All Economy
Unemployment claims decline by 3,000Initial and continued unemployment claims declined slightly as seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims remained just below the closely watched 400K level.聽
Married? Combine health insurance with your spouse.It may be cheaper for married couples to share a family plan instead of maintaining two separate health insurance plans, Hamm writes.
Microsoft Corp. raises dividend 15 percentMicrosoft Corp. quarterly dividend will be 23 cents. Shares of Microsoft Corp. fall slightly.
47 percent vs. 1 percent: the emergence of tax-class warfareFrom Mitt Romney's 47 percent gaffe to Warren Buffett's secretary's tax rate, this election is about taxes and who will be saddled with paying back America's huge debt.- Starbucks debuts single-serve brewer, competes with KeurigStarbucks will start selling the Verisimo, a single-serve brewer, online this week for $199. Announced earlier this year, the Starbucks Verismo comes amid intensifying competition in the piping hot market for single-serve brewers and the coffee pods they use.
Is CO2 a latent gaseous gold?It's widely considered an unwanted emission, but the carbon dioxide that spews from smoke stacks and cars may be worth something someday, Ingram writes.聽
Town's rental ban against illegals gets new court hearingTown's rental ban was ruled unconstitutional in March. But a US Appeals court reheard the argument's for and and against the Texas town's rental ban Wednesday.
China manufacturing slows. Asian stocks fall.Chinese manufacturing is still contracting, but HSBC flash PMI suggests that the sector is starting to stabilize. Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Australian exchanges all fall after weak Chinese manufacturing data.聽- Forbes 400 richest: Are they leaving rest of America behind?The new list of Forbes magazine's 400 richest Americans shows their wealth is up 13 percent thanks to rising stock and home prices. That has helped others, too. But many don't feel it.
Cybersecurity bill: Why senator is taking his case straight to top CEOsAmid opposition from business groups to a cybersecurity bill, Sen. Jay Rockefeller is writing CEOs of the nation's top 500 companies for their views 'without the filter of Beltway lobbyists.'
Breaking down the 47 percentMarron highlights a previous blog post where he explains why almost half of Americans pay no federal income tax. The repost comes in light of a leaked video of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney commenting on the 47 percent.
Alexander Ovechkin joins Russian team. No NHL hockey this year?Alexander Ovechkin and other NHL stars are signing up to play abroad as the NHL lockout continues, with no end in sight. The lockout is the league's second in eight years, as owners and players like Alexander Ovechkin argue over how to share $3.3 billion in revenue.
Good housing numbers lift stocksStocks rose Wednesday after the release of two encouraging housing reports. Stocks聽of homebuilders rose sharply while the gains for broader聽stock聽indexes were muted.聽
Time vs. money: the saver's dillemaSome cost-saving activities just aren't worth the time investment, Hamm writes. The ideal situation is to find the frugal practices you enjoy completing.聽
Home sales up 7.8 percent in AugustThe National Association of Realtors' Existing Home Sales Report for August showed a notable increase in sales. Total home sales climbed 7.8 percent since July 2012, rising 9.3 percent above the level seen a year ago.
Federal income tax: Who doesn't pay it and why?The 46 percent of Americans who don't pay federal income tax can be divided into those who have no taxable income and those who have enough tax breaks to wipe out their tax liability.
Housing starts rise in AugustSingle family housing starts increased 5.5 percent from July 2012. Housing starts climbed 26.8 percent above the level seen in August 2011.聽
Arsenic in rice? Consumer Reports finds 'higher' levels.Arsenic in rice is at higher levels than most foods in the US, according to a Consumer Reports study. Consumer groups are urging the FDA to set guidelines for the allowable levels of arsenic in rice. The FDA says there is no danger in eating rice, but urges people to diversify their diets.
Yahoo! mega deal pays investors; stocks riseYahoo! has completed a long-awaited $7.6 billion deal with China's Alibaba Group, generating a windfall that could help ease the pain of Yahoo! shareholders and send stock prices higher.
FocusHousing market turning a corner? Signs of hope for homeowners.Rising home values and declining foreclosure rates indicate a slow but steady recovery for the US housing market. Obstacles remain, however, including negative equity due to 'underwater' mortgages.