May 08 Making Sen$e of Business, Finance, and Economics No more posts for today or the weekend as we debut (drum roll here, even trumpets, perhaps, or maybe a French overture)…our new Making Sen$e Web site, made possible by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation,… Continue reading
Apr 29 Economy Shrank by 6.1% in First Quarter By Admin, PBS News Hour The Commerce Department released numbers Wednesday estimating the economy contracted during the first three months of the year at nearly the same rate as the final quarter of 2008, marking the third straight quarter of decline since the late 1950s. Continue reading
Apr 27 When Will Any Housing Recovery Reach Small Businesses and Contractors? Question: The housing downturn has affected not only large builders, but also small businesses and contractors that support and supply them. How long will any recovery take for these sort of businesses? Paul Solman: I’m sort of a broken CD… Continue reading
Apr 27 How Does InBev's Purchase of Anheuser-Busch Affect St. Louis? Question: For nearly 150 years, Anheuser-Busch was locally owned here in St. Louis. Now, it’s owned by someone in Belgium. Does this really mean anything for St. Louis beyond those who work for Anheuser-Busch/InBev? Paul Solman: It certainly might. A… Continue reading
Apr 21 Service Bill Aimed at Mobilizing New Generation of Volunteers By PBS News Hour President Barack Obama signed a $5.7 billion national service bill Tuesday that triples the size of the AmeriCorps service program over the next eight years and expands ways for students to earn money for college. Continue reading
Apr 03 Unemployment Climbs to 8.5% in March By Admin, PBS News Hour The nation's unemployment rate climbed to 8.5 percent in March, marking its highest level since 1983, as employers slashed a net total of 663,000 jobs, according to government figures released Friday. Continue reading
Mar 18 Obama Holds Town Hall in Costa Mesa, Calif. By Admin, PBS News Hour President Barack Obama held a town hall meeting in Costa Mesa, Calif., Wednesday, where he spoke about the AIG controversy, his plan for the budget and economic recovery plans. Continue reading
Mar 16 New Grads Increasingly Turning to Jobs in Service, Volunteer Sectors By Admin, PBS News Hour With the nation's unemployment rising to a 25-year high this month and the financial sector in turmoil, job prospects look bleak for many college seniors set to graduate this spring. Continue reading
Mar 06 Unemployment Rate Soars to 8.1% in February By Admin, PBS News Hour U.S. employers cut 651,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department reported Friday, pushing the nation's unemployment rate to 8.1 percent, the highest it has been since 1983. Continue reading
Mar 06 Is Anyone Still Hiring? Question: Is anyone still hiring? Paul Solman: The number is now in: 651,000 jobs shed in February. Also, from the Bloomberg story this morning: “The payroll drop in January was revised up to 655,000 from 598,000 and December now… Continue reading