Jun 06 Unemployment Rate Jumps to 5.5% in May By Admin, PBS News Hour The nation's unemployment rate hit 5.5 percent in May as employers cut 49,000 jobs, providing a fresh snapshot of a still-struggling U.S. economy. Employers have now cut payrolls for five straight months. Continue reading
Jun 05 Watch Debate Looks at Immigration Laws and Citizenship A recent debate sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia and moderated by Robert MacNeil examined the current laws dealing with immigration and the possible plans to address the twelve million illegal immigrants currently… Continue watching
Jun 05 Watch Democrats Turn to Unifying Party After Primaries With the nomination in Sen. Barack Obama's hands and Sen. Hillary Clinton planning her formal exit from the race, Democratic leaders are eyeing the general election. A panel of lawmakers and analysts discuss how to bring the party together after… Continue watching
Jun 05 How much of the recent rise in oil price is caused by the decline of the dollar? Question/Comment: How much of the recent rise in oil price is caused by the decline of the dollar? Paul Solman: The easiest answer – but it’s a crude one – is the amount by which the… Continue reading
Jun 03 GM to Close 4 SUV, Truck Plants as Demand Dips By Admin, PBS News Hour General Motors announced the closure of four truck and SUV plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico Tuesday and said it may discontinue its Hummer brand as soaring fuel prices push a broad shift in the U.S. to smaller vehicles. Continue reading
May 28 Watch Modernizing China Confronts Environmental Woes Since undertaking market reforms in late 1970s, China has enjoyed an economic boom -- but the economic progress has also produced serious environmental damage and pollution problems. Margaret Warner reports on China's environmental woes and their impact on the run-up… Continue watching
May 14 Inflation Pressures Ease with Small Rise in CPI By Admin, PBS News Hour The overall Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent in April, the Labor Department announced Wednesday, a smaller-than-expected rise despite the highest jump in food prices in 18 years. Continue reading
May 12 Watch Green Industry Hub Rises From Rust Belt Ruins Paul Solman reports on innovators who are making the Pittsburgh region an eco-showcase of the benefits of going green and bringing new hope to the economically depressed Rust Belt region. Continue watching
May 07 Aren’t production jobs the foundation of a healthy economy? Question/Comment: Having grown up around workers and plant managers in western New York, and knowing the vibrant history there, one factor stands out as fundamental to our current economic problems today: the massive loss of production jobs… Continue reading
May 02 Labor Dept. Report Shows Fewer Jobs Lost in April By Admin, PBS News Hour Employers cut fewer jobs in April than in recent months and the unemployment rate dropped to 5 percent, the Labor Department announced Friday. Continue reading