Economy

Follow PBS NewsHour’s complete coverage of the Economy, Wall Street and other financial stories.

In an effort to recover from major financial losses sustained by controversy over its bestselling painkiller Vioxx, drugmaker Merck & Co. announced it would cut 7,000 jobs over the next three years and close five of its manufacturing plants.

As the holiday shopping season opens, financial experts look at the factors that could impact the economy in the near term, including U.S. job growth and rising natural gas prices.

General Motors announced it will cut 30,000 jobs and close all or part of its 12 plants by 2008 to make the car manufacturer more competitive on the global market. After a background report, editor-in-chief in Car and Driver magazine…

Friday morning, the House narrowly passed a deficit-reduction bill. Congressional expert Norman Ornstein discusses the battle on Capitol Hill over spending and taxes. Then, New York Times columnist David Brooks and Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant discuss taxes and spending…

In Japan Wednesday, during his visit to Asia, President Bush challenged China to expand political and religious freedoms. Following a background report, two experts discuss the president's speech.

Workers at Weirton Steel in West Virginia fear more layoffs at a plant that was once the largest industrial employer in the state and the economic engine of the town. In a 30th anniversary special, the NewsHour returns to Weirton.