Your Money
A new study finds that while "receiving unearned preferential treatment does generate positive reactions, it is not always an entirely pleasurable experience." Examples include getting a free upgrade on a hotel room.
Perk Backlash: Do Surprise Upgrades Make Us Uneasy?
()When we get free perks we didn't earn, negative feelings can result, according to researchers. Part of the problem? Fellow customers. It helps if they're not around, a new study says.
Business
Economists To G-8: Want Growth? Try This()
June 17, 2013 Economists hope the leaders of major economies gathering in Northern Ireland will discuss expanding global trade. Since interest rates can't be lowered much further, analysts say, trade will be a key catalyst for growth.
Business
Housing Market Watchers Edgy As Mortgage Rates Keep Climbing()
June 14, 2013 The Federal Reserve's economic stimulus has helped keep mortgage rates at record lows in the years since the Great Recession. But rates are ticking upward, leaving some investors worried that the nascent housing recovery will suffer if the Fed unravels its policies too quickly.
Planet Money
When People Make Their Own Banks()
June 14, 2013 An ex-con lends money to people in need; a group of friends creates a savings club. Even without banks, people often figure out how to get the money they need, when they need it.
Dollar For Dollar: Adventures In Investing
How To Invest In Real Estate Without Being A Landlord()
June 13, 2013 One of the simplest ways to invest in real estate is through a real estate investment trust. REITs generate income for investors by leasing commercial properties. As part of his quest to put $5,000 to work, NPR's Uri Berliner learns that what counts as real estate in a REIT keeps expanding.
The Salt
Why You'll Be Paying More For Beef All This Year()
June 12, 2013 No, your eyes aren't fooling you: Prices for burger and steak meat have been going up this summer. Why? The ongoing drought in the Midwest has created a shortage of feed, raising expenses for ranchers and forcing some to cull their herds. And economists don't expect the beef price hikes to let up this year.
The Two-Way
Report: Overdraft Protection Puts Customers 'At Greater Risk'()
June 11, 2013 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports those who opt in to the service rack up more costs and are more likely to have their accounts closed.
