Mar 23rd, 2005 · Social Security trustees say the nation's retirement program will exhaust its assets in 2041, a year earlier than previously estimated. They also moved up by a year the point when Social Security outlays will begin to exceed revenues from the payroll tax.
Mar 21st, 2005 · Time Warner Inc. has agreed to pay $300 million to settle charges that it inflated revenues at AOL to make its books look better. The media giant announced last December that it would pay $210 million to settle criminal charges. The company also faces more than 40 shareholder lawsuits.
Mar 19th, 2005 · Wal-Mart will pay a record $11 million settlement to the U.S. government over using undocumented workers to clean its stores. The company admits no wrongdoing, and observers say the amount of the fine is meager compared to Wal-Mart's revenue. Still, federal officials hope the case will serve as a warning to other companies.
Mar 4th, 2005 · As Ireland's economy improves and its population becomes too busy to cook, consumption of fresh market potatoes has been gradually declining. The result has been a decline in revenues for potato growers. Melissa Block talks with Kieran Leddy, horticulture and potato secretary with the Irish Farmers Association.
Jan 27th, 2005 · Audio book sales are increasing at a double-digit rate, making up a healthy chunk of a title's revenue. As Lynn Neary reports, popular books like the Harry Potter series have done well -- and expanded consumer awareness of audio books in the process.
Oct 28th, 2004 · Downloading popular songs to use as personal cell phone ring tones has turned into a $3 billion global industry. A growing revenue stream for songwriters and publishers, ring tones are now outselling digital downloads of music. NPR's Michele Norris talks to Geoff Mayfield, the director of charts for Billboard Magazine, which has just launched a "Hot Ringtones" chart.