Feb 27 Economy Shrank 6.2% at End of 2008, Fastest Since 1982 By Admin, PBS News Hour The U.S. economy contracted at a sharp 6.2 percent pace at the close of 2008, its worst showing since 1982, as exports plunged and consumers and businesses cut back spending. Continue reading
Feb 26 Watch Other News: U.S. Jobless Claims Rise, Stocks Fall on Health Care Plans In other news, the Labor Department reported that U.S. jobless claims rose to their highest levels since 1982 and markets fell on concerns that medical and drug companies would lose money under the president's new health care budget. Continue watching
Feb 25 Are We Overreacting to Unemployment Numbers? Question/Comment: In the early ’80’s unemployment was over 10 percent. I’m old enough to remember what the economy was like at that time. It wasn’t pretty given interest rates, but on the other hand we weren’t considering massive government funding… Continue reading
Feb 19 Watch Hanesbrands Relocates Manufacturing to Asia Hanesbrands underwear company has closed 30 plants in North and South America, putting thousands out of work, while relocating its factories to Asian countries. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports. Continue watching
Feb 18 Watch As Obama Departs for First Official Trip Abroad, Canada Mired in Economic Woes President Barack Obama makes his first foreign trip to Canada on Thursday. NewsHour correspondent Tom Bearden reports on what items top Canadians' agenda, including trade and the economy. Continue watching
Feb 16 Watch States Hope Stimulus Will Boost Sagging Local Economies With state officials scrutinizing the stimulus plan for funding they hope will revive regional economies, four business writers examine what the real impact may look like. Continue watching
Feb 12 Watch Bipartisan Buy-in on Final Stimulus Bill Could Hinge on Jobs Lawmakers continued Thursday to nail down the details of the economic stimulus bill in a push toward a final vote. Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty examine the bill's effectiveness and react to news of Judd Gregg's… Continue watching
Feb 12 New Jobless Claims Drop; Retails Sales Up Slightly By Admin, PBS News Hour Government reports show the number of new jobless benefit claims dropped to a seasonally adjusted 623,000, from 631,000 the previous week, while U.S. retail sales jumped 1 percent in January, reversing a six-month downward trend. Continue reading
Feb 11 Watch Number of Newly Uninsured Americans Rises Along With Jobless Rate After more than 2 million American workers were laid off in the past three months, the numbers who have lost their health insurance and applied for Medicaid have also risen rapidly. Betty Ann Bowser speaks with Connecticut residents struggling to… Continue watching
Feb 06 Watch Axelrod Reflects on Struggles Over Stimulus, Troubled Cabinet Bids White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod discusses President Barack Obama's stance in the struggle to pass a stimulus bill and reflects on errors made in how the Obama team has handled some of the nominations to top administration positions. Continue watching