Economy

Record Water Levels Shut Down Miles Of Mississippi River

4:49pm December 31, 2015

NPR's Audie Cornish talks to Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, about the effect of historic flooding on the Mississippi River on corn and soybean farmers.

Puerto Rico Faces Uncertain Future Amid Debt Crisis

4:44pm December 31, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Puerto Rico Rep. Luis Vega Ramos about what will happen when the commonwealth defaults on its nearly $37 million worth of debt.

A Saudi man walks past a pump at a petrol station Monday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. Saudi Arabia said it plans to reduce subsidies on power, water and fuel as part of new measures introduced in the face of low oil prices.

Higher Gas Prices, Long Lines: What Cheap Oil Means For Saudi Arabia

10:54am December 31, 2015

by Deb Amos

The deal in Saudi Arabia has been no taxation and no representation. Bottom-of-the-barrel crude prices changed the first half of the equation this week, as officials cut utility and gas subsidies.

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Puerto Rico Says It Will Miss $37 Million In Bond Payments This Week

10:18pm December 30, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

The island's government warns that time is running out for Congress to address its fiscal problems. Puerto Rico has been reeling from the effects of declining population and a long recession.

Highflying 'Emerging Markets' Had Their Wings Clipped In 2015

6:29pm December 30, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

A weakening commodities market, hindered largely by the slowdown in China, has hurt economies in Latin America, Africa and elsewhere.

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Despite 'Star Wars' Success, Disney Stock Drops

4:43pm December 30, 2015

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Ben Fritz of the Wall Street Journal about Disney stock dropping, despite enormous Star Wars success.

Puerto Rico Calls On Congress For Help In Billion Dollar Debt Crisis

4:30pm December 30, 2015

by Greg Allen

Puerto Rico has a billion dollars in debt payments due January 1 and the U.S. territory's governor says the island may default. If forced to choose between making debt payments or paying for vital public services, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla says he will choose Puerto Ricans. The heightening crisis has spurred Congress to take action, but it might not come until the island is insolvent.

People sample the Oculus-made Samsung Gear VR Virtually Reality headset Sept. 24 in Hollywood, Calif., at the Oculus Connect 2 event.

Economy

Is 2016 The Year Virtual Reality Finally Goes Mainstream?

1:42pm December 30, 2015

by Laura Sydell

Three different companies are bringing VR headsets to market in 2016, and some content companies have made major investments in the technology.

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Economy

Is 2016 The Year Virtual Reality Finally Goes Mainstream?

4:53am December 30, 2015

by Laura Sydell

Three different companies are bringing VR headsets to market in 2016, and some content companies have made major investments in the technology.

Wind turbines dot the landscape in Mojave, Calif. The recent extension of federal tax credits is expected to give the wind and solar energy industries a big boost.

Tax Breaks, Falling Costs Are Boosting Wind And Solar

8:10pm December 29, 2015

by Chris Arnold

Congress has extended tax credits for clean energy as part of a $1.8 trillion spending bill. Solar and wind power companies say it will catapult the industry at a time when costs are already falling.

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