Economy

A statue of a pumpjack and drilling rig sits next to a gas station in Odessa, Texas, on March 13. U.S. oil companies are under pressure to drill more, but they are constrained in how much they can do.

Economy

Here are 3 reasons why Big Oil can't just drill more to ease the pain at the gas pump

10:08am March 19, 2022

by Brittany Cronin

The Biden administration is encouraging U.S. oil companies to increase their production to help curb record-high gasoline prices. Turns out, however, that boosting output is easier said than done.

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The floor of the New York Stock Exchange this week, after the Federal Reserve announced a quarter-point hike in its key interest rate. The Fed is raising rates to curb inflation, but that will hit some Americans in their wallets.

Economy

Americans will feel the impact as Fed raises rates. Here's what you should know

7:04pm March 18, 2022

by Chris Arnold

It's getting more expensive to borrow money, with rates on mortgages, car loans and credit cards heading higher. Here's where you're likely to feel the impact and what you can do about it.

Economy

The days of borrowing money for next to nothing are coming to an end

5:02am March 18, 2022

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2018. NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks to William Spriggs, chief economist to the AFL-CIO.

Gas prices have been increasing since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Gas prices are near record highs. A fuel tax holiday could give consumers some relief

5:00am March 18, 2022

by David Schaper

Gasoline prices hit record highs last week, so politicians in both parties proposed suspending state and federal gas taxes. But some warn such tax "holidays" may cut funding for needed road repairs.

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How the pandemic housing market spurred buyer's remorse across America

4:29pm March 17, 2022

Working from home, low interest rates and coming of home buying age have pushed millennials into the housing market. What were some of the pitfalls and who was left out of home buying altogether?

Netflix is testing a way to crack down on password sharing. The streaming service has been asking some users of the popular streaming site to verify that they live with the holder of the account.

Economy

Netflix plans to start charging for password sharing, and customers aren't happy

4:19pm March 17, 2022

by Ayana Archie

The company said it has previously encouraged account sharing but that the practices are "impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members."

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is pictured during his renomination hearing with the Senate Banking Committee in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 11. The Fed raised interest rates on Wednesday for the first time since 2018.

Economy

The Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time since 2018

6:11pm March 16, 2022

by Scott Horsley

The central bank raises its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point in an effort to tamp down inflation. Additional rate hikes are likely in the months to come.

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A woman walks past a display showing currency exchange rates of the U.S. dollar and the euro against the Russian ruble in Moscow on Feb. 22. Russia owes over $100 million in interest payments for two bonds on Wednesday as fears grow that the country will

Fears are growing that Russia will default on its debt. Here's what you need to know

5:23pm March 16, 2022

by David Gura

Russia owes interest payments on two dollar-denominated bonds on Wednesday. If it doesn't pay, the country could go into default.

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A mob set this train car afire as they protested railway jobs that set increasingly demanding requirements, shutting out many applicants. What the media called a "job riot" took place in Gaya in the northeast Indian state of Bihar on Jan. 26.

This burning train is a symbol of the anger of India's out-of-work youth

12:19pm March 16, 2022

by Raksha Kumar

The country is in the midst of a job crisis. The rate of unemployment is about 13% among educated youth. Those who work in the informal sector vie for jobs with no security. Why are things so bad?

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News brief: Blinken on Ukraine, Additional COVID Booster, gas tax holidays

5:58am March 16, 2022

Secretary of State Blinken talks to NPR about the war in Ukraine. Pfizer is asking the FDA to authorize another booster for older adults. As gas prices go up, there are calls to suspend gas taxes.

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