Economy http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1017&ft=1&f=1017 NPR news on the U.S. and world economy, the World Bank, and Federal Reserve. Commentary on economic trends. Subscribe to NPR Economy podcasts and RSS feeds. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Economy http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1017&ft=1&f=1017 Being Blind To Financial Need: Is It Worth It? Millions of students rely on loans and grants for their studies. But with universities strapped for cash, fewer schools are able to admit students regardless of their financial need. Host Michel Martin asks the President of Iowa's Grinnell College, Dr. Raynard Kington, why his school considered putting a halt to need-blind admissions. Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186262927&ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186262927&ft=1&f=1017 Millions of students rely on loans and grants for their studies. But with universities strapped for cash, fewer schools are able to admit students regardless of their financial need. Host Michel Martin asks the President of Iowa's Grinnell College, Dr. Raynard Kington, why his school considered putting a halt to need-blind admissions.

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]]> Production Of New Vehicles Predicted To Hit 2002 Levels Strong new-vehicle sales lead industry analysts to revise their forecasts for North American production levels in 2013, with J.D. Power & Associates and LMC Automotive predicting 16 million units will be produced — a mark not hit since 2002. Thu, 23 May 2013 11:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186257948/production-of-new-vehicles-predicted-to-hit-2002-levels?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186257948/production-of-new-vehicles-predicted-to-hit-2002-levels?ft=1&f=1017 Strong new-vehicle sales lead industry analysts to revise their forecasts for North American production levels in 2013, with J.D. Power & Associates and LMC Automotive predicting 16 million units will be produced — a mark not hit since 2002.

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]]> Jobless Claims Drop, But Stay In Recent Range There was more of a decline than economists expected, but the weekly pace hasn't really changed much since late 2011. Thu, 23 May 2013 08:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186234164/jobless-claims-drop-but-stay-in-recent-range?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186234164/jobless-claims-drop-but-stay-in-recent-range?ft=1&f=1017 There was more of a decline than economists expected, but the weekly pace hasn't really changed much since late 2011.

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]]> Goldman Sachs Is Doing Well, So Is Its CEO Lloyd Blankfein Big bank Goldman Sachs holds its annual shareholder meeting Thursday. Five years ago, during the financial crisis, Goldman's CEO Lloyd Blankfein was a poster boy for overpaid executives. To find out how much he is making now, Renee Montagne talks Neil Weinberg, editor in chief of <em>American Banker</em>. Thu, 23 May 2013 04:38:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186176950/goldman-sachs-is-doing-well-so-is-its-ceo-lloyd-bankfein?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186176950/goldman-sachs-is-doing-well-so-is-its-ceo-lloyd-bankfein?ft=1&f=1017 Big bank Goldman Sachs holds its annual shareholder meeting Thursday. Five years ago, during the financial crisis, Goldman's CEO Lloyd Blankfein was a poster boy for overpaid executives. To find out how much he is making now, Renee Montagne talks Neil Weinberg, editor in chief of American Banker.

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]]> When Will Fed Officials Ease Off The Accelerator? Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Wednesday that the central bank is not ready to scale back on economic stimulus. But he suggested the Fed may start to pare back bond purchases if the economy picks up momentum. Stocks fell following Bernanke's remarks. Thu, 23 May 2013 04:38:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186175413/when-will-fed-officials-ease-off-the-accelerator?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186175413/when-will-fed-officials-ease-off-the-accelerator?ft=1&f=1017 Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Wednesday that the central bank is not ready to scale back on economic stimulus. But he suggested the Fed may start to pare back bond purchases if the economy picks up momentum. Stocks fell following Bernanke's remarks.

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]]> Bernanke: Economy Still Too Shaky To End Low Interest Rates Over the past several years, the Federal Reserve has added trillions of dollars to its balance sheet, purchasing bonds in order to stimulate the economy. Many investors have been concerned that when the Fed starts selling off those bonds it could create turmoil in the markets. But in congressional testimony Wednesday, Fed Chief Ben Bernanke said the Fed might not sell off those bonds at all. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082407&ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082407&ft=1&f=1017 Over the past several years, the Federal Reserve has added trillions of dollars to its balance sheet, purchasing bonds in order to stimulate the economy. Many investors have been concerned that when the Fed starts selling off those bonds it could create turmoil in the markets. But in congressional testimony Wednesday, Fed Chief Ben Bernanke said the Fed might not sell off those bonds at all.

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]]> Go East, Young Marijuana Dealer A San Francisco dealer quadrupled his income by moving to New York after California legalized medical marijuana. Wed, 22 May 2013 14:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/05/22/185832919/go-east-young-marijuana-dealer?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/05/22/185832919/go-east-young-marijuana-dealer?ft=1&f=1017 A San Francisco dealer quadrupled his income by moving to New York after California legalized medical marijuana.

