As Gas Prices Rise, The Road Gets Less Traveled July 30, 2008 • The great American highway of Jack Kerouac, Easy Rider and Thelma & Louise is becoming less crowded these days. Higher gas prices are changing the way we work, shop, play and go to school.
Education Families Scramble As College Loans Fall Short July 30, 2008 • The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority has announced that it will stop lending out private student loans. Paul Basken, a senior reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, explains what this move could mean for the future of student loan programs. Families Scramble As College Loans Fall Short Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93076320/93076309" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Families Scramble As College Loans Fall Short Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93076320/93076309" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy Dollar Takes Quarter Pounding In 'Big Mac Index' July 30, 2008 • The Economist magazine compares the cost of a McDonald's Big Mac around the world to calculate what exchange rates should be and finds that major currencies are overvalued against the dollar. Correspondent John O'Sullivan explains the latest "Big Mac Index." Dollar Takes Quarter Pounding In 'Big Mac Index' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93040490/93057225" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Dollar Takes Quarter Pounding In 'Big Mac Index' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93040490/93057225" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
The Color of Money Is Grad School Worth It? July 29, 2008 • Bad economic times have some people thinking about returning to school. But getting that master's degree may not be the best way to weather a financial storm, says our personal finance expert. Is Grad School Worth It? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93029443/93029427" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Is Grad School Worth It? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93029443/93029427" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy Slumping Gasoline Use Cuts Into Highway Funds July 29, 2008 • Americans are not driving as much because of higher gas prices. A drop in gas consumption is hurting gas tax revenues, which pay for roads, bridges and mass transit projects. Transportation officials say they need to rethink the way they collect and dispense money for transportation. Slumping Gasoline Use Cuts Into Highway Funds Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93018408/93018368" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Slumping Gasoline Use Cuts Into Highway Funds Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93018408/93018368" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Environment Energy Conservation: Starting At Home July 29, 2008 • When Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley challenged the state's 5.6 million residents to reduce their home electricity consumption by 15 percent, NPR's Richard Harris looked at ways his household could better conserve. Energy Conservation: Starting At Home Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92931988/93018357" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Energy Conservation: Starting At Home Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92931988/93018357" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Tips for Reducing Your Home Energy Use July 28, 2008 • Learn specific ways to reduce your environmental impact and monthly electricity bill.
Analysis Analysis A Housing Bill For Regular Folk July 26, 2008 • The housing bill doesn't just help out Fannie Mae and Freddie Macs; it could make a big difference for regular folks, too. Ron Lieber, who writes a column for The New York Times called "Your Money," talks about the incentives, rebates and credits in the bill. A Housing Bill For Regular Folk Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92965311/92965302" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
A Housing Bill For Regular Folk Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92965311/92965302" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy Understanding The Housing Bill July 25, 2008 • Congress is expected to vote this week on legislation to address the home foreclosure crisis, and shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Here, a look at what the bill would do.
Planet Money Hype Aside, How Bad Is The Economy? July 24, 2008 • Adam Davidson, NPR business correspondent, and Paul Maeder, co-founder of Highland Capital, offer some perspective on the current economic landscape. How have gas prices, the housing market and Wall Street's highs and lows affected you this summer? Listen to this 'Talk of the Nation' topic Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92875623/92875619" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Listen to this 'Talk of the Nation' topic Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92875623/92875619" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Business Minimum-Wage Workers Getting Bump In Pay July 23, 2008 • The federal minimum wage goes up 70 cents an hour on Thursday, to $6.55. Although only 2 percent of hourly earners are paid the federal minimum, it does indirectly affect many more workers.
Minimum-Wage Hike A Lift For Seniors, Too July 23, 2008 • The federal minimum wage increases by 70 cents on Thursday to $6.55 an hour. About one quarter of the people who work for a minimum wage are teenagers, but most are adults like 63-year-old Shirley Golliday. Minimum-Wage Hike A Lift For Seniors, Too Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92825815/92838609" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Minimum-Wage Hike A Lift For Seniors, Too Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92825815/92838609" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Firms Offer Muslims Alternatives To Mortgages July 22, 2008 • One segment of the home finance industry is thriving: Islamic finance companies. The companies help Muslims buy homes without violating Islam's ban on charging interest. Firms Offer Muslims Alternatives To Mortgages Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92787430/92792661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Firms Offer Muslims Alternatives To Mortgages Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92787430/92792661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy What To Do If You're Laid Off July 22, 2008 • You'll feel terrible, but there are things you can do to make it a little easier, says Marci Alboher of the New York Times "Shifting Careers" blog. What To Do If You're Laid Off Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92767722/92767712" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
What To Do If You're Laid Off Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92767722/92767712" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy Federal Minimum Wage To Increase By 70 Cents July 21, 2008 • The federal minimum wage will rise this week, from $5.85 to $6.55 an hour. But Ross Eisenbrey of the Economic Policy Institute says even with the latest boost, minimum wage workers won't make up the ground they have lost to inflation. Federal Minimum Wage To Increase By 70 Cents Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92728665/92728637" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Federal Minimum Wage To Increase By 70 Cents Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92728665/92728637" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript