ECONOMY

Obama To Press For Higher Taxes On Wealthy Taxpayers

2:01pm January 20, 2015

President Obama is preparing to deliver his sixth State of the Union address Tuesday night. He plans to focus on the middle class. Steve Inskeep talks to White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough.

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When Ed Neufeldt introduced President Obama in 2009, Elkhart, Ind. had the dubious distinction of having the highest unemployment rate in the country, close to 20 percent. The county's job numbers have recovered, but Neufeldt's now working three part-time

Working 3 Jobs In A Time Of Recovery

1:58pm January 20, 2015

by Tamara Keith

If Elkhart County, Ind. was the symbol of the recession, then Ed Neufeldt was the face of the unemployed worker. Elkhart's economy has recovered but Neufeldt is still struggling to bounce back.

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State Of The Union Will Tout Progress, But Is The Economy Fixed?

12:09pm January 20, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

The economy has improved greatly since President Obama took office on Jan. 20, 2009. But is his economic legacy impressive enough to justify taking a victory lap during his State of the Union address?

A trader stands outside the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 31, 2012.

Markets May Stumble Or Skyrocket, But This Economist Says Hold On Tight

11:00am January 20, 2015

by NPR Staff

It's been more than four decades since Burton Malkiel published A Random Walk Down Wall Street. Eleven editions later, Malkiel hasn't wavered in his mantra of patience and broad investing.

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Analysts Watch For Impacts Of European Economic Weakness On U.S.

7:58am January 20, 2015

by Susanna Capelouto

German automakers have several plants in the South, and Florida counts on European tourists. Analysts hope efforts to stimulate Europe's economy will keep investments in the U.S. from slipping.

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Economy

U.S. Should End Its Export Ban On Crude Oil, Study Says

7:58am January 20, 2015

by John Ydstie

The Center on Global Energy Policy says lifting the ban, which was put in place during the Arab oil embargoes of the 1970s, would help producers, consumers and improve U.S. security.

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Why Europe's Economy Threatens Global Growth

7:58am January 20, 2015

Ahead of Europe's central bank meeting, Renee Montagne talks to David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center at the Brookings Institution and a contributing correspondent to The Wall Street Journal.

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Dave Tobelmann worked for 33 years at General Mills before retiring five years ago. Not long after, he returned to the company, this time through a staffing firm specializing in retiree placement.

Businesses Try To Stave Off Brain Drain As Boomers Retire

8:03pm January 19, 2015

by Yuki Noguchi

Employers are trying to hang onto older talent by offering flexible work hours, more attractive health care benefits or having retirees return to mentor younger workers.

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A worker installs solar panels atop a government building in Lakewood, Colo. The industry has added more than 80,000 jobs since 2010, according to The Solar Foundation.

U.S. Solar Industry Sees Growth, But Also Some Uncertainty

7:32pm January 19, 2015

by Jeff Brady

The solar industry employs nearly 174,000 workers in the U.S., up 22 percent from a year ago. But the industry's future is murky, as government subsidies are set to expire within two years.

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As Elections Approach, Greece Teeters On Austerity Question

7:32pm January 19, 2015

Six days from parliamentary elections, Greece is weighing whether to continue its EU-imposed — and unpopular — austerity program. Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou discusses the issue.

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