Aug 17 Have the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Hurt the Economy? Question: I often hear that WWII finally ended the Great Depression. How can it be that a relatively short war (WWII) was so helpful to the economy but… Continue reading
Aug 11 Watch Other News: Three U.S. Troops Killed in Afghanistan In other news, the U.S. military announced that three more American soldiers were killed since Saturday in Afghanistan, bringing the total number of American deaths there in the month of August to 18. Continue watching
Jul 30 Exxon, Shell Report Massive Drops in Profits Oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. reported Thursday that its earnings plunged 66 percent in the second quarter, following a steep decline in fuel prices over the past year. Continue reading
Jul 01 Watch Russia Navigates Fallout of Economic Crisis With its fortunes tethered to volatile natural gas and oil prices, Russia has suffered record inflation and unemployment in the global financial crisis. In the second of her series of reports from Russia, Margaret Warner examines the country's economic picture. Continue watching
Jun 15 Why Is the Cost of Gasoline Increasing? Question: With U.S. oil stocks high and refiners at a low production rate, why is the cost of gasoline increasing at such a high rate? It makes you think that there is more to it than supply and demand. Continue reading
Jun 10 If China Pulls Away From the Dollar, What Happens to the U.S. Economy? Question: There’s been speculation that China will lessen its ties to the U.S. dollar and U.S. debt. Some countries would also like oil to be priced in something other than dollars. If these events were to happen, what might be… Continue reading
May 29 What Led to the High Interest Rates of the 1980s? Question: What were the causes and circumstances that led to the high interest rates in the 80’s? Was it inability to effect a change or inaction in addressing the issue? Paul Solman: If by “interest rates” you mean the rate… Continue reading
May 28 Watch Other News: Economic Reports Yield Mixed Results In other news, the Labor Department reported that jobless claims fell, and orders for high-cost factory goods and new home sales rose in April. Continue watching
May 25 Watch Summer Travelers Witness Another Rise in Gas Prices As crude oil costs climb higher, summer travelers are watching the price of gasoline increase. Analysts examine the factors pushing oil prices up. Continue watching
Apr 24 Watch Corruption Case Exposes Scope of Bribery in Nigeria Last year, Albert Jack Stanley, the former CEO of KBR, pleaded guilty to bribery for masterminding the payment of more than $180 million to Nigerian officials. PBS Frontline correspondent Lowell Bergmen reports on the damage done by large-scale bribery in… Continue watching