Economy

Ruble's Troubles Tied To Falling Oil Prices, International Sanctions

2:46pm December 17, 2014

by John Ydstie

The world benchmark for oil fell below $60 on Tuesday. Russia's Central Bank hiked interest rates in a bid to support the plummeting ruble, but had little success.

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Is Russia's Currency On Its Way To Collapse?

11:29am December 17, 2014

by Corey Flintoff

The Russian ruble hit new lows on Tuesday despite efforts by the country's central bank to stop the selling. The currency lost 11 percent of its value.

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Ruble's Drop Has Implications For Global Economy

11:29am December 17, 2014

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been conspicuously silent since the ruble's plunge. Renee Montagne talks to Russian business journalist Kirill Belyaninov about why the ruble is in freefall.

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Economists: Congress Gets A Hat Tip (Barely) For Its Efforts

10:59pm December 16, 2014

by Marilyn Geewax

Congress passed no laws addressing the minimum wage, tax reform, trade or immigration this year. But judged by the low recent standards, lawmakers got light applause from economists.

'Warning Shot': Sen. Warren On Fighting Banks, And Her Political Future

6:20pm December 16, 2014

by Steve Inskeep

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, took a passionate stand against a provision in the spending bill that rolls back a major part of the Dodd-Frank financial regulation legislation.

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Economy

Gas Tax Set To Go Up As Prices Continue To Fall

7:36pm December 15, 2014

North Carolina drivers will see something next month that they haven't seen in a while – a slight uptick in gas prices.

Russia Boosts Interest Rates To 17 Percent Amid Currency's Slide

6:11pm December 15, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

The move to raise rates from 10.5 percent is aimed at limiting the ruble's slide and curbing inflation. Sanctions and low oil prices have made it the world's worst-performing major currency this year.

The number of grandparents living with their grandchildren is up sharply.

When Grandma's House Is Home: The Rise Of Grandfamilies

10:42am December 15, 2014

by Steve Inskeep

In a shift driven partly by culture and largely by the economy, the number of grandparents living with their grandchildren is up sharply in the U.S. About 1 in 10 kids is living with a grandparent.

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Confusion Over Job-Based Insurance Can Shortchange Consumers

7:20am December 15, 2014

by Michelle Andrews

Some consumers mistakenly think that having access to skimpy coverage at work means they won't qualify for subsidies if they are interested in a more complete policy on the health care exchanges.

Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is being sued for choosing retirement funds that shortchanged its employees and charged high fees.

Lockheed Martin Case Puts 401(k) Plans On Trial

7:16am December 15, 2014

by Jim Zarroli

The aerospace company is being sued for choosing retirement funds that were poorly managed and charged high fees in a case that tests the limits of a company's responsibilities to its employees.

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