Nov 27th, 2008 · An upscale pawn shop in one of the nation's priciest ZIP codes has become an alternative bank for people who can't get their bankers to lend. Asset-rich but cash-poor, the denizens of Los Angeles are bringing in everything from Picassos to their wives' diamond rings.
Nov 26th, 2008 · The latest Case-Shiller Home Prices Index shows a drop in home prices not seen in 50 years. Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Francisco experienced the largest declines. David Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at Standard and Poor's, discusses the numbers.
Nov 21st, 2008 · In Connecticut, Legal Aid offices are slashing their budgets and laying off staff at a time when demand for their services is increasing. Slowing housing sales and diminishing interest rates aren't helping.
Nov 19th, 2008 · The poor outlook for the holiday shopping season is forcing retailers to slash seasonal jobs. L.L. Bean is filling 23 percent fewer positions this year. The nationwide squeeze on holiday work comes just as more Americans say they will look for second jobs because of the uncertain economy. Curt Nickisch reports for member station WBUR.
Nov 16th, 2008 · Hundreds of homes from Santa Barbara to Orange County have burned to the ground, and even areas far from the fires are grappling with power and water shortages and poor air quality.
Nov 14th, 2008 · Capital-intensive green-energy projects are scrambling to adapt to a harsh new reality of tight credit, cash-poor investors and falling oil prices. Entrepreneurs are worried their industry may repeat the boom-bust cycle that followed the Carter administration.
Nov 12th, 2008 · Sacramento last week elected its first black mayor, former NBA star Kevin Johnson. The 42-year-old businessman beat a two-term incumbent by running on a platform of change. At the same time, the non-profit organization Johnson founded, which works to revitalize poor neighborhoods with charter schools and redevelopment projects, is being investigated for misuse of public funds. Ben Adler of member station KXJZ reports.
Nov 11th, 2008 · This week, we are presenting a radio comic strip about the new economy. In part two, a middle class family experiments with "how to be poor."