Business and Financial News : NPR

Battered Spanish Economy Nears Tipping Point

A student in Pamplona, holding a sign in the Basque language, protests cuts Thursday in education and other public services by the government. Spain's financial position is weakening and there are fears the country will need a bailout. Alvaro Barrientos/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Europe

Battered Spanish Economy Nears Tipping Point

May 31, 2012 • After watching Greece from afar, many Spaniards feel that they could be next in line for a costly bailout. Spain will have to pay $40 billion in interest this year alone. Unemployment tops 24 percent and is rising.

Battered Spanish Economy Nears Tipping Point

Listen · 4:05 4:05

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154074005/154093250" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

For Many Teens, Summer Jobs May Be Thing Of The Past

Tom Auffhammer, 17 (right) scoops ice cream in Syracuse, N.Y. Teens continue to face stiff competition for summer jobs, but a downward trend in summer hiring for teens actually predates the recession. Michelle Gabel/The Post-Standard/Landov hide caption

toggle caption

Michelle Gabel/The Post-Standard/Landov

The Two-Way

For Many Teens, Summer Jobs May Be Thing Of The Past

May 31, 2012 • A recession and its lingering effects have made it even harder for teens to find summer employment. But the drop off in teen summer hiring predates the recession.

Europe

Central Bank President Warns That Euro Is Unstable

May 31, 2012 • The president of the European Central Bank warned Thursday that the set-up of the European currency is unsustainable. In some of the harshest remarks by a senior European official to date, Mario Draghi criticized the vacuum resulting from the lack of action by European governments.

Central Bank President Warns That Euro Is Unstable

Listen · 1:50 1:50

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154093263/154093238" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Wal-Mart Pulls Out Of Group That Advocates 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

Selina Gray of Sanford, Fla., at a protest there on March 31. Julie Fletcher/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Julie Fletcher/AP

The Two-Way

Wal-Mart Pulls Out Of Group That Advocates 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

May 31, 2012 • The giant retailer has joined the list of major corporations withdrawing their support from the conservative political organization, which advocates a type of law that came under intense focus after the Trayvon Martin killing became a national story.

Bloomberg's Sugary Drink Ban May Not Change Soda Drinkers' Habits

New York City food carts would also be affected by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to ban sugary drinks 16 oz. and larger. Andrew Burton/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

The Salt

Bloomberg's Sugary Drink Ban May Not Change Soda Drinkers' Habits

May 31, 2012 • Mayor Bloomberg's proposed ban on large sugary drinks may not slake peoples' thirst for them, or address the obesity problem. A behavioral expert says people who want to buy lots of soda may just rebel at being told what to do.

Bloomberg's Sugary Drink Ban May Not Change Soda Drinkers' Habits

Listen · 4:00 4:00

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154055518/154100442" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Economy

U.S. Economic Growth Falls Short Of Expectations

May 31, 2012 • The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the economy grew 1.9 percent in the first three months of the year, down from an earlier estimate of 2.2 percent. And more Americans are jobless and seeking benefits, according to the Labor Department.

U.S. Economic Growth Falls Short Of Expectations

Listen · 0:45 0:45

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154061092/154058489" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Opinion

New Republic: Mitt Romney Fibs On The Economy

The New Republic

May 31, 2012 • Mitt Romney has pointed out again and again that jobs have been lost under President Obama. But Jonathan Cohen of The New Republic looks at the numbers and says — that's not quite true.

Opinion

Weekly Standard: Obama's Phantom Tax Breaks

The Weekly Standard

May 31, 2012 • One priority for every politician is the ability to say they've created jobs. For President Obama that is no exception. But Fred Barnes of The Weekly Standard looks at the president's record and finds real job creation lacking, while the rhetoric from the administration says otherwise.

The Two-Way

Job Growth Slow, Jobless Claims Up, GDP Revised Down

May 31, 2012 • The widely watched ADP National Employment Report says just 133,000 jobs were added to payrolls in May. Meanwhile, there were 10,000 more people applying for unemployment benefits last week.

Bloomberg Aims To Take Gulp Out Of Sugary Drinks With Ban On Big Ones

Bloomberg's got his sights on these. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Mayor Bloomberg Wants To Ban Mega Sugary Drinks

Listen · 1:10 1:10

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154045829/154045951" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

India's Economic Slide Called 'Extremely Concerning'

May 31, 2012 • Economists had predicted the growth of Asia's third-largest economy would continue to slow this year. But the latest data suggests the Indian economy is in worse shape than many analysts thought. The country's growth in the first quarter of this year was only 5.3 percent, compared to 9.2 percent last year.

India's Economic Slide Called 'Extremely Concerning'

Listen · 0:40 0:40

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154045827/154009511" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

The Fine Political Art Of Jobs Forecasting

A sign outside a McDonald's restaurant in Chesterland, Ohio, advertises job openings earlier this month. Amy Sancetta/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Amy Sancetta/AP

Elections

The Fine Political Art Of Jobs Forecasting

May 31, 2012 • With the government's latest employment numbers due Friday, both President Obama and his GOP challenger, Mitt Romney, are trying to maintain a fine balance in their rhetoric between optimism, pessimism and reality.

The Fine Political Art Of Jobs Forecasting

Listen · 4:42 4:42

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/153999113/154045952" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

YR Media

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Find Me A Part-Time Job

May 31, 2012 • The unemployment rate is 8.1 percent, but the underemployment rate — that's people who work part time but want full-time work — is much higher. For many people, making ends meet means cobbling together temporary jobs. And, of course, there are some apps for that.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Find Me A Part-Time Job

Listen · 3:46 3:46

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154009061/154045950" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Education

Seattle Area Lacks Computer Science Majors

May 31, 2012 • In Seattle alone, there are thousands of computer-related jobs waiting to be filled. But at the University of Washington, the number of bachelor's degrees in computer science is the same now as it was more than a decade ago. A lot of students have been rebuffed in their effort to major in computer science or computer engineering.

Seattle Area Lacks Computer Science Majors

Listen · 3:58 3:58

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154040185/154045953" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript