ECONOMY

A man interviews for a job in Detroit. The unemployment rate for black Americans in Michigan was 18.7 percent in 2012, more that twice the rate for whites in the state.

Economy

Job Searching While Black: What's Behind The Unemployment Gap?

6:04pm May 25, 2013

by NPR Staff

Income and wealth inequality is just about as American as baseball and apple pie. And although the economy has improved in the last few years, the unemployment rate for black Americans is about double that for whites.

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Economy

When Will Fed Officials Ease Off The Accelerator?

12:54pm May 24, 2013

by John Ydstie

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Wednesday that the central bank is not ready to scale back on economic stimulus. But he suggested the Fed may start to pare back bond purchases if the economy picks up momentum. Stocks fell following Bernanke's remarks.

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An employee handles marijuana at Perennial Holistic Wellness Center, a medical marijuana dispensary, in Los Angeles.

Go East, Young Marijuana Dealer

6:40pm May 22, 2013

by Marianne McCune

A San Francisco dealer quadrupled his income by moving to New York after California legalized medical marijuana.

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Young People Cast Out Of Italy's Welfare System

11:13am May 21, 2013

by Sylvia Poggioli

In Italy, the youth jobless rate is nudging 40 percent, a record high in post-war history. Demographer Stefano Rosina says the Italian welfare system has always been skewed toward the middle-aged and elderly, leaving Italian youths with no political or trade union representation.

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TD Bank volunteers sort donated food into barrels at the Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, Md. Poverty in the county just outside Washington, D.C., has grown by two-thirds since 2007.

Advocates Struggle To Reach Growing Ranks Of Suburban Poor

2:30pm May 20, 2013

by Pam Fessler

The number of poor people living in America's suburbs now surpasses those in cities or rural areas. Long focused on the urban poor, social service agencies are now trying to respond to the basic needs of a much more far-flung population.

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Boom Or Bust? Saving Rhode Island's 'Superman' Building

11:30am May 20, 2013

by NPR Staff

The iconic Industrial Trust Tower in downtown Providence is empty for the first time in 85 years. Developers want to turn it into luxury apartments — and want the state and city to pay for it. But Providence — like the rest of Rhode Island — faces its own economic problems, as well as a recent failed investment.

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Economy

Internships: Low-Paid, Unpaid Or Just Plain Illegal?

7:47pm May 18, 2013

by NPR Staff

Fed up with working for free, some interns are suing their employers. Last week, a judge ruled that interns could not sue the Hearst Corp. as a class action, which could be a legal setback for young workers tired of exploitative unpaid internships.

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Budget Woes Mean Big Delays For Small Claims Courts

5:14am May 17, 2013

by Emily Green

With budgets tight, the court in San Joaquin County, Calif., stopped hearing all small claims cases in September. More than 800 people have since filed claims with no hearing dates in sight. Many other counties nationwide are experiencing similar delays for civil cases as they grapple with spending cuts.

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Jonathan Heisey-Grove kisses his 4-month-old son, Zane, in their home in Alexandria, Va. Jonathan is part of a growing number of fathers who stay at home full time while their wives financially support the family.

Stay-At-Home Dads, Breadwinner Moms And Making It All Work

9:21pm May 16, 2013

by Jennifer Ludden

For decades, the role of breadwinner was reserved for men, but today, more than a quarter of American working women earn more than their spouses. That means more fathers are opting to stay home with the kids.

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Economy

Will Strong Summer Travel Be A Turning Point For Airlines?

4:56pm May 16, 2013

As the summer travel season approaches, air travel provides a barometer for the health of the U.S. economy — and airlines report they're having a good year. After years of financial troubles, industry representatives hope U.S. travelers are more willing to fly. NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax explains what summer travel tells us about the health of the economy.

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