Business

Economists Predict 2 Percent Growth In 2013

9:11am February 25, 2013

The latest survey of economic forecasters by the National Association of Business Economics predicts a 2 percent growth this year. That's down from last year's 2.2 percent. The current budget battle in Congress is partly blamed for slowing the economy.

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A Ford Focus electric concept car with a home charging unit on display at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., in January.

Flipping The Switch: What It Takes To Prioritize Electric Cars

10:48am February 24, 2013

by Dana Farrington

Estonia now has the world's first nationwide electric car charger network. What would the U.S. have to do to make a similar leap?

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At A Trade Show, Power Tools Fit For The Amish

9:59pm February 22, 2013

by Robert Smith

The Amish don't drive and don't connect to the electrical grid. Yet a growing number of Amish people are leaving farming for manufacturing. That means they need tools — and power.

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Despite its dark themes (slavery and the Civil War are hardly feel-good topics), Lincoln, like other Oscar nominees, has done very well at the box office. Disney has spent about $10 million campaigning for the best-picture prize, hoping for a payoff down

Arts

Despite Dark Themes, A Big Oscar Bounce

6:47pm February 22, 2013

by Bob Mondello

At the Oscar ceremony on Sunday night, there'll be lots of talk about excellence — the movie industry honoring its own. But as NPR's Bob Mondello notes, there has always been another side to the Oscars: money.

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CNBC Adopts Tougher Tactic In Booking Wars

10:26am February 22, 2013

by David Folkenflik

CNBC is far and away the ratings leader in the financial cable news business — and its executives, producers and reporters are working hard to keep it that way. They're telling some guests they can't appear on rival channels amid breaking news.

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Boeing Believes It Has Safety Fix For 787s

6:22am February 22, 2013

by Wendy Kaufman

Boeing is formally laying out its case for the 787s to be returned to the sky. The Dreamliner has been grounded since last month when batteries overheated. Senior company officials meet with the FAA administrator Friday.

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Immigrants wait for their citizenship interviews at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Jan. 29.

Economy

Three Ways To Totally Transform U.S. Immigration Policy

10:42am February 21, 2013

by David Kestenbaum

Economists dream big: open borders, visa auctions or preferential access for high-skilled workers.

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Defense Cuts May No Longer Be Political Sacred Cow

9:17am February 21, 2013

by Scott Horsley

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said the looming automatic spending cuts will damage U.S. national security. But the warnings don't appear to be moving the needle with lawmakers or the American public.

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National

Secret Menus Give Restaurants A Not-So-Secret Boost

8:06am February 21, 2013

by Gigi Douban

Secret menus aren't new, but more restaurants are trying them out in order to set themselves apart and increase sales. Panera Bread, for instance, has rolled out a new secret menu with low-carb, health-conscious options to appeal to a new group of customers.

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Sony Shows Off Playstation 4 Controller

6:55am February 21, 2013

Sony has sold about 77 million PlayStation 3s since its launch in 2006, starting at $500 each. The new model is expected to be cheaper, and it should be available in time for the holidays. The company says the PlayStation 4 will focus on social networking features and cloud-based games.

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