Economy http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1017&ft=1&f=1017 NPR news on the U.S. and world economy, the World Bank, and Federal Reserve. Commentary on economic trends. Subscribe to NPR Economy podcasts and RSS feeds. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:30 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Economy http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1017&ft=1&f=1017 Stories Of Hope Amid America's 'Unwinding' When the factory she worked at closed down, Tammy Thomas reinvented herself as a community organizer; and when Dean Price's truck stop business went belly up, he became a champion of biofuel. In a new book, George Packer examines how ordinary people are adapting to a new America. Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:30 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184480850/stories-of-hope-amid-americas-unwinding?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184480850/stories-of-hope-amid-americas-unwinding?ft=1&f=1017 When the factory she worked at closed down, Tammy Thomas reinvented herself as a community organizer; and when Dean Price's truck stop business went belly up, he became a champion of biofuel. In a new book, George Packer examines how ordinary people are adapting to a new America.

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]]> Internships: Low-Paid, Unpaid Or Just Plain Illegal? Fed up with working for free, some interns are suing their employers. Last week, a judge ruled that interns could not sue the Hearst Corp. as a class action, which could be a legal setback for young workers tired of exploitative unpaid internships. Sat, 18 May 2013 16:41:08 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185028904/internships-low-paid-unpaid-or-just-plain-illegal?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185028904/internships-low-paid-unpaid-or-just-plain-illegal?ft=1&f=1017 Fed up with working for free, some interns are suing their employers. Last week, a judge ruled that interns could not sue the Hearst Corp. as a class action, which could be a legal setback for young workers tired of exploitative unpaid internships.

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]]> Desktop Diaries: Daniel Kahneman Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our <em>Desktop Diaries</em> series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1017 Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our Desktop Diaries series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making.

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]]> How Best To Encourage Black 'Teenpreneurs' African-American entrepreneurs from all over the country have gathered in Ohio this week. Guest host Celeste Headlee speaks with Mike Green of the America21 Project about how to help black youth become more competitive in business. We also hear from teen entrepreneur Amber Liggett who started her own business, 'Amber's Amazing Animal Balloons.' Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184775456&ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184775456&ft=1&f=1017 African-American entrepreneurs from all over the country have gathered in Ohio this week. Guest host Celeste Headlee speaks with Mike Green of the America21 Project about how to help black youth become more competitive in business. We also hear from teen entrepreneur Amber Liggett who started her own business, 'Amber's Amazing Animal Balloons.'

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]]> Millennials Choosing Buses And Bikes Over Buicks Millennials are now driving less, waiting longer to get licensed, and turning more to public transportation and car-sharing. So is America's so-called driving boom over? Guest host Celeste Headlee asks Paul Eisenstein of TheDetroitBureau.com. Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184775458&ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184775458&ft=1&f=1017 Millennials are now driving less, waiting longer to get licensed, and turning more to public transportation and car-sharing. So is America's so-called driving boom over? Guest host Celeste Headlee asks Paul Eisenstein of TheDetroitBureau.com.

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]]> Budget Woes Mean Big Delays For Small Claims Courts With budgets tight, the court in San Joaquin County, Calif., stopped hearing all small claims cases in September. More than 800 people have since filed claims with no hearing dates in sight. Many other counties nationwide are experiencing similar delays for civil cases as they grapple with spending cuts. Wed, 15 May 2013 03:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/182640434/budget-woes-mean-big-delays-for-small-claims-courts?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/182640434/budget-woes-mean-big-delays-for-small-claims-courts?ft=1&f=1017 With budgets tight, the court in San Joaquin County, Calif., stopped hearing all small claims cases in September. More than 800 people have since filed claims with no hearing dates in sight. Many other counties nationwide are experiencing similar delays for civil cases as they grapple with spending cuts.

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]]> U.S. Airlines Forecast A Sunnier Summer The number of passengers planning to fly this summer will rise 1 percent from 2012, climbing back to the highest level since 2008, an industry group said Thursday. After years of instability, airlines welcome an easing in jet fuel prices. Even customers' complaints are quieting down. Thu, 16 May 2013 15:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184530609/u-s-airlines-forecast-a-sunnier-summer?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184530609/u-s-airlines-forecast-a-sunnier-summer?ft=1&f=1017 The number of passengers planning to fly this summer will rise 1 percent from 2012, climbing back to the highest level since 2008, an industry group said Thursday. After years of instability, airlines welcome an easing in jet fuel prices. Even customers' complaints are quieting down.