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]]> Powerball? America Already Hit The Jackpot Host Michel Martin says America deserves a Bentley for peoples' dedication to do the right thing. She shares her thoughts on wealth and the American dream in her regular 'Can I Just Tell You' essay. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186023468/powerball-america-already-hit-the-jackpot?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186023468/powerball-america-already-hit-the-jackpot?ft=1&f=1017 Host Michel Martin says America deserves a Bentley for peoples' dedication to do the right thing. She shares her thoughts on wealth and the American dream in her regular 'Can I Just Tell You' essay.

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]]> Bernanke Hints That The Economy Still Needs Help The Fed chairman cautioned Wednesday that if interest rates were to start rising now, the economy could slump. Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes rose — and would have been even stronger if not for tight inventory. Wed, 22 May 2013 11:20:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186015232/bernanke-hints-economy-still-needs-help-home-sales-rise?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186015232/bernanke-hints-economy-still-needs-help-home-sales-rise?ft=1&f=1017 The Fed chairman cautioned Wednesday that if interest rates were to start rising now, the economy could slump. Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes rose — and would have been even stronger if not for tight inventory.

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]]> Instead Of Snoozing In Savings, Let's Put $5,000 To Work It's a hard time to be a saver. The return on a savings account doesn't even keep up with inflation, and that has led many savers to ask: What should I do with my money? NPR's Uri Berliner takes $5,000 out of his own personal savings and explores various investment opportunities. Wed, 22 May 2013 03:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/184201335/instead-of-snoozing-in-savings-let-s-put-5-000-to-work?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/184201335/instead-of-snoozing-in-savings-let-s-put-5-000-to-work?ft=1&f=1017 It's a hard time to be a saver. The return on a savings account doesn't even keep up with inflation, and that has led many savers to ask: What should I do with my money? NPR's Uri Berliner takes $5,000 out of his own personal savings and explores various investment opportunities.

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]]> Young People Cast Out Of Italy's Welfare System In Italy, the youth jobless rate is nudging 40 percent, a record high in post-war history. Demographer Stefano Rosina says the Italian welfare system has always been skewed toward the middle-aged and elderly, leaving Italian youths with no political or trade union representation. Tue, 21 May 2013 05:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185686033/young-people-cast-out-of-italys-welfare-system?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185686033/young-people-cast-out-of-italys-welfare-system?ft=1&f=1017 In Italy, the youth jobless rate is nudging 40 percent, a record high in post-war history. Demographer Stefano Rosina says the Italian welfare system has always been skewed toward the middle-aged and elderly, leaving Italian youths with no political or trade union representation.

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]]> Poverty, Still Coming To A Suburb Near You When you think about poverty, you might picture dilapidated urban neighborhoods or rural areas. But a new book says the rate of poverty in the suburbs has grown by 64 percent in the past decade, and doesn't show signs of stopping. Host Michel Martin speaks with Elizabeth Kneebone, author of <em>Confronting Suburban Poverty</em>. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534664&ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534664&ft=1&f=1017 When you think about poverty, you might picture dilapidated urban neighborhoods or rural areas. But a new book says the rate of poverty in the suburbs has grown by 64 percent in the past decade, and doesn't show signs of stopping. Host Michel Martin speaks with Elizabeth Kneebone, author of Confronting Suburban Poverty.

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]]> Asian-Americans: Smart, High-Incomes And ... Poor? Asian-Americans have the highest income and education levels of any racial group in the country. So it might be surprising that they have a higher poverty rate than non-Hispanic whites. Michel Martin discusses the issue with Algernon Austin of the Economic Policy Institute and Rosalind Chou, co-author of <em>The Myth of the Model Minority</em>. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534666&ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534666&ft=1&f=1017 Asian-Americans have the highest income and education levels of any racial group in the country. So it might be surprising that they have a higher poverty rate than non-Hispanic whites. Michel Martin discusses the issue with Algernon Austin of the Economic Policy Institute and Rosalind Chou, co-author of The Myth of the Model Minority.

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]]> Pledging Not To 'Screw It Up,' Yahoo Seals Deal For Tumblr Yahoo will pay about $1.1 billion for the six-year-old blogging site. Tumblr's leadership won't change and Yahoo promises it will be independently operated. Mon, 20 May 2013 08:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185490104/pledging-not-to-screw-it-up-yahoo-seals-deal-for-tumblr?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185490104/pledging-not-to-screw-it-up-yahoo-seals-deal-for-tumblr?ft=1&f=1017 Yahoo will pay about $1.1 billion for the six-year-old blogging site. Tumblr's leadership won't change and Yahoo promises it will be independently operated.

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]]> Advocates Struggle To Reach Growing Ranks Of Suburban Poor The number of poor people living in America's suburbs now surpasses those in cities or rural areas. Long focused on the urban poor, social service agencies are now trying to respond to the basic needs of a much more far-flung population. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184771918/advocates-struggle-to-reach-growing-ranks-of-suburban-poor?ft=1&f=1017 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184771918/advocates-struggle-to-reach-growing-ranks-of-suburban-poor?ft=1&f=1017 The number of poor people living in America's suburbs now surpasses those in cities or rural areas. Long focused on the urban poor, social service agencies are now trying to respond to the basic needs of a much more far-flung population.

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