Economy

From six figures to the poverty line

Meet one family of five that is barely getting by on what they describe as 'teenage salaries' Play

'Bayou Billionaires' brings gas boom to reality TV

Louisiana family that struck it rich on natural gas drilling profiled on new reality show. More

Unemployment claims fall

About 367,000 people filed for initial unemployment benefits last week, marking a 12,000 drop from the prior week. More

The world's tallest solar panel array

Atop Deutsche Bank's 745 foot skyscraper Wall Street building is the world's tallest solar panel array; a 122.4 kilowatt photovoltaic system designed to reduce the building's electricity consumption and avoid 100 metric tonnes of carbon emissions each year. More

Stock picks from Fed officials

Roughly 600 pages of financial disclosures released this week show wide range of investments from regional Fed presidents, from farmland to AIG. More

More money, more votes: The billion dollar campaign

Individuals and corporations are using new outside expenditure groups to influence political campaigns in a big way. More

Payroll tax holiday running down

Lawmakers have less than a month to overcome their differences about how to pay for two key extensions that many economists say can help bolster GDP and jobs. More

Challenger: Job cuts increased in January

Planned job cuts for January totaled 53,486, according to a report from outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a 28% increase. More

Wall Street bets big on Romney

Wall Street is throwing its weight behind Mitt Romney for president. But President Obama is still getting some bucks from the financial sector. More

Romney: "I'm not concerned about the very poor"

Mitt Romney says on CNN that he's not worried about the very poor because they have a "very ample safety net." But some question whether the government is doing enough. More

Job growth slows in January

Private sector hiring slowed in January, as businesses added 170,000 jobs to their payrolls. December number revised lower. More

What will become of Romney's fortune?

In order to avoid conflicts of interest and satisfy ethics watchdogs, soon-to-be presidents often sell assets or relinquish control of their investments to a trustee. More

Fed official owned shares of AIG, GE

New York Fed President William Dudley owned more than $100,000 stock in AIG and General Electric, two firms that received government assistance. More

Wall St. pays big to influence D.C.

Investment firms and banks spend more than $150 million to influence Washington officials, with emphasis on getting the ear of reform law regulators. More

Romney: Poor have safety net

Mitt Romney says he's worried about middle-income Americans and that the 'very poor' in the U.S. have a safety net. Play

Super Bowl ad calls on entrepreneurs

One of the nation's largest foundations is using a Super Bowl ad to tell all aspiring entrepreneurs they are the key to the U.S. economic recovery. More

Chinese auto parts could spark next trade fight

Unions, trade groups and Democratic lawmakers from industrial Midwest call on Obama administration to take action against rising tide of Chinese auto parts. More

Colbert super PAC rakes in $1 million

Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow reported Tuesday that it has raised $1,023,121.24, according to a document filed with the Federal Election Commission. More

Is JC Penney the new Apple?

Apple hired the CEO of a British retailer to run its own stores. Apple's old retail guru, Ron Johnson, is leading a JC Penney recovery. Play

Job market is getting better, but ...

Economists think job gains slowed in January. 2012 may be better than 2011, but the unemployment rate will remain high. More

Perfect Hedge: 56 found guilty of insider trading

The government has charged more than 60 people so far in an unprecedented crackdown on insider trading known as Operation Perfect Hedge. More

One bedroom for a family of five

A New Jersey family goes from earning more than $100,000 a year to joining the ranks of the long-term unemployed. Play

Gingrich's out-of-this-world ideas

Newt Gingrich has a slew of big - and unconventional - ideas for the economy. More

Deficits to decrease - but not for long

Federal deficits are expected to fall over the next few years but then start to climb, the Congressional Budget Office says. More

Which pays better: Government or private sector?

