ECONOMY

Friday's Jobs Report Could Help Shape Election Outlook

3:53pm October 06, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

If it shows steady unemployment and job growth figures, that would help Democrat Hillary Clinton. If the numbers get worse, that would give an edge to Republican Donald Trump.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Issues New Prepaid Card Rules

6:12pm October 05, 2016

by Yuki Noguchi

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued new rules on prepaid cards that will require providers to abide by some of the same restrictions as credit cards. Namely, it will have to assess the borrower's ability to repay, and it will limit fees and interest rates.

Queue Listen Now

Episode 521: The Town That Loves Death

4:38pm October 05, 2016

On today's episode, we'll take you to a place where dying has become acceptable dinner conversation. A place that also happens to have the lowest healthcare spending of any region in the country.

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George Town in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, is the home of many international banks and offshore companies. A new study shows the Caymans hold $46 billion in multinational corporate profits, far more than its own $3 billion economy.

Corporate Profits Take Permanent Vacation In Caymans And Bermuda

11:18pm October 04, 2016

by Sonari Glinton

According to a study, 367 of the companies on the Fortune 500 have at least one subsidiary in a tax haven country. The study found companies are holding $2.5 trillion in profits offshore.

Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence debate Tuesday night.

FACT CHECK: Vice Presidential Debate

8:20pm October 04, 2016

by NPR Staff

NPR's politics team, with help from reporters and editors who cover national security, immigration, business, foreign policy and more, is live annotating the debate starting at 9 p.m. ET.

Higher Wages And Easy Credit Likely To Spur Holiday Sales, Retailers Say

6:24pm October 04, 2016

by Maria Hollenhorst

The National Retail Federation's economist and many other analysts say shoppers are in good shape to spend more this holiday season. Sales are expected to jump 3.6 percent.

International Monetary Fund Lowers Its Outlook For U.S. Economic Growth

2:20pm October 04, 2016

by Yuki Noguchi

The U.S. economy is projected to see 1.6 percent growth this year, down from the 2.2 percent that the IMF had previously forecast. Globally, growth is seen essentially moving sideways in 2016.

Is It Fair That Businesses Get To 'Carry Forward' Their Losses?

6:00am October 04, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

A developer such as Donald Trump can use a net operating loss "carryforward" to lower his taxes. That may sound weird, but the law has been in place for nearly a century, and experts say it's fair.

Hyundai vehicles sit on display on a lot in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Economy

September Figures Show Plateau In U.S. Car Sales

8:30pm October 03, 2016

by Sonari Glinton

After six years of growth, car sales are beginning to show signs they may have peaked. That could mean consumers will get good deals, but it could also be bad for autoworkers.

Donald Trump poses for photos outside the New York Stock Exchange in June 1995.

Trump's Financial Moves In The '90s: 'Genius' Or 'Colossal Failure'?

7:59am October 03, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

The 1990-91 recession was catastrophic for Donald Trump's empire. A tax document published by The New York Times shows as late as 1995, he was reporting an annual loss of $916 million. What happened?