I Lent $999.78 To The Federal Government*
I bought a Treasury bill on Tuesday, before Congress made the debt-ceiling deal. It was unclear whether I would get paid back on time.
Economy
Declining Gas Prices Pump Up A Shaky Economy
The federal shutdown had economists worried, but consumers have had something to smile about. Gasoline prices are the lowest in three years — under $3 a gallon in some places. Analysts credit greater supplies, lower demand, the easing of Middle East tensions and even a slow hurricane season.
After Shutdown Dust Clears, Where Does Boehner Stand?
Weeks after vowing that House Republicans would not capitulate to President Obama's demands for "clean" bills reopening the government and raising the debt ceiling, Speaker John Boehner led his caucus in doing exactly that. Only about a third of Republicans voted "yes" on the bill with Boehner, but Boehner's standing among Tea Party conservatives in his caucus may have actually improved.
Greenspan: 'I Probably Could Have Caught' Economic Crises
Alan Greenspan was often celebrated during his long chairmanship of the Federal Reserve. But Greenspan's policies have been blamed by some for the Great Recession. In an interview with NPR about his new book, The Map and the Territory: Risk, Human Nature, and the Future of Forecasting, Greenspan discusses difficulties in predicting economic calamity.
Small Breweries = Big Business in the Triad
Craft breweries are a $10 billion industry in North Carolina, and employ more than a thousand people in the Triad alone.
NC Senior Population Will Double Over Next 10 Years: Senior Hunger is Also Expected to Increase
The senior population is growing at a high rate across the country and in the Tar Heel State.
The Roots Of Franchising Took Hold In A Hair Salon Chain
Franchising is commonplace throughout the retail and service economy, whose pioneers included a former servant turned hair salon owner in the late 19th century. Such businesses are not for everyone, but Gary Robins, who owns dozens of Supercuts, says the setup has allowed him to grow more quickly than if he were on his own.
Budget Process Isn't Over. Are More Shutdowns Ahead?
By wide margins in both the House and the Senate, Congress voted Wednesday night to end a 16-day partial government shutdown. The measure also delays the debt ceiling deadline until early February. House and Senate Budget committees have until Dec. 13 to reconcile competing budgets.
Government Workers Must Get The Wheel Turning Again
President Obama has signed legislation that ends the partial government shutdown and raises the U.S. debt ceiling. The Office of Management and Budget says federal employees should report to work Thursday. But it will take some time until all the agencies are back up to speed.
As Greenland Seeks Economic Development, Is Uranium The Way?
The debate over lifting a ban on uranium extraction pits the Danish territory's lawmakers against environmentalists. It would be a controversial move and one with consequences for Greenland's economic development as well as its political status.