Your Money : NPR

Case-Shiller's 20-city composite fell by a bit less than 1 percent in September. Alyson Hurt/NPR hide caption

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Alyson Hurt/NPR

Planet Money

When Will Home Prices Stop Falling?

November 30, 2010 • Prices fell again in September. And with a glut of homes on the market and a huge wave of foreclosures still to come, we're likely to see more declines.

Tell Me More

Show Me The Recovery

November 29, 2010 • This week on Tell Me More, a special series focuses on how to get the U.S. economy to show real and accurate signs of moving forcefully ahead.

Worried About Your Wallet? Listen Up To Deficit Talk

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Opinion

Can I Just Tell You?

Worried About Your Wallet? Listen Up To Deficit Talk

November 29, 2010 • Michel Martin delivers her weekly commentary with a focus on the debut of the Tell Me More series "Show Me the Recovery." The first installment looks at the national budget, the challenges facing government leaders working to reduce the deficit, and why we all should be paying attention.

Economy

Coupons Make A Comeback Amid Downturn

November 28, 2010 • Some economists argue that Americans are getting thrifty just when they need to be spending more: Coupon redemptions grew by 27 percent in 2009, and for the first time in a calendar year, Coupons.com surpassed a billion dollars in printed coupon savings. But frugality in America is nothing new.

Business

Retailers Hope To Make Up For 2009 Holiday Season

November 26, 2010 • Retailers hoped for a healthy turnout on Black Friday -- a huge shopping day that has become almost a national holiday. The recession has taken a lot of the fun out of holiday shopping for millions of households, but there are still a lot of bargain-hunters out there.

National

Many Americans Will Spend Holidays Homeless

November 26, 2010 • Many of you may still be in Thanksgiving holiday mode: away, visiting with family and friends or just kicking back at home. But for as many as 1.6 million Americans, home sweet home, this weekend, is likely to be a homeless shelter or some form of transitional housing. Statistics show that family homelessness rose nearly 30 percent between 2007 and 2009. And the numbers are expected to rise. Host Allison Keyes explores the problem with executive director of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Nan Roman, and Noelle Beaumon a former corporate manager who currently lives in a homeless shelter in Washington DC.

Opinion

Tell Me More

Homeless ... But Thankful

November 25, 2010 • Guest blogger Noelle Beaumon became homeless in July after losing her job in corporate America. The divorced mother of two writes about life in a homeless shelter and her struggle to land back on her feet.

Planet Money

Jobless Rate Less Scary For College Grads

November 24, 2010 • The Labor Department reported Wednesday that 470,000 Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week. That's a sharp decline, and the lowest in more than two years. But whether it seems like the economy is rebounding may depend on how much education you have.

Shots - Health News

Obama, Insurers Spar Over Rising Health Insurance Costs

Kaiser Health News

November 24, 2010 • Health insurers say rising medical costs are to blame for insurance premium increases, and that the administration dropped the ball on getting enough cost controls into the new health law.

Holiday Shoppers Watch Budgets, Look For Deals

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Economy

Holiday Shoppers Watch Budgets, Look For Deals

November 24, 2010 • Consumers are expected to spend a little more this holiday season than last year. But they're doggedly looking online and at social media sites to compare prices, read reviews and get gift ideas. Many shoppers also expect to use their mobile devices for assistance.

Money Coach

Money Coach: Don't Break The Bank This Holiday Season

November 23, 2010 • The holiday season is almost upon us and for many Americans that means it's time to go shopping! But with the sluggish economy, the risk of over-spending on gifts is a big concern for many people. Host Allison Keyes gets some tips on how to make the holiday special without breaking the bank, from regular Tell Me More contributor and personal finance expert Alvin Hall and Washington Post personal finance reporter Nancy Trejos.

Business

GM Shares Jump In Return To Market

November 18, 2010 • General Motors' IPO went according to plan with share prices moving up on the first day of trading Thursday. The stock debuted at $33, opened a couple of dollars higher and then held on to its gains. Many analysts say the strong demand shows that investors believe GM has fixed its problems and that the turnaround is real. Others are less convinced.

Maternity Coverage Proves Costly For Women Buying Individual Policies

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Shots - Health News

Maternity Coverage Proves Costly For Women Buying Individual Policies

Kaiser Health News

November 16, 2010 • Individual health insurance policies rarely cover expenses related to maternity care without the purchase of an expensive rider. Add in other charges and having a baby can be a very expensive proposition, even with insurance.

Economy

Congress' To-Do List Includes Unemployment Help

November 15, 2010 • Lawmakers have a long list of items to take up in their lame-duck session, and one of the things they could tackle is a federal program extending unemployment benefits for millions of laid-off workers. It runs out at the end of November.

Low-Skilled Workers Struggle For Jobs In Las Vegas

Job-seekers wait in line at a government-run employment center in Las Vegas, where jobless numbers have been in the double digits for months. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Education

Low-Skilled Workers Struggle For Jobs In Las Vegas

Nevada Public Radio

November 13, 2010 • At 15 percent, the city's unemployment rate is one of the nation's highest. And the job market there has changed. Now employers are looking for computer skills -- something many workers lack. So laid-off residents like Lorraine Valdez are learning to adapt.