Economy

A worker installs solar panels atop a government building in Lakewood, Colo. The industry has added more than 80,000 jobs since 2010, according to The Solar Foundation.

U.S. Solar Industry Sees Growth, But Also Some Uncertainty

7:32pm January 19, 2015

by Jeff Brady

The solar industry employs nearly 174,000 workers in the U.S., up 22 percent from a year ago. But the industry's future is murky, as government subsidies are set to expire within two years.

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As Elections Approach, Greece Teeters On Austerity Question

7:32pm January 19, 2015

Six days from parliamentary elections, Greece is weighing whether to continue its EU-imposed — and unpopular — austerity program. Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou discusses the issue.

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Private Sector Included In Plan To Finance Infrastructure Repairs

7:37am January 19, 2015

by David Schaper

The White House is looking to the private sector to help finance costly improvements to aging infrastructure. The plan avoids increasing taxes, but eventually, the public will have to pay.

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President Obama used the word "crisis" 11 times when he addressed a joint session of Congress in 2009. Since then, he's had a hard time hitting the right note when talking about the economy.

Obama's Trouble Articulating The State Of The Economy

7:05am January 19, 2015

by Tamara Keith

It's easy to give a rousing State of the Union speech when the economy is doing well, but Obama has had a hard time hitting the right note in years when the country was hurting.

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Larry Coleman, a salesman with Trudeau's Marine, talks to Bill Floren and Kimberly Abramski at the 55th Annual Portland Boat Show on Jan. 7 in Oregon. Lower fuel costs are projected to boost boat sales this year.

Lower Gas Prices, Faster Economy Float Boating Industry

11:57am January 17, 2015

by Nick Castele

With hiring up and fuel prices down, a sales rebound is in the boating forecast. For power boaters, gas prices make a big difference: They measure fuel consumption in gallons per hour.

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Economy

Falling Oil Prices: Good For Drivers, Bad For Banks

11:57am January 17, 2015

Lending money to energy companies can be pretty profitable, but if oil prices drop enough, the threat of bank defaults becomes real, Portales Partners analyst Charles Peabody tells NPR's Scott Simon.

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Congressional Budget Watchdogs Change The Way They Keep Score

7:02pm January 16, 2015

by Scott Horsley

House Republicans voted this week to change the way Congress measures the effects of tax and spending bills.

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Economy

Consumer Agency Launches Tool To Help You Find A Cheaper Mortgage

2:25pm January 16, 2015

by Chris Arnold

For many Americans, buying a house is the biggest financial transaction of their lives, but a new federal report says half of buyers don't shop around for a better interest rate on their mortgage.

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Economy

Drop In Transportation Revenues Leads North Carolina To Look At Other Options

10:13am January 16, 2015

by Keri Brown

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Alaska: home to Denali National Park and Preserve, grizzly bears and some very pricey health insurance.

Health Insurance Prices: Highest In Alaska, Lowest In Sun Belt

8:56am January 16, 2015

by Jordan Rau

A look at the 10 least and 10 most expensive places for health insurance shows a wide gap in prices for the same level of coverage.