IMF's Lagarde: Uncertainty Slows Global Recovery
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde says recent actions by the European Central Bank mark a positive turning point in Europe's financial crisis. But she warned that...
View ArticleEasy Money May Boost Economy But At What Cost?
The world's central banks are pumping cash into their economies, pushing down interest rates in hopes the ready cash and lower rates will boost borrowing and economic activity. Everyone agrees the...
View ArticleObama's Jobs Plan Focuses On Federal Investment
In the next two installments of Solve This, NPR's series on the major issues facing the country, we'll examine each presidential candidate's approach to boosting employment. First, President Obama's...
View ArticleRomney's Jobs Plan Relies On His Tax Proposal
As part of Solve This, NPR's series on major issues facing the country, we're examining the presidential candidate's approach to boosting employment. After looking at President Obama's strategy, it's...
View ArticleOpening Lines Set For A Deal To Avoid Fiscal Cliff
With the election over, attention in Washington has turned to the nation's debt and deficit challenges — most immediately the looming fiscal cliff. That's the $600 billion worth of expiring tax breaks...
View ArticleThe Upside To Plunging Off The Fiscal Cliff
Now that the election is over, Washington is transfixed by the fiscal cliff, the automatic tax increases and spending cuts due to take effect Jan. 1 if nothing is done. The sudden shock could seriously...
View ArticleLew, Bowles Rumored To Replace Treasury's Geithner
A second term means some new Cabinet appointments for President Obama, including at the Treasury. After four pretty grueling years, Secretary Timothy Geithner has made it clear he will be leaving...
View ArticleIn Fiscal Cliff Talks, Higher Taxes Vs. Closing Loopholes
The White House and Congress continue to work on a deal that avoids the fiscal cliff and cuts deficits in the long run. One of the biggest hurdles is President Obama's proposal to raise tax rates for...
View ArticleHow Much Income Taxes Could Rise: A Breakdown Of The Options
"No substantive progress has been made." That's what House Speaker John Boehner had to say Thursday about efforts to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases at year's end. The administration's...
View ArticleRaising Taxes On The Rich: Canny Or Counterproductive?
As negotiations continue in Washington over a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff — that combination of tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled for Jan. 1 — one big sticking point is whether to raise tax...
View ArticleRepublican Plan Would Change Social Security COLA
The Republican plan to avert the "fiscal cliff" that the White House rejected Monday includes at least one element that's likely to produce controversy: a proposal that would, among other things,...
View ArticleUnemployment Rate Drops, But Picture Not All Rosy
Superstorm Sandy didn't do as much damage as was expected to the nation's employment situation, at least that's what the government's monthly data on the jobs market told us yesterday when it showed...
View ArticleThe Fed Boosts The Economy, But What About The Risks?
The Federal Reserve continued to keep its foot on the accelerator in 2012, using unusual tactics to try to boost economic growth.
View ArticleReading The Economic Tea Leaves For 2013
The U.S. economy was a bit of a disappointment in 2012. During the early months of the year, job creation was surprisingly strong, but by the end of the year, uncertainty about the election and the...
View ArticleAfter The Fiscal Cliff, Businesses Say Some Uncertainty Remains
Businesses complained that the uncertainty surrounding the "fiscal cliff" froze their decisions about hiring and expanding, which hurt the economy. Washington has now managed half a deal, which settles...
View ArticleGeithner Began With 'Smoldering' Economy; What Does He Leave?
Outgoing Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has had a bruising four years. He took office when the U.S. economy was plunging into the worst recession since the Great Depression.Nominating Jack Lew as...
View ArticleWhat Would Obama Do (If There's No Debt Ceiling Deal)?
Transcript SCOTT SIMON, HOST: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Simon.You might've chuckled a bit this week if you heard about the trillion dollar platinum coin plan, to perhaps address...
View ArticleTime For The Fed To Take Away The Punch Bowl?
The stock market's long climb from its recession bottom has some people concerned it may be a bubble about to burst — a bubble artificially pumped up by the Federal Reserve's easy-money policy. That's...
View ArticleOdd Political Bedfellows Agree: Banks Still Too Big To Fail
Amid Washington's dysfunction, one issue has united some liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans: a common concern that "too big to fail" is alive and well.Despite the Dodd-Frank financial...
View ArticleCyprus' Crisis Frames Eurozone As 'Work In Progress'
On the second day since Cyprus reopened its banks, depositors continue to face restrictions on getting at their money. ATM withdrawals are limited to 300 euros a day, and there are limits on how much...
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