Dec 30 Consumer Confidence Hits Record Low By Admin, PBS News Hour More gloomy news emerged on the U.S. economic front Tuesday as consumer confidence fell to a record low in December and new data showed home prices dropped by the sharpest annual rate on record in October. Continue reading
Dec 24 Consumer Spending, Durables Goods Orders Drop as Jobless Claims Rise By PBS News Hour The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that consumer spending fell for a fifth straight month in November, and Americans' incomes dropped as well, partially reflecting massive job layoffs. Continue reading
Dec 23 Watch Program Helps At-Risk Youth Find Corporate Jobs To alleviate the 30 percent unemployment rate among urban youth, the Year Up program gives at-risk youth lessons in corporate culture and work ethic. Paul Solman reports on this approach to training young, would-be entrepreneurs. Continue watching
Dec 22 Watch Obama Expands Job Growth Goals as Part of Broad Stimulus Proposal President-elect Barack Obama is planning to create or preserve three million jobs over the next two years through a series of government construction projects and a massive stimulus plan. A Washington Post reporter takes a closer look at Mr. Obama's… Continue watching
Dec 22 Why Ease Credit, But Not Increase Wages? Question/Comment: A basic truth in economics is that wages drive demand. Yet for the last 30 years wages have been stagnant or decreasing. Why do I hear only talk of easing credit, not increasing wages? Easy credit is what caused… Continue reading
Dec 17 Watch Colo. Project Teaches Job, Life Skills to Help Women Combat Poverty Armed with $500 worth of beans, two women founded a non-profit group in Denver to empower impoverished women by teaching them workplace skills and providing jobs to the chronically homeless and unemployed. Spencer Michels reports. Continue watching
Dec 11 U.S. Unemployment Claims Hit 26-Year High By Admin, PBS News Hour More than 570,000 people filed initial applications for jobless benefits during the first week of December, the highest one-week filing rate in 26-years, the Labor Department said Thursday. Continue reading
Dec 05 Watch Economy’s Stumbles, Obama’s Cabinet Top Week’s News Columnists David Brooks and Ruth Marcus weigh the news of the week, including rising job losses, the auto industry bailout and President-elect Barack Obama's latest Cabinet picks. Continue watching
Dec 05 Watch Soaring Job Losses May Signal Deepening Recession U.S. employers cut 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent. Columnist Steven Pearlstein and economist Lakshman Achuthan examine what the new job figures indicate. Continue watching
Dec 02 Watch Governors Press Their Case for Economic Recovery Plan President-elect Barack Obama met with state leaders at the National Governors Association conference Tuesday to help shape an economic recovery plan. A panel of governors describes how states are handling the financial downturn. Continue watching