CBO report finds average compensation is higher for federal workers who have a master's degree or less. Those with more advanced degrees do better in the private sector. More

Worst place to lose your job: Florida

Florida has the highest rate of long-term unemployment in the nation. Some 53% of those without jobs have been out of work for at least six months. More

The super rich sound off on the wealth gap

Business leaders and economists talk about the 1% and the Buffett Rule at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Play

Forget Iran, Iraq is threatening oil prices

Uptick in violence post-U.S. withdrawal sparks fears that Iraq may not be able to deliver on its lofty oil production targets. More

Ethanol's food-fuel dilemma

Demand for corn ethanol is raising food prices. What's needed is a policy change. More

Obama's tax record

Republicans make the president out to be the tax-hiker-in-chief. Obama portrays himself as a tax cutter for the masses but not the rich. The truth is much more mixed. More

Freddie Mac: A mess, and likely to stay that way

Despite attacks from both the left and right, reform of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae isn't likely to take place anytime soon. More

Newt's moon colony: What would it cost?

Newt Gingrich wants to build a permanent colony on the moon and, if his dream is fully realized, the price tag could be huge. More

Stronger income doesn't boost holiday spending

December readings show 0.5% growth in income but spending unchanged from November levels. More

Just how rich is Romney?

The estimates, even from the candidate and his own campaign, are all over the map. More

Mortgage probe unveiled as foreclosure talks loom

Federal officials say a mortgage meltdown probe doesn't threaten a possible foreclosure settlement between state attorneys generals and banks. One critic calls it window dressing. More

Geithner: Europe, Iran are our biggest risks

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says that U.S. economic recovery is threatened by the European debt crisis and Iran's nuclear threats. Play

Bill Gates: Rich should pay more taxes

The Microsoft founder and philanthropist says that the wealthiest Americans should pay a larger share of taxes than they do. Play

Why is the Fed still so nervous?

The economy isn't completely healthy. But with signs of recovery, should the Fed keep rates near zero until 2014? More

Bernanke to teach college class

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will teach four lecturers about the central bank at George Washington University. More

How campaign finance works

Presidential campaigns are extremely expensive. Here's where it all comes from. Play

New-home sales hit a record low

New-home sales drop 2.2% in December, below economists' expectations, to lowest yearly total on record. More

Campaign finance, Colbert style

Is Stephen Colbert a comedian, political candidate or professor of campaign finance law? More

First-time unemployment claims climb

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits rose to 377,000 last week, but the overall trend continues to show improvement in the job market. More

Gates: Wealthy nations need to give more

Bill Gates says the wealthiest countries should not use austerity measures as an excuse to cut charitable funding. Play

How a relaxed visa policy creates jobs

Marriott's Arne Sorenson says easier visa policy could attract millions more travelers to the U.S. and create jobs in the service sector. Play

Cisco's Chambers: Business is easier in Russia

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Cisco CEO John Chambers also endorses Mitt Romney for president. More

Obama's 30% millionaire tax

President Obama gives a little more shape to his proposed Buffett rule, but not nearly enough to really understand how it would work. More

The lessons of Mitt Romney's tax returns

The release of Mitt Romney's tax returns offer an important policy lesson: Investment income should be taxed at the same level as labor income. A commentary by tax expert Joseph J. Thorndike. More

Soros: Why I support the Buffett rule

Billionaire George Soros says he would be significantly hit by a minimum 30% tax on the rich but he thinks it is appropriate. Play

How energy trading can save money

The massive size and daunting complexity of the US electricity sector means companies often have trouble proving their contributions to their customers' lives; benefits for the consumer are often counted in things that don't happen, whether that be price increases or blackouts. More

Facebook's Zuckerberg may face $2 billion tax hit
Stocks on hold for Greece, Bernanke
Greece on the brink
Foreclosure deal has 40 states, but others balk
University of Charleston: How we cut tuition by 22%

Latest Report	Next Update
Manufacturing (ISM)	Mar. 1
Consumer Confidence	Feb. 28
Home Prices	Feb. 28
GDP	Feb. 29
Inflation (CPI)	Feb. 17
Retail sales	Feb. 14
Jobs	Feb. 3

Overnight Avg Rate	Latest	Last Week
30 yr fixed	3.88%	3.85%
15 yr fixed	3.20%	3.17%
5/1 ARM	2.88%	2.85%
30 yr refi	3.95%	3.91%
15 yr refi	3.29%	3.25%