Your Money

The government took over mortgage giants Fannie Mae (seen in 2010) and Freddie Mac in 2008, during the worst of the housing crisis.

Congress Debates Taking A Step Back From The Mortgage Market

7:11pm July 17, 2013

by Scott Horsley

Lawmakers are trying to figure out how to scale back the outsize role that mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play in the housing market. A bipartisan Senate proposal would replace Fannie and Freddie with a scaled-down program, while a Republican House proposal would go even further.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

Rising Interest Rates Worry Banking Industry

5:08am July 17, 2013

by Jim Zarroli

Five years after the start of the financial crisis, the U.S. banking industry continues to earn strong profits. On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs became the latest big bank to report better than expected earnings. But rising interest rates mean a riskier environment for banks.

Queue Listen Now

When Employees Need More Than An Advance On Their Paycheck

9:38am July 15, 2013

by Marianne McCune

Some companies offer employees one-on-one financial counseling. The service can be revealing.

Queue Listen Now

In The World Of Air Travel, Not All Passengers Created Equal

12:36pm July 09, 2013

by Steve Henn

After Asiana Flight 214's crash-landing in San Francisco, many weekend travelers were left stranded across the country. But the way airlines route such passengers to their destinations isn't based on how long they have been stranded, but rather on how frequently they fly and their "value" to the airline.

Queue Listen Now

The Supreme Court's decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act will bring changes to retirement plans, health care and other benefits.

Employers Face Changes After Same-Sex-Marriage Ruling

10:45am July 09, 2013

by Wendy Kaufman

The Supreme Court's recent decision striking down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act means married same-sex couples are now eligible for the same federal benefits as straight couples. Employers are beginning to think about the changes they will have to make.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

Why Doesn't Everybody Buy Cheap, Generic Headache Medicine?

9:03pm July 05, 2013

by David Kestenbaum

After analyzing 66 million shopping trips, economists think they have the answer.

Queue Listen Now

Mortgage interest rates have spiked recently, causing unease among potential homebuyers.

Economy

As Mortgage Rates Rise, Homebuyers Face New Dilemma

8:12pm July 02, 2013

by Yuki Noguchi

Homebuyers are on edge after a sudden jump in mortgage rates. Industry analysts wonder if the spike in rates will scare off potential buyers or push them into closing a deal before rates go up more.

Queue Listen Now

Jim White of Pennsylvania pumps gas at a BP station in Ocala, Fla., in April. The price of gasoline remains stubbornly high, which may put a crimp on summer travel plans.

Economy

If Supplies Of Oil Are Up, Why Is Gas Still Pricey?

8:00pm June 20, 2013

Supplies of oil have been surging this year, and U.S. drivers, who have been switching to more fuel-efficient cars, are using less gasoline. That would seem to be the right economic combination to push down prices at the pump, but gasoline prices have remained stubbornly high this summer.

Queue Listen Now

Harlem funeral directors Tamara Bullock and Patricia Hamilton are going to spend their next savings-club payout on a sky-diving trip (unless Bullock can get out of it).

When People Make Their Own Banks

6:12pm June 14, 2013

by Marianne McCune

An ex-con lends money to people in need; a group of friends creates a savings club. Even without banks, people often figure out how to get the money they need, when they need it.

Queue Listen Now

Housing Market Watchers Edgy As Mortgage Rates Keep Climbing

6:12pm June 14, 2013

by Yuki Noguchi

The Federal Reserve's economic stimulus has helped keep mortgage rates at record lows in the years since the Great Recession. But rates are ticking upward, leaving some investors worried that the nascent housing recovery will suffer if the Fed unravels its policies too quickly.

Queue Listen Now