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]]> Will Strong Summer Travel Be A Turning Point For Airlines? As the summer travel season approaches, air travel provides a barometer for the health of the U.S. economy — and airlines report they're having a good year. After years of financial troubles, industry representatives hope U.S. travelers are more willing to fly. NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax explains what summer travel tells us about the health of the economy. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524662/will-strong-summer-travel-be-a-turning-point-for-airlines?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184524662/will-strong-summer-travel-be-a-turning-point-for-airlines?ft=1&f=1017 As the summer travel season approaches, air travel provides a barometer for the health of the U.S. economy — and airlines report they're having a good year. After years of financial troubles, industry representatives hope U.S. travelers are more willing to fly. NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax explains what summer travel tells us about the health of the economy.

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]]> The Tricky Business Of Retirement: Hidden 401(K) Fees You could end up with a lot less savings at 65 than you ever anticipated because of fees charged by the financial institutions managing your retirement accounts. Robert Hiltonsmith, who researches retirement security, says those fees were disclosed to 401(k) plan participants until only recently. Thu, 16 May 2013 14:04:10 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184221956/the-tricky-business-of-retirement-hidden-401-k-fees?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184221956/the-tricky-business-of-retirement-hidden-401-k-fees?ft=1&f=1017 You could end up with a lot less savings at 65 than you ever anticipated because of fees charged by the financial institutions managing your retirement accounts. Robert Hiltonsmith, who researches retirement security, says those fees were disclosed to 401(k) plan participants until only recently.

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]]> Berkshire Hathaway's Credit Rating Knocked Down A Notch S&P says Berkshire Hathaway has an "excellent business profile," but that its dividend income is too dependent on the insurance companies it owns. The move is not expected to have much, if any, effect on Buffett's company. Thu, 16 May 2013 10:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184468595/berkshire-hathaways-credit-rating-knocked-down-a-notch?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184468595/berkshire-hathaways-credit-rating-knocked-down-a-notch?ft=1&f=1017 S&P says Berkshire Hathaway has an "excellent business profile," but that its dividend income is too dependent on the insurance companies it owns. The move is not expected to have much, if any, effect on Buffett's company.

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]]> Conflicting Signals From Latest Economic Indicators The good news: Inflation remains in check. The bad news: Jobless claims are up, and housing starts are down. Thu, 16 May 2013 08:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184451558/conflicting-signals-from-latest-economic-indicators?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184451558/conflicting-signals-from-latest-economic-indicators?ft=1&f=1017 The good news: Inflation remains in check. The bad news: Jobless claims are up, and housing starts are down.

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]]> Yen's Drop In Value Could Fuel Curency War Japan has embarked on a massive effort to stimulate its economy. Both the government and the central bank are collaborating to end a long period of stagnation and deflation. But the effects are also being felt outside Japan. Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399454/yens-drop-in-value-could-fuel-curency-war?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399454/yens-drop-in-value-could-fuel-curency-war?ft=1&f=1017 Japan has embarked on a massive effort to stimulate its economy. Both the government and the central bank are collaborating to end a long period of stagnation and deflation. But the effects are also being felt outside Japan.

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]]> Sequestration May Make Hurricane Season Stormier Than Usual The Atlantic Hurricane season starts in just a few weeks. With sequestration, the National Weather Service has ordered furloughs and a hiring freeze that have left vacancies throughout the agency, including the National Hurricane Center. Florida's governor and others are wondering if that will affect the state's ability to prepare and respond to a storm. Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399438/federal-forecasters-to-juggle-active-hurricane-season-with-sequester?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/16/184399438/federal-forecasters-to-juggle-active-hurricane-season-with-sequester?ft=1&f=1017 The Atlantic Hurricane season starts in just a few weeks. With sequestration, the National Weather Service has ordered furloughs and a hiring freeze that have left vacancies throughout the agency, including the National Hurricane Center. Florida's governor and others are wondering if that will affect the state's ability to prepare and respond to a storm.

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]]> Stay-At-Home Dads, Breadwinner Moms And Making It All Work For decades, the role of breadwinner was reserved for men, but today, more than a quarter of American working women earn more than their spouses. That means more fathers are opting to stay home with the kids. Wed, 15 May 2013 05:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/180300236/stay-at-home-dads-breadwinner-moms-and-making-it-all-work?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/180300236/stay-at-home-dads-breadwinner-moms-and-making-it-all-work?ft=1&f=1017 For decades, the role of breadwinner was reserved for men, but today, more than a quarter of American working women earn more than their spouses. That means more fathers are opting to stay home with the kids.

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]]> Is A Smaller Budget Deficit A Lasting Trend? The Congressional Budget Office has sharply revised down the outlook for the federal budget deficit. Some temporary factors are being cited for the projected improvement. Keeping the deficit on a downward path may depend on the economy, analysts say. Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184132962/budget-deficit-outlook-improves-since-february?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184132962/budget-deficit-outlook-improves-since-february?ft=1&f=1017 The Congressional Budget Office has sharply revised down the outlook for the federal budget deficit. Some temporary factors are being cited for the projected improvement. Keeping the deficit on a downward path may depend on the economy, analysts say.

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