Dec 03 Rising Tuition, Credit Crunch Threaten Affordability of Higher Education By PBS News Hour A new study on American higher education gave all but one state a failing grade on affordability, and warned that college could soon be out of reach for most Americans. Continue reading
Nov 24 Could You Explain How Deflation is Different From Companies Setting Prices to Reflect Input Costs and Efficiencies? Question/Comment: Dear Mr. Solman, I’ve read several articles recently discussing the risk of deflation. I think I understand broadly why deflation is bad for the economy in general. Could you explain how deflation is different from companies setting prices to… Continue reading
Nov 19 Consumer Prices Plunge in October as Energy Costs Fall By Admin, PBS News Hour Consumer prices made their biggest drop in decades in October, due in part to lower gasoline and energy prices. Continue reading
Oct 31 Watch Stocks Remain Volatile After Worst Month in Decades Wall Street has endured its worst month in 21 years yet its best week in 34 years. The markets continue to remain unsettled on news of consumer spending cutbacks and investors' fears. The Wall Street Journal's economics editor analyzes the… Continue watching
Oct 30 Watch Lessons of Great Depression Apply to Current Meltdown The stock market crash of 1929 offers parallels to the spiraling financial crisis of the 21st century, giving insight to measures that can help correct the collapse. Paul Solman talks to two authors on the Great Depression who assess the… Continue watching
Oct 28 If the inflation rate is calculated too low, will the economy seem to be growing when it is not? Question/Comment: I am wondering if the government is calculating the inflation rate correctly. If the inflation rate is calculated too low, will the economy seem to be growing when it is not? Is there any measure of how accurate the… Continue reading
Aug 15 Watch Struggling Economy Hitting America's Middle Class Hard In the second installment in a series of conversations about the struggling economy, Ray Suarez speaks with author Nan Mooney about what she found to be troubling America's middle class. She interviewed more than 100 people for latest book, "(Not)… Continue watching
Aug 14 Energy, Food Costs Push Consumer Prices up, Fueling Inflation Fears By Admin, PBS News Hour The Labor Department reported a 0.8 percent rise in consumer prices in July -- double the expected rate -- sending inflation on its fastest annual pace in 17 years. Continue reading
Aug 05 Fed Opts to Leave Key Interest Rate Unchanged By Admin, PBS News Hour The Federal Reserve decided Tuesday for a second consecutive meeting to keep a key interest rate at 2 percent, saying that overall the economy is doing well despite inflationary fears. Continue reading
Jul 17 Watch Reporters Measure Economy's Health Across the U.S. Business reporters and columnists from across the country assess how recent economic troubles, including inflation and housing market problems, have impacted local communities. Continue watching