All Economy
- Ethanol industry's big stand on Capitol HillEthanol industry has lost its tax credit and tariff. Now, as opponents target the renewable fuel standard for elimination, the ethanol industry beefs up its presence on Capitol Hill.
- For these four nations, 2012 is worse than the Great Recession The Great Recession of 2008/09 delivered the worst blow to the global economy since the 1930s. But in a few nations, 2012 is turning out to be worse than 2009 in terms of economic growth. Europe's debt crisis, the general slowing of the world economy, and domestic political troubles have played a role in undercutting 2012 growth for one or more of these four nations. Can you guess who they are?
- Workers bear the corporate income tax burdenCorporate income tax moves some capital abroad, which reduces worker productivity, wages and benefits, Marron writes. As a result, some of the corporate income tax burden falls on workers.
- Automatic budget cuts would be 'deeply destructive'Automatic budget cuts would hit Pentagon with 9 percent reduction, hurting military readiness, and 8 percent cuts in nondefense programs from the FBI to the Border Patrol to air controllers, a new White House report says.
- Stocks continue surge after Fed bailoutThe Federal Reserve's announcement of more help for the U.S. economy propelled stocks higher for a second day Friday. Apple led the rise in stock prices, blowing through its own all-time high as it started taking orders for the iPhone 5.
- Stealing US business secrets: Experts ID two huge cyber 'gangs' in ChinaTwo large operations in China account for 90 percent of cyberespionage against US business, one expert says. Research suggests the scope of the operations could be breathtaking.
- Retail sales rise in AugustRetail sales rose 0.9 percent from July 2012. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales rose 4.7 percent.
- The future of crowdfunding: Crowd-investing?Thanks to websites like Kickstarter, a number of small online donations made by a network of interested parties can fund a new project or start-up. Some believe that this system of crowdfunding can be used for equity investments in addition to donations, Cornwall writes.
- Walmart apologizes after rejecting 9/11 kids' chorusWalmart apologizes after a manager at one of its Florida stores calls kids' chorus a 'liability' and prevents them from singing 'God Bless America' on 9/11. Then the police are called. Walmart apologizes for 'miscommunication' and vows to make it up to kids.Â
- Eastman Kodak postpones bankruptcy auction on patentsEastman Kodak Co. canceled an auction hearing to sell more than 1,000 patents in an effort to emerge from bankruptcy protection. In a court filing Friday, Eastman Kodak Co. said it won't keep rescheduling the auction.
- Industrial production falls in AugustIndustrial production declined 1.16 percent since July but rose 2.8 percent above the level of industrial production seen in August 2011.
- Bernanke bump: Stocks rise early on Fed actionBernanke's announcement that the Federal Reserve would once again step in to help the lagging economic recovery is sending stocks to one of their best weeks since June. Bernanke and the Fed pledged to spend $40 billion on mortgage bonds to drive down long-term interest rates and push investors into stocks.
- Retail sales get a boost from autos, gas pricesRetail sales rose in August because consumers paid higher gas prices and bought more cars and trucks. Retail sales at general merchandise, clothing and electronic stores fell, suggesting that consumers are becoming more selective about spending.
- Berkshire Hathaway sells Intel stock, nets $60 millionWarren Buffet's firm deviates from its usual buy-and-hold strategy to sell its Intel stocks a year after buying them, Brown writes.
- Mitt Romney shifts campaign focus back to the economyMitt Romney is trying to shift the focus of the presidential campaign away from anti-American violence overseas and back to the economy, criticizing actions by the Federal Reserve and President Obama's record with China. Mitt Romney has been sharply criticized in recent days for his comments in the wake of attacks on American officials in Libya.
- How much will drivers pay for gas-saving cars?A recent study commissioned by Ford says that 82 percent of Americans would be happy to pay more for cars that save them gas money in the long term, Gordon-Bloomfield writes.
- Hot Toy Reservations: Toys R Us starts holiday shopping earlyHot Toy Reservations from Toys R Us lets parents reserve holiday toys before Halloween. The hot toy reservations system is a great way for Toys R Us to generate early holiday shopping buzz and maximize profits. But is it good for customers?
- QE3: What happens now?Q3 earnings will still matter for individual stocks, Brown predicts, but QE3 will not affect the major indexes.
- The Fed's new plan: Will buying mortgage bonds create jobs?Fed chairman Ben Bernanke announced a new bid to 'quicken the recovery.' The move, in the runup to an election expected to turn on jobs, isn't political, he said, but 'based entirely on the state of the economy.' Â Â
- As global economy slows, Chinese factory shifts sights from Europe to homeChina's economy has slowed dramatically, as factories produce less – and buy less from the world. At the Kaiyee factory, workers who churned out toys for overseas kids now stitch scarves for Chinese.