All Economy
- The US government's war on cashBy repeatedly refusing to print money in larger bills, the Feds make it harder to make huge financial transactions and can more easily monitor the financial maneuverings of citizens.
- Oil prices: Can US, UK, and France drive them down?Oil prices are so high that France is considering a release from its strategic oil stockpile. But even in coordination with the US and UK, a release is likely to have only temporary effects on oil prices.
- Supreme Court justices appear poised to sweep aside entire health-care lawConservative Supreme Court justices argued Wednesday morning that without the individual mandate, the entire 2,700-page health-care law must be invalidated in full.
- Make the most of your outlet store shoppingThrift stores are the cheapest places to buy clothes, but selection can be limited.聽 Next stop: consignment and outlet stores.
- Falling commodity prices lower stocksFalling commodity prices pushed stocks lower Wednesday. The Dow fell 71 points to close at 13126, and all three major indexes lost at least a half percent.
- Don't invest in China's mining sectorAs an investment, China's metals and mining industry is in no-man's-land and earnings revisions will be to the downside if China's economy deteriorates even further.
- 30-year mortgage rates up to 4.10 percentThe average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage increased 4 basis points to 4.10% since last week, while the purchase application volume increased 3.3 percent and the refinance application dropped 4.6% over the same period.
- Magic Johnson, basketball legend, is now a Dodgers ownerLos Angeles Dodgers will be bought by a group of owners that includes NBA legend Magic Johnson for a staggering $2 billion. The Los Angeles Dodgers sale is the most expensive in professional sports history.
- How to be a successful thrift store shopperPick the nicest neighborhoods in a metro area and find the nearest Goodwill or other secondhand clothing shop.
- Low-income households would shoulder Ryan's tax burdenThe budget Paul Ryan released last week is, essentially, an effort to have low- and middle-class households bear the entire burden of closing the fiscal gap and bear the costs of financing an additional tax cut for high income households.
- Durable goods rise less than expectedDurable goods were expected to rise sharply after January's big decline. But February's 2.2 percent rise in durable goods disappoints.
- Six ways to save money with fresh produceSome helpful tips for getting the most out of your vegetable budget
- Detroit nears deal to avert bankruptcy, but is it a state takeover?Both city and state officials say they are close to an agreement that could force extensive restructuring of city finances, as Detroit faces a $200 million deficit and bankruptcy by May.
- Home prices stabilizing. So what's wrong with Atlanta?Home prices in some cities show some signs of stabilizing. But in Atlanta, the decline in home prices is accelerating.
- Axl Rose and your investment teamWhile band names and fund families may keep the same names, finding out if there are different players behind the scenes can mean a very different final outcome. Just look at the failure of the latest Guns 'N Roses album.
- EPA issues new rule on greenhouse gas emissions: Where does that leave coal?The EPA proposed the first-ever US curbs on power plants' greenhouse gas emissions, saying next-generation coal plants should meet the restrictions. But the coal industry slammed the new rule.
- Sagging consumer confidence lowers stocksThe Dow fell 43 points to close at 13197 Tuesday as weak readings on consumer confidence gave investors little reason to extend the recent rally.
- Supreme Court health-care hearing: How bad does it look for 'Obamacare'?Based on justices' questions in the two-hour Supreme Court health-care hearing, the fate of 'Obamacare' is in peril. Justice Kennedy expressed strong concerns about the individual mandate.
- Getting rid of state income tax? Bad idea.Reducing or eliminating state income tax is bad news for low-income families, who may end up paying higher taxes and losing critical safety net programs.
- Home prices down in JanuaryThe home price price index declined 0.83 percent since December while the Composite-20 index declined 0.84 percent聽 over the same period resulting in the lowest level seen to on the Composite-10 since June 2003 and the largest peak decline seen since the nearly six year old housing bust began in 2006.