Business and Financial News : NPR

Making The Move To Community Banks

January 31, 2010 • Fed up with your "too-big-to-fail" bank? Well, you can always downsize. That's the message of the "Move Your Money" campaign, which urges big-bank customers to switch to community banks. But what's it like to actually make the switch, and could this movement ever register as more than a blip on a big bank's radar? Host Guy Raz talks to one man who made the switch — Michael Parisi of Santa Cruz, Calif. And he gets two very different opinions on the idea from economist Simon Johnson and bank analyst Bert Ely.

Scottish master butcher Neil Watt and his haggis. Martin Cleaver/AP File hide caption

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Martin Cleaver/AP File

U.S. Haggis Lovers' Hopes Dashed

January 31, 2010 • It's still illegal to import haggis from Scotland, despite reports saying otherwise. There's been a ban on this concoction of sheep meat cooked in a stomach since 1989, when mad cow disease was in the news.

What's Wrong With The iPad Besides The Name

January 31, 2010 • The much-anticipated iPad debuted this week, introduced by Steve Jobs as a device that will revolutionize the industry. The 1 1/2-pound slate computer will bring you books, movies, music and even word processing, all on a 9.7-inch screen. Host Liane Hansen talks with NPR's Laura Sydell about the much-hyped device and whether it's worth all the fuss.

Sticky Pedals Accelerate Toyota's PR Campaign

January 31, 2010 • Toyota recalled millions of its vehicles in the U.S. and Europe last week to fix faulty gas pedals. The problem led to at least 19 fatalities in accidents over the last 10 years. Toyota says it's shipping new parts to factories and dealers to fix the problem. While they've temporarily suspended sales in the U.S., they haven't suspended advertising. In fact, they bought full-page ads in 20 major newspapers Sunday morning. Host Liane Hansen talks to John Neff, editor-in-chief of Autoblog.com, about the Toyota recall, Ford's 2009 profits and GM's sale of Saab to Spyker.

Exactly How Do We Go Forth And Innovate?

January 31, 2010 • President Obama mentioned innovation a number of times in his State of the Union address last Wednesday. But what exactly is innovation? Host Liane Hansen speaks with Rob Atkinson of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation about how to measure it, how to define it and how to ensure America doesn't lag behind in the international innovation economy.

Wisconsin Ice Fishers Feel The Recession's Chill

Could ice shanties like this one, built on Wisconsin's Lake Waubesa in 2005, be considered something of an economic indicator? Joseph W. Jackson III/Wisconsin State Journal via AP hide caption

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Joseph W. Jackson III/Wisconsin State Journal via AP

Economy

Wisconsin Ice Fishers Feel The Recession's Chill

Wisconsin Public Radio

January 31, 2010 • It's not the GDP or the unemployment rate, but in one northern Wisconsin community, there's something else that might be considered an economic indicator: the number of ice-fishing shanties popping up. Many of those out on the ice are also out of work and fishing for food.

Media

Right-To-Life Ad Takes Super Bowl Seriously

January 30, 2010 • Super Sunday is coming up, and even if you don't have a team to root for, you'll probably find a favorite among the Super Bowl commercials. But one ad is already causing controversy, before it's even aired. Guest host Audie Cornish chats with sports guru Howard Bryant of ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine about the NBA and a controversial Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow.

Economy

Finding Hope For Jobs In New Economic Numbers

January 30, 2010 • The U.S. economy spiked in the final months of 2009, growing at its fastest rate in six years according to the Commerce Department. But millions of Americans are still out of work, a problem President Barack Obama hopes to address with a new, $33-billion job creation package. Guest host Audie Cornish talks with New York Times economics columnist David Leonhardt about the latest economic numbers.

Catchy Tune Not Enough To Make Money In Music

January 30, 2010 • The band KISS has come a long way from selling t-shirts and albums. Now, when you go to one of their concerts, you can leave with a recording of the show on a thumb drive. This kind of marketing has become a necessity, not an option, for a lot of acts. With record sales on the decline, musicians are searching for more creative ways to peddle their tunes.

Economy

GDP Is Growing, Will Jobs Follow?

January 30, 2010 • The GDP data released on Friday suggest the U.S. economy may be considerably stronger than many people believed. That could be great for profits, but what does this mean for jobs?

Tai Shan on his first birthday. The panda was conceived in 2005 through artificial insemination in a procedure performed by National Zoo scientists and veterinarians. Ann Batdorf/Smithsonian Institution via AP hide caption

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Ann Batdorf/Smithsonian Institution via AP

Animals

How To FedEx A Panda

January 30, 2010 • The star resident of the National Zoo is leaving Washington next week. Four-year-old Tai Shan will board the "FedEx Panda Express" to Chengdu, China. Where will they find a mailer large enough for him?

Planet Money

Denmark Thrives Despite High Taxes

January 29, 2010 • Denmark has the highest income taxes in the world, but it also enjoys low unemployment and steady economic growth. Economists debate whether Denmark is a model economy, or just a lucky one.

Economy

Economy Grows, But Doubts Remain

January 29, 2010 • The government reported Friday that the U.S. economy grew 5.7 percent in the last quarter of 2009. Although the White House called it the "most positive news on the economy to date," analysts disagree on whether the growth means the economy is out of the woods.

U.S. Growth Quickens, But Hold The Champagne

Professional shopper Lauren A. Rothman, who personally shops for those who don't have the time or fashion sense, works her way through the women's department at a major store. Paul Richards/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Paul Richards/AFP/Getty Images

Economy

U.S. Growth Quickens, But Hold The Champagne

January 29, 2010 • The economy grew at a 5.7 percent pace in the fourth quarter, the fastest rate in six years, primarily fueled by companies refilling depleted stockpiles. The report is the strongest evidence to date that the worst recession since the 1930s ended last year. But economists say the numbers are still mixed, and that unemployment continues to weigh on any recovery.

Economy Grows, Honda Recalls Hatchbacks

January 29, 2010 • The economy grew at its fastest pace in six years, last quarter. The government said that in the final months of 2009, the Gross Domestic Product grew at an annual pace of 5.7 percent. Also announced Friday, Honda is recalling 140,000 Fit hatchbacks in the U.S.. The problem involves a defective master switch, which could cause water to enter the power window switch and in some cases cause a fire.