ECONOMY

A nutrition specialist prepares a Meals on Wheels delivery in upstate New York. The national organization says the sequester could mean significant cuts in the number of meals they serve to homebound seniors.

Advocates Warn Sequester Could Mean Big Cuts For The Low-Income

7:05pm February 26, 2013

by Pam Fessler

Those who serve low- and middle-income people warn that cuts required by the looming sequester will hurt programs that many Americans rely on, like meals for seniors, heating assistance and nutritional aid for expectant mothers. But supporters of the sequester say those fears are overblown.

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Wal-Mart is one of several large retailers that say an increase in the payroll tax may hurt U.S. sales in the months ahead.

Too Soon To Blame Payroll Tax For Stagnant Retail Sales?

7:23pm February 25, 2013

by Dan Bobkoff

Several big retailers say the return of the full payroll tax is causing consumers to curtail spending, but so far the evidence is mostly anecdotal. Some analysts argue a variety of factors, and not any specific policy, contributed to slower growth in consumer spending in January.

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Economy

Op-Ed: It's Time To Raise The Minimum Wage

2:48pm February 25, 2013

In his State of the Union address, President Obama proposed a plan to boost federal minimum wage from 7.25 an hour, to 9 dollars. Columnist Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, argues that plan is "a no-brainer."

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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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The recession put a dent in Sims-Wood's savings, and she expects she'll have to stay in the workforce "forever."

When A Bad Economy Means Working 'Forever'

8:34pm February 20, 2013

by Ina Jaffe

Janet Sims-Wood, 67, is like millions of other seniors still working in order to make ends meet. For the part-time librarian, the recession put a huge dent in her savings, so she expects she'll have to work as long as her health allows.

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Economy

For The Publicly Traded, Going Private Can Be Risky Business

6:11pm February 20, 2013

by Dan Bobkoff

Going public is typically considered an achievement. But reverting to private ownership — as computer giant Dell plans to do — can have benefits, too, like enabling managers to focus on long-term strategies or conduct shake-ups in private. Still, withdrawing from the stock market also carries some risks.

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Reports indicate that gas pump prices are at their highest level on record for this period of the year, but consumers might see a break in the near future — if all goes well.

End Of Winter Drives Nation's Gas Prices Uphill

6:42pm February 19, 2013

by Jeff Brady

Gas prices typically rise this time of year as refineries switch to summertime formulas, which are designed to reduce smog. But because of maintenance work — partially delayed by Superstorm Sandy — the run-up in prices is happening earlier this year.

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Older Tech Workers Oppose Overhauling H-1B Visas

3:45pm February 19, 2013

by Martin Kaste

Overhauling immigration is complicated and controversial. There's been a proposed increase in H-1B visas. Those are the visas that allow companies to bring in skilled foreign workers for jobs that can't be filled by Americans.

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Economy

Social Media And Work: Is It Ever OK To Complain Online?

2:52pm February 19, 2013

Many employees lost their jobs in recent years after posting negative comments about work on social media sites. A recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board may give workers more freedom to talk and complain about work on social media.

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Obama Again Calls For Balanced Plan For Cuts

12:33pm February 19, 2013

President Obama spoke Tuesday about the impacts of deep spending cuts scheduled to take effect March 1. With a group of first responders in uniform standing behind him in the White House, he said if Congress doesn't stop the cuts, responders won't be able to help communities respond to disasters.

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