Business
Job seekers fill out applications at a job fair in the Queens borough of New York City earlier this month. Economists say jobs in the middle — in sales, administration and assembly, for example — are being squeezed.
Help Wanted. But Not For Mid-Level Jobs
()Changes in the job market have meant fewer jobs for those with mid-level skills. Economists call the trend labor "polarization" and say it's forcing those in the middle to take jobs at lower pay.
The company has grown from an idea hatched in a Harvard dorm to a worldwide social media phenomenon worth billions.
Asia
Hollywood Dreams Led Chinese Firm To Buy Into U.S.()
May 25, 2012 When the Chinese firm Wanda announced the purchase of AMC cinemas, it may not have made a lot of business sense in the short term. But it could be part of a larger strategy that will bring the company into the U.S. in a major way.
Your Money
In Tight Credit Market, A Tool For Small Businesses()
May 25, 2012 Many small-business owners have had a tough time securing credit since the start of the economic downturn. "I couldn't understand why they wouldn't be willing to give us a loan," one owner says. A new website aims to help such owners, grading banks based on the percentage of deposits that are used for small-business loans.
Africa
How Crumbling U.S. Dollars Bailed Out Zimbabwe ()
May 25, 2012 Back in 2008, Zimbabwe's inflation rate was estimated at 79 billion percent. To cure hyperinflation, Zimbabwe ditched its own currency in favor of U.S. dollars. There's only one problem: Those constantly circulating dollars are now filthy and falling apart.
Europe
To Tap Arctic Oil, Russia Partners With Exxon Mobil()
May 25, 2012 Moscow's recent deals with foreign oil companies are designed to maintain Russia as the world's No. 1 oil producer. The biggest deal, with Exxon Mobil, would put billions of dollars toward exploiting vast oil and gas reserves in Russia's Arctic waters.
The Two-Way
Former Massey Coal Mines Targeted In Massive Inspection Blitz()
May 24, 2012 Dozens of federal mine safety inspectors descended into 43 coal mines in three Appalachian states Wednesday. The mines are now owned by Alpha Natural Resources, which absorbed Massey Energy after a 2010 mine disaster in West Virginia.
The Salt
A Meat Mea Culpa: What Went Wrong With 'Pink Slime'()
May 24, 2012 Meat processors blame social media and their own lack of transparency for the "pink slime" storm. . But will consumers ever trust the industry when it comes to understanding how the food processing system works?
Planet Money
Preparing For A Greek Exit, In 3 Easy Steps()
May 24, 2012 What if your job were to protect your country's financial system in case Greece quit the eurozone?
Game Changers
Keys To Success From BJ's CEO: Be Nice, Speak Up()
May 24, 2012 Laura Sen brings an inclusive management style that has improved morale and the bottom line — all at a company that once fired her: BJ's Wholesale Club. Sen talks about her storied career, and how she was raised by a Chinese-American dad and Irish-American "tiger mom."
The Two-Way
Radio Legend And Civil Rights Activist Hal Jackson Dies()
May 24, 2012 The man who broke the color barrier in radio has died. Civil rights activist and radio legend Hal Jackson was 96.
Economy
Hiring Pickup Possible As Jobless Claims Level Off()
May 24, 2012 The number of people seeking unemployment aid changed little last week, signaling modest job growth. Unemployment benefit applications dipped by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 370,000. Applications have leveled off this month after spiking in April.
Special Series
Family Matters: The Money Squeeze
Multigenerational households face difficult financial decisions surrounding elder care, paying for college and retirement.
