Vulture Consumers Gain From Others' Misfortune June 30, 2009 • In the current economic slump, many consumers are finding bargains by low-balling salesmen or snapping up foreclosed homes. Reporter Jennifer Saranow weighs the ethics of "vulture consumerism" — benefiting from another's misfortune.
King Of Pop Had A Mountain Of Debt June 30, 2009 • Michael Jackson may have had as much debt as he did fame. It's estimated the pop star's debts amount to close to half a billion dollars. Money Coach Alvin Hall offers insights how Jackson may have taken himself so deep into the red and what regular Americans can learn from the mistakes of the mega-rich.
All Tech Considered Smart Phones Make Comparison Shopping A Snap June 29, 2009 • Bargain hunting has never been easier. Several smart phone applications allow users to type in a model or scan the bar code of a product, then search for a cheaper price online. That is forcing some bricks-and-mortar retailers to change the way they do business.
Business It Pays To Check Your Financial Statements June 29, 2009 • Investment advisor Matthew Weitzman has been charged with stealing $6 million from clients. One of his clients was Ron Lieber, who writes a personal finance column for The New York Times. Lieber tells David Greene it pays to read every word of financial statements. Lieber was not a victim of fraud.
Money And Influence A Painless Way To Hold Down Health Costs? June 29, 2009 • While opponents of the overhaul proposals currently under consideration warn of long waits for care or draconian cuts in payments to doctors and hospitals, some experts say slowing the growth of health spending doesn't have to hurt. "You can deliver high-quality care for far fewer resources if you organize your processes right," says one expert.
Consumers Opt For Debit Over Credit Cards June 28, 2009 • Americans are now spending more money with debit cards than with credit cards, but the fraud protections for the two types of cards aren't necessarily the same. Some consumer advocates say they should be.
Survey: Millions Forced To Rethink Retirement June 27, 2009 • A survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide shows that in the past year, 44 percent of workers age 50 or older have had to delay their retirement date. Three-quarters of those now planning to postpone retirement cite the loss of savings in their 401(k) accounts as the single biggest reason.
Business 'The Pleasures And Sorrows Of Work' June 24, 2009 • For his book, The Pleasures And Sorrows Of Work, philosopher Alain De Botton observed everyday occupations. On one trip, he observed the development of a new cookie. Along the way, he looks at what makes our work worthwhile.
Living With Long-Term Unemployment June 23, 2009 • There are recent reports of a more stable U.S. economy with fewer layoffs. But fewer companies are hiring, and prospects don't look good for the next six months to a year. Tell us: What do you do after many months with no job?
Patient And Provider Perspectives Insurers Revoke Policies To Avoid Paying High Costs June 22, 2009 • Rescission, the act of retroactively canceling health insurance, is fairly common, a new congressional report finds. Companies can cancel policies right before a patient is scheduled to have major surgery if the patient failed to tell the company — either deliberately or inadvertently — of a pre-existing condition.
Business Could Obama's Aid For 'Little Guy' Hurt Little Banks? June 21, 2009 • One part of Obama's plan for regulatory overhaul would create a consumer financial protection agency to toughen consumer protections and identify bad business practices, but many smaller bankers say the new agency would unfairly burden them.
Economy During Tough Times, Canning Makes A Comeback June 20, 2009 • At the University of Missouri's extension school, interest in food canning classes has skyrocketed as young and old alike look for ways to save money.
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Regulation Can't Guarantee Zero Financial Crises June 19, 2009 • President Obama this week introduced a plan designed to overhaul the nation's financial regulatory system. It changes who oversees banks, gives new regulatory powers to the Federal Reserve and creates a new regulator to protect consumers from financial products. David Leonardt, of The New York Times, tells Steve Inskeep that he has a problem with all the talk about "robust regulation."
Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets Small Banks Undecided On Financial Overhaul June 19, 2009 • Big financial firms, insurance companies and credit card issuers are not the only ones who would be affected by President Obama's sweeping regulatory overhaul. There are thousands of community banks across the country, and the president's plan is making some of them nervous.
Planet Money Obama Plan To Rein In Credit Default Swap Market June 19, 2009 • The Obama administration's blueprint for how to prevent another financial crisis takes aim at credit default swaps. They are the derivatives that got AIG into trouble, requiring a $180 billion government bailout. The administration's proposal would try to regulate those derivatives.