Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Economy Is Not Off Life-Support Yet December 31, 2008 • Over the past year, the government has sent $100 billion in stimulus checks to taxpayers and bailed out Wall Street, banks and automakers. However, the economy still hasn't turned around. David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal, talks with Steve Inskeep about why the economy isn't getting stronger. Economy Is Not Off Life-Support Yet Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98861157/98861139" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy Is Not Off Life-Support Yet Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98861157/98861139" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets GMAC Made Risky Subprime Mortgage Loans December 31, 2008 • GMAC is the most recent beneficiary of a government bailout. As the financing arm of General Motors, it supplies funding for auto dealers to buy inventory and credit for consumers to buy cars. It is also a major player in the home mortgage market. GMAC Made Risky Subprime Mortgage Loans Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98861162/98861140" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
GMAC Made Risky Subprime Mortgage Loans Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98861162/98861140" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
The Color of Money Making Quality New Year's Resolutions December 30, 2008 • Try not spending money on anything extra for a month and you'll rack up savings, says our personal finance contributor. She advises people to keep a cash reserve and remember that every day is a new day to get your finances together. Making Quality New Year's Resolutions Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98819218/98819194" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Making Quality New Year's Resolutions Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98819218/98819194" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Experts Give Warning Signs Of Shady Investors December 30, 2008 • Powerhouse investor Bernard Madoff allegedly swindled clients to the tune of billions of dollars. As the case unfolds, many wonder how Madoff was able to garner such an elite reputation of trust in the financial world. Money coach Alvin hall and personal finance expert Louis Barajas offer tips on how to avoid scams and discuss potential pitfalls of investing. Experts Give Warning Signs Of Shady Investors Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98810444/98810436" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Experts Give Warning Signs Of Shady Investors Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98810444/98810436" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Use Stock Losses To Your Tax Advantage December 30, 2008 • Stocks plummeted in 2008, but there is still a silver lining for investors in this dark situation. William Baldwin, the editor of Forbes magazine, shares some year-end tax tips with Renee Montagne. Use Stock Losses To Your Tax Advantage Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98806971/98806947" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Use Stock Losses To Your Tax Advantage Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98806971/98806947" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy Banks Got Bailout; Are They Making More Loans? December 30, 2008 • Most of the billions in bailout money that the government has handed out so far has gone to the nation's banks. The idea was that with more money on their balance sheets, banks would make more loans and that would help jump-start the economy. But it hasn't quite worked out that way. Banks Got Bailout; Are They Making More Loans? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98806962/98806943" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Banks Got Bailout; Are They Making More Loans? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98806962/98806943" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Movie Price Increases Mask Drop In Attendance December 30, 2008 • Movie ticket sales appear to have held their own. But dig deeper and sales are off about 5 percent. Ticket prices increased this year, which gives the initial appearance that attendance has stayed the same. Movie Price Increases Mask Drop In Attendance Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98806968/98806946" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Movie Price Increases Mask Drop In Attendance Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98806968/98806946" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Post-Holiday Sales Won't Fix Spending Doldrums December 29, 2008 • Retailers offered deep discounts over the weekend, trying to make up for the lackluster holiday shopping season. A spokesman for the National Retail Federation says the weekend after Christmas is becoming just as critical for the industry as Black Friday. That's the traditional start of the holiday shopping season on the day after Thanksgiving. Post-Holiday Sales Won't Fix Spending Doldrums Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98778105/98778084" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Post-Holiday Sales Won't Fix Spending Doldrums Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98778105/98778084" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economy Will Low Mortgage Rates Make A Difference? December 28, 2008 • On Dec. 16, the Fed dropped its benchmark interest rate to almost zero. What does the resulting dip in mortgage rates mean for individual consumers and the economy as a whole? Will Low Mortgage Rates Make A Difference? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98766606/98766572" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Will Low Mortgage Rates Make A Difference? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98766606/98766572" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Business Retailers Struggle To The Finish December 28, 2008 • Retailers are hoping to salvage a dismal fourth quarter by turning these final days of 2009 into a shopping marathon. Most retailers are trying to catch your eye the old-fashioned, low-tech way: with discounts. Retailers Struggle To The Finish Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98766576/98766559" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Retailers Struggle To The Finish Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98766576/98766559" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Business Struggling Retailers Offer Post-Christmas Discounts December 26, 2008 • Retailers battered by a dismal holiday selling season are offering eye-popping discounts, trying to persuade wary consumers to loosen their purse strings and help salvage businesses' bottom lines before the new year. But analysts predict a bumpy retail ride well into 2009 and perhaps beyond.
The Madoff Investment Scandal Con Man Turned Rabbi Conned In Ponzi Scheme December 26, 2008 • Reformed con man Mark Borovitz recently found out he'd been conned. Now a rabbi, Borovitz runs a synagogue and treatment center in Culver City, Calif. The endowment for his organization lost as much as $300,000 in the alleged Ponzi scheme run by Bernard Madoff. Rabbi Borovitz talks with Renee Montagne about how much that loss will hurt his group. Con Man Turned Rabbi Conned In Ponzi Scheme Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98718782/98718764" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Con Man Turned Rabbi Conned In Ponzi Scheme Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98718782/98718764" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Economically Speaking, Just How Bad Was 2008? December 26, 2008 • As 2008 comes to a close, many people are scratching their heads and thinking, "What in the world just happened to our economy?" Some remarkable financial and economic events have plunged the world into what appears to be the worst recession since World War II. But just a year ago, the huge breakdown was largely unforeseen. Economically Speaking, Just How Bad Was 2008? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98718779/98718763" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Economically Speaking, Just How Bad Was 2008? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98718779/98718763" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Small Banks Count On 'The Bank Lady' December 26, 2008 • Katie Edge is known as "The Bank Lady." She is a lawyer who helps community and small-scale retail banks get started. With the recent banking crisis, now may not seem like a good time to start a bank. Edge talks with Linda Wertheimer about getting banks started, even in tough economic times. Small Banks Count On 'The Bank Lady' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98718804/98718771" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Small Banks Count On 'The Bank Lady' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98718804/98718771" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
National Nonprofits Help Donors Choose, Spend Wisely December 25, 2008 • Shrinking budgets and a sluggish economy have charitable donors looking more closely at the organizations to which they donate. Some nonprofits are leading an effort to identify which charities give the most bang for the buck. Nonprofits Help Donors Choose, Spend Wisely Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98656337/98705971" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Nonprofits Help Donors Choose, Spend Wisely Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98656337/98705971" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript