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Monday

Politics

Under Obama, Agencies Step Up Rule-Making

Democrats blame the Bush administration for lingering regulatory problems that contributed to the Gulf oil spill, the coal mine explosion in West Virginia and a recall of Toyota cars. That may or may not be fair -- but it's clear the Obama administration is far more aggressive in its rule-making.

Under Obama, Agencies Step Up Rule-Making

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Friday

Planet Money

Payday Lending Draws Interest From Lawmakers

Making short-term loans to low-income people is big business. Critics say payday lenders take advantage of desperate people with extremely high rates. But operators say the stores help people get through short-term financial emergencies.

Payday Lending Draws Interest From Lawmakers

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Thursday

Apple: Products Vs. Stock

On Wednesday, Apple overtook Microsoft as the world's most valuable technology company, at least by one Wall Street measure -- market capitalization. Michele Norris talks with Kyle Conroy, a student at the University of California, Berkeley about a table he's compiled that looks at how much money you might have today had you invested in Apple stock instead of buying Apple products, such as iMacs and iPods. We also hear from NPR's Robert Benincasa, who makes the same comparison for a number of other products.

Apple: Products Vs. Stock

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Planet Money

Uncle Sam Needs You To Help Pay Down The Debt

Want to help the U.S. pay down its national debt? The Treasury Department has a program for you. There's even an online form to make it easy. And it turns out, a surprising number of Americans mail in checks, for a few dollars or a lot more, just because they feel like it.

Uncle Sam Needs You To Help Pay Down The Debt

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Wednesday

Crisis In The Housing Market

Mortgage Rates Retreat

Mortgage rates have fallen again to historic lows. If you have good credit, you can get a 30-year fixed rate mortgage for 4.8 percent. And lots of people are rushing in to refinance. The swoon in rates is unexpected, especially after the Federal Reserve stopped buying mortgage debt a few weeks ago. But when the euro faltered, investors sought safety in the U.S. Treasury bonds that influence mortgage rates.

Mortgage Rates Retreat

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Friday

Solid Gold: Demand Leads To Record Prices

With higher gold prices, more and more consumers are contemplating selling unwanted gold jewelry for cash. Steven Senne/AP hide caption

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Steven Senne/AP

Economy

Solid Gold: Demand Leads To Record Prices

Gold has a universal appeal as a safe haven for investors. Concerns about the Greek economy and the European Union bailout have prompted more people to buy gold. And prices have risen dramatically this spring, prompting some people to wonder whether they should sell jewelry for cash.

Solid Gold: Demand Leads To Record Prices

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Thursday

Wednesday

Monday

Friday

Business

Should Banks Be Banned From Trading Derivatives?

The much-maligned financial products brought down AIG and fueled the mortgage market meltdown. But some say they're not all evil -- they reduce costs and provide protection for customers. And as long as trades are done in the open, they say, banks shouldn't be prohibited from the business.

Should Banks Be Banned From Trading Derivatives?

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Tuesday

The Job Search: Have You Moved For Work?

Every year, Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires compile a set of employment rankings: The "best and worst cities for jobs." They call the 2010 results depressing, to say the least. But, there are still rays of hope -- Austin, Tex. with its growing tech sector, and smaller cities, too, like Jacksonville, N.C.

The Job Search: Have You Moved For Work?

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Monday

Business

Obama Budget Pushes Paid Leave Programs

For millions of Americans, a major illness or family crisis means time off work with no pay. Several states have passed their own paid leave programs. A half-dozen more are trying but are largely stalled by the bad economy. The Obama administration aims to encourage states to move forward.

Obama Budget Pushes Paid Leave Programs

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Monday

United-Continental Merger May Cut Flights, Fares

Continental Airlines agents help passengers with ticketing at Los Angeles International Airport June 5, 2008 . David McNew/Getty Images hide caption

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David McNew/Getty Images

Business

United-Continental Merger May Cut Flights, Fares

The proposed megamerger of United and Continental airlines is being touted by the companies as a cost-saving, revenue-producing deal that would create a global powerhouse. Travel and consumer experts say there's still plenty of competition to keep airfares in check.

U.S. Pension Agency Cited For Lax Controls

Charles E.F. Millard (right), the former director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., appears May 20, 2009, at a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing investigating the financial health of the PBGC. At left is Vince Snowbarger, currently the acting director of the PBGC. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Business

U.S. Pension Agency Cited For Lax Controls

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., charged with rescuing Americans' pensions from financially faltering companies, is receiving poor reviews of its own that are alarming its internal watchdog and key members of Congress.