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Blog Of The Nation
March 28th: What's On Today's Show
March 28, 2012 In the first hour of Talk of the Nation, the Political Junkie recaps the week in politics and a pilot sheds light on life in the cockpit. In the second hour, background checks and social media, and the new short biography Hitler.
All Tech Considered
Finding Cheaper Gas With Your Smartphone
March 26, 2012 Several companies have developed smartphone applications to help people find the cheapest gasoline prices in town. We tried two popular apps; they work, but there are a few things to watch out for.
Blog Of The Nation
March 15th: What's On Today's Show
March 15, 2012 In the first hour of Talk of the Nation, what's at stake in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the limits of diplomacy in dealing with Iran. In the second hour, signs that things are looking up in the economy, and advice for former governor Rod Blagojevich as he heads to prison.
The Two-Way
Jobless Claims Fell By 14,000 Last Week
March 15, 2012 At 351,000, they remain near a four-year low. The day's other economic news: wholesale prices rose 0.4 percent in February.
The Two-Way
Unemployment Rate Stayed At 8.3 Percent In February
March 9, 2012 Also, there were 227,000 net jobs added to private and public payrolls last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
The Two-Way
House OKs Jobs Bill In 'Rare Agreement' With Obama
March 8, 2012 The "Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act" passed the Republican-controlled House with the administration's support. The legislation's fate is less certain in the Senate, but Democratic leaders have said they will take it up.
The Two-Way
Will Fed Chairman Bernanke Be Right This Time?
February 29, 2012 Five years ago on the last day of February, he told Congress the economy's fundamentals were strong. On this last day of February 2012, he predicted that inflation will remain in check.
The Two-Way
Sales Of Existing Homes At Highest Level In Nearly Two Years
February 22, 2012 The news is being seen as another sign that the housing sector is getting healthier.
The Two-Way
Robert Rubin: Economic Future Is Most 'Uncertain' He's Ever Seen
February 15, 2012 Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin says the U.S. economic outlook is the most "uncertain" he has seen in his lifetime. Given that he was born during the Great Depression and lived through the Cold War, the 1970s' inflation, and a brutal 1980-82 recession, that may be saying a lot.
The Two-Way
Unemployment Rate Edges Down To 8.3 Percent
February 3, 2012 Private employers added 257,000 jobs to their payrolls, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also says. A slight drop in employment at government agencies brought the overall gain in jobs down to 243,000.
The Two-Way
Jobless Claims Fell By 12,000 Last Week
February 2, 2012 First-time applications for unemployment insurance are running at the lowest pace since mid-2008. On Friday, the government will report on the January unemployment rate.
It's All Politics
Taking His Economic Message On The Road, Obama Touts Factory Jobs In Iowa
January 25, 2012 President Obama kicked off a three-day re-election road tour Wednesday, starting out at a manufacturing plant in Iowa. The president is promoting job growth in the manufacturing industry while defending the government's bailout of the auto industry.
The Two-Way
Jobless Claims Drop, Inflation At 3 Percent, Housing Starts Cool
January 19, 2012 First-time claims for unemployment insurance plunged by 50,000 last week from the week before, to 352,000. They're now near a four-year low.
The Two-Way
Wholesale Prices Rose 4.8 Percent Last Year
January 18, 2012 That's up from 2010's 3.8 percent rate. Not surprisingly, food and energy products were a major reason for the faster pace. Excluding those groups, wholesale prices of finished goods rose 3 percent last year.
The Two-Way
How's The Economy? Federal Reserve Reports 'Ongoing Improvement'
January 11, 2012 The language in the central bank's "beige book" look at the economy has gotten more upbeat. It sees "modest to moderate" growth.