The Business Desk

September Job Losses Steeper, Worse for Economy Than Expected

Disturbing job numbers out today for the month of September: a net LOSS in total employment of 95,000 jobs, as the federal government dropped 76,000 positions, mainly census workers, and state and local governments,…

Upcoming: Ways To Deal With the Foreclosure Crisis

The past week’s revelations of bank insouciance with regard to the legal niceties of foreclosure and eviction, most notably the robo-signers who admitted they did not read what they signed off on, have led to a national push…

To Visit or Not To Visit Spain?

Name: Walter Power Question: I very much enjoyed your recent report on the economic conditions that Spain is dealing with. My wife and I were planning to spend time in Barcelona this fall and I was wondering if the…

With Such High Unemployment, Should the Foreign Worker Program End?

Name: John Carter Question: Given current employment, why is there still an H1-B program at this time? I am an engineer whom has been displaced by this program and hence am experiencing hard economic times. If this program is terminated…

What’s The Best “Spending Yourself Out Of Recession” Argument?

Name: Cassandra Good Question: You recently answered a question about why stimulus spending is the government’s responsibility. I know that there’s a lot of fear lately that such spending will drive up the deficit. I’m curious, then, about how you…

Where Do I Find…?

Name: MaryAnn Question: What was the Greek quote and the correct interpretation of it at the end of your report on Aug. 11? It went by too fast and a number of friends would like to have it! Something about…

Even As a Small Stockholder, Why Don’t I Have Any Power?

Name: Frances Pearson Question: I am a small stockholder. My portfolio is all blue chip. Stockholders in every company are trying to control executive compensation- to no avail. (I vote for all stockholder proposals and do not give my proxy…

Is Life Expectancy Changing Due to Our Terrible Economy?

Name: Curt Carpenter Two questions: 1. Does the economic disaster of the last two years show up in our demographic data yet? (Life expectancies, birth rates and so on.) 2. What would a real economic collapse in the U.S.

On The No-Brainer Issue of Owning a Home

Paul Solman: Since the 70s, it’s been a no-brainer. Buy or rent? Buy, of course. You’ll be making an investment instead of just paying off some landlord. And besides, you’ll get an income tax break on the money you borrow…

Update | Lehman Art Auctions Better Than Expected

Paul Solman: As a follow up to Friday’s Lehman Brother’s art collection video, this video looks at how some of the pieces actually fared on Sotheby’s auction block.