money for taxpayers (to help stimulate the economy?) is actually a loan that most middle/upper income citizens will have to repay within a year. Paul Solman: America spends more than… Continue reading
Jul 01 Nearly Every U.S. Automaker Posts Double-digit Sales Losses in June By PBS News Hour Amid record-high gas prices, a slumping economy and consumer jitters, U.S. auto sales plummeted in June, but General Motors managed to retain its No. 1 spot ahead of Toyota thanks, in part, to a six-day sale featuring zero-percent financing offers. Continue reading
Jun 30 Watch Iraq Opens Oil Fields to Foreign Firms for Output Boost The Iraqi government announced Monday it was accepting international bids for contracts to operate six of its oil fields. An economics expert discusses the prospect of Western oil companies working in Iraq. Continue watching
Jun 30 Iraqis Open Oil to Foreign Firms to Boost Output By PBS News Hour The Iraqi government opened six of its oil fields to international bidders Monday as the nation attempts to increase daily production by 60 percent, leaving the door open for top Western companies to tap into the world's third largest oil… Continue reading
Jun 26 Watch California Community Hit Hard by Economy's Fall Residents of a once-prosperous California community are feeling an economic pinch as home foreclosures, the credit crunch, low consumer confidence and high oil prices have hurt the U.S. economy. Continue watching