ECONOMY

A workplace safety tool, or a restriction of artistic vision?

Should Porn Stars Use Condoms? California Grapples With Regulation

8:28pm February 18, 2016

by April Dembosky

"We're talking about gloves, full body cover and goggles," says a porn industry executive of the California proposal to require condom use on the set. Proponents say it's about workplace safety.

Neel Kashkari, head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, says some U.S. banks are still too big.

He Led The Financial Bailout But Says Banks Are Still Too Big To Fail

3:47pm February 18, 2016

by NPR Staff

Despite changes after the 2008 financial crisis, Neel Kashkari, one of the leading figures in the federal bailout, says major banks are still at risk. "I don't think we've gone far enough," he says.

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Customers shop at a Wal-Mart Supercenter store in Springdale, Ark., last summer.

Wal-Mart Had A Tough Year, But Workers And Shoppers Got A Boost

2:17pm February 18, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

Wal-Mart's sales and profits took hits last year as the company closed stores, raised wages, cut prices and sweated out a warm December. But those same factors helped workers and shoppers.

Iran To Countries Capping Oil Output: Good For You! But Not For Us

5:42pm February 17, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

Iran applauded the effort led by Saudi Arabia and Russia to freeze oil production at January levels. But it would not commit itself to participating in plans to cap oil output to drive up prices.

Bernie Sanders' economic proposals are facing new criticism. Will voters care?

Top Wonks Take Aim At Sanders Economic Estimates

3:58pm February 17, 2016

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Top economists are questioning the Sanders economic agenda. So do their opinions make a difference?

From The Ashes Of Some Coal Plants, New Energy Rises

3:32pm February 17, 2016

by Jeff Brady

For decades, coal was king of electricity generation in the U.S., but that's changing. Across the country, coal power plants are being replaced with generators that run on cleaner burning natural gas.

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Bankia's new repayment plan is geared toward thousands of small investors who were persuaded to convert their savings accounts into bank shares.

Bailed Out In 2012, Spanish Bank Says It Will Repay Investors, With Interest

12:28pm February 17, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Bankia says small investors "will quickly and easily recoup 100 percent of their investments plus compensatory interest" — hopefully within 15 days.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar and Venezuela have agreed to freeze oil production at January 2016 levels if other producers do the same.The move reflects growing concern among major oil producers about the economic effects of a prolonged slump in crude price

OPEC Tries To Freeze Oil Output, But Most Say Effort Will Melt Away

7:00pm February 16, 2016

by Marilyn Geewax

Drivers may start to see an uptick in gas prices, but the cause won't be OPEC, analysts say. Prices will drift up with a switch to pricier summer blends, not because OPEC gets its act together.

Don't Mind The Markets, Experts Say — Economy Not Entering Recession

7:51am February 13, 2016

by John Ydstie

Stock markets rallied on Friday, but it was not enough to erase the losses from earlier in the week. Investors are fretting that the recent market turmoil could mean another recession.

How Bernie Sanders' Wall Street Tax Would Work

6:17pm February 12, 2016

by Jim Zarroli

His proposed "speculation tax" — a small levy on every stock, bond or derivative sold in the U.S. — would fund higher education. Estimates of how much revenue it might raise vary greatly.

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