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Business

New Banking Rule Reduces Float Time on Checks

A new federal banking rule reduces the float time on checks from several days to one day, or even just a few hours. The banking industry expects to save billions of dollars by moving from paper to digital imaging, but consumer groups warn customers could face bounced checks and the fees they bring. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports.

New Banking Rule Reduces Float Time on Checks

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40-Year Home Mortgages

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks with Day to Day personal finance contributor Michelle Singletary about the pros and cons of 40-year mortgages. Monthly payments for these loans are less than with traditional 30 year mortgages, but the interest paid over the life of the loan is substantially more.

40-Year Home Mortgages

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Credit Bureau Gives Texans a Poor Rating

According to figures released by Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, Americans' credit ratings vary significantly by region. South Dakotans boast the best scores, Texans the worst. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Beth Kobliner, author of Get A Financial Life.

Credit Bureau Gives Texans a Poor Rating

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Business

Insurance Sales Probe Widens

Probes of the nation's insurance industry widen, as California joins New York in investigating insurance sales practices. California's insurance commissioner plans to ban brokers from steering customers to certain policies in exchange for hidden commissions. NPR's Jim Zarroli reports.

Insurance Probes Widen in California, N.Y.

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Health Care

Heart Rehab Centers Close

Hospitals are increasingly closing cardiac rehabilitation centers, reacting to uncertainty over how to pay for treatments. Despite proof that physical therapy and counseling improve survival rates after a heart attack, only one-third of patients receive it. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports.

Cardiac Rehab Centers Closing over Funding Issues

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Opinion

Women's Group Organizes 'Buycott'

Thousands of women are being asked to shut their purses and refuse to shop in an effort to demonstrate the inequality between women's purchasing power and their representation in boardrooms. The national "buycott" was called for by the group 85 Broads. Commentator Lori Gottlieb notes that it's not an easy protest to join.

Women's Group Organizes 'Buycott'

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The Color of Money

Bringing Up Baby

NPR's Alex Chadwick speaks to Day to Day personal finance contributor Michelle Singletary about how to prepare financially for a new baby. Singletary writes the syndicated column "The Color of Money" for The Washington Post, and is the author of 7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life.

Bringing Up Baby

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The Marketplace Report: Social Security Adjustments

NPR's Noah Adams talks to John Dimsdale of Marketplace about this year's adjustments in Social Security benefits, and how the presidential campaigns have addressed the issue.

The Marketplace Report: Social Security Adjustments

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Health Care

High Drug Costs: Industry Perspective

NPR's Jennifer Ludden talks with Dr. Paul Antony, chief medical officer for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. He offers the drug industry's perspective on the rising costs of prescription drugs, and responds to charges made Saturday by Dr. Marcia Angell, who accuses pharmaceutical companies of spending too much on advertising and making undue profits.

High Drug Costs: Industry Perspective

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Health

Doctor Targets Drug Companies

Dr. Marcia Angell is the author of The Truth About Drug Companies. Angell, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, disputes drug firms' claims that prices are high because profits are used for research and development. Hear Angell and NPR's Jennifer Ludden.

Doctor's Book Targets Drug Industry

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