Economy

Katia Abreu, a senator and landholder who heads the powerful landowners bloc in Brazil's legislature, takes a look at the new plantations on her 12,000-acre farm.

A Strong Voice For Brazil's Powerful Farmers

7:56am January 07, 2013

by Juan Forero

Brazil is now a world power when it comes to food production. And a leading symbol of that might is Katia Abreu, a senator, landowner and head of the country's most powerful Big Agro association. But environmentalists say limits need to be placed on the farming industry in order to protect the forests of the Amazon.

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Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood, like many others across the city, is experiencing a real estate boom. Housing prices have risen by as much as 20 percent in the past year in some German cities.

Germany's Housing Market Is Hot. Is It Overheating?

9:59am January 05, 2013

by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

Buyers are snapping up property in Germany, leaving some analysts worried that it's a bubble in the making. But others say the conservative approach to home ownership, including a tradition of large down payments, will protect the market from a U.S.-style crash.

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Foreign buyers are pushing the prices of prime London real estate through the roof. Neighborhoods such as West London, Kensington and Chelsea are particularly popular.

London Real Estate, A Magnet For Mega-Rich From Around The Globe

9:59am January 05, 2013

by Vicki Barker

In most of Britain, property prices are slumping amid a weak economy. But mega-rich foreigners see London's upscale neighborhoods as a safe place to invest, and they are snapping up properties and pushing up prices even though many don't plan to use these homes as a primary residence.

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Economy

3-D Printing Is (Kind Of) A Big Deal

10:15pm January 04, 2013

by Zoe Chace

It's miraculous to see: Press a button, make anything you want. But will it transform the economy?

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Economy

2013 Forecast for Triad Business

7:25pm January 03, 2013

Triad businesses are closing the books on 2012.

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Economy

What Is A Good Unemployment Number, Really?

6:50am January 03, 2013

On Friday, new unemployment numbers will be released for December. In last month's report, the unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent, a four-year low. For a preview of the labor market prospects for the new year, Steve Inskeep talks to Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Global Insight, an international consulting firm.

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Economy

What Was Left Out Of 'Fiscal Cliff' Compromise?

11:16am January 02, 2013

Now that the nation has moved away from the "fiscal cliff," what's the next drama policymakers have in store? Nothing has been done with entitlements and spending cuts were delayed.

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What Does Senate Budget Deal Mean For You?

9:44am January 01, 2013

The Senate passed a measure early into the New Year, and now it's up to the house to vote on the deal, which will most likely happen by Wednesday. The measure cleared the Senate on an 89-8 vote, hours after V.P. Joe Biden and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell sealed a deal.

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Could Post-Superstorm Sandy Rebuilding Energize The Economy?

7:55pm December 31, 2012

by Joel Rose

Some economists predict that the reconstruction from the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy will produce a stimulus effect for the U.S. economy in 2013 — especially in construction and related industries. Others say the losses associated with a storm will outweigh any positive effects from the rebuilding.

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Europe Fails To Stimulate Growth In 2012

12:52pm December 31, 2012

by Jim Zarroli

Europe spent much of this year trying to hold its common currency pact together. Greece, Spain, Italy and other countries flirted with disaster as interest rates spiked, forcing the debtor nations to accept austerity programs. The turmoil was bad enough to push much of the eurozone into recession.

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