Economy

Economy

Obama's State Of The Union And Your Economic Reality

7:20am February 03, 2014

by NPR Staff

In his speech, President Obama painted a fairly rosy picture of the economy, but many Americans say they aren't seeing it. We dig into the president's remarks and compare them to the average American's experience.

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Janet Yellen smiles as President Obama announces her nomination for Federal Reserve chairwoman on Oct. 9.

After Overcoming Early Obstacles, Yellen Assumes Fed's Top Job

7:51pm January 31, 2014

by John Ydstie

The world of central banking is largely a man's world. But Janet Yellen, the Federal Reserve's new leader, has been undeterred by such barriers since she was in high school in Brooklyn. Now global financial markets will be watching her every move.

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New York Looks To Bring Bitcoin Out Of The Shadows

2:58pm January 31, 2014

by Ilya Marritz

Bitcoin has been tied to the dark side of the Internet, where it's been linked to drug trafficking. But New York's financial regulators say they want to foster innovation and are looking to legitimize the virtual currency by licensing it.

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Economy

New Greensboro City Manager Plans to Build on Momentum for More Economic Growth in the City

5:46pm January 30, 2014

by Keri Brown

The city of Greensboro has a new leader. Last week, council members chose Deputy City Manager Jim Westmoreland to replace City Manager Denise Turner Roth, who has been tapped for a federal post.

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Economy

Harris Teeter and Kroger Complete Merger

12:11pm January 30, 2014

The Kroger Company and Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Inc., announced this week that they have officially completed a merger that has been in the works since July.

Meet The myRA — Obama's New Retirement Plan

11:00am January 30, 2014

by Yuki Noguchi

On Wednesday, President Obama directed the Treasury Department to create a new retirement plan called "myRA." The decision, a circumvention of Congress, follows through on one of the promises made by the president in his State of the Union. As Yuki Noguchi reports, the success of the plan may depend on its ability to move beyond the limitations of existing retirement plans.

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Is There An Economic Benefit To Hosting The Super Bowl?

12:49pm January 29, 2014

by Joel Rose

Towns in New Jersey, where the Super Bowl will be played, were expecting an economic boost from the game. Local officials grumble the biggest share of spending is happening across the Hudson River in New York City. Economists say the total economic impact of the game is close to zero anyway, despite the NFL's claims to the contrary.

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Days Of Turmoil Test Stability Of Emerging Markets

6:55pm January 28, 2014

by Jim Zarroli

Financial markets around the world are enjoying a day of relative calm after a flare-up in emerging markets. India hiked interest rates and Turkey's central bank is considering doing the same thing as both countries search for ways to limit the fallout. Many emerging markets have made changes that make them less vulnerable to volatility.

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Economy

North Carolina Unemployment Rate Down a Bit

11:25am January 28, 2014

(Raleigh) -- North Carolina's unemployment rate fell to 6.9 percent in December.

Taking Stock Of The Northern Plains Oil Boom

6:20pm January 26, 2014

Beginning next week, NPR News will be taking an in-depth look at the unprecedented oil drilling boom happening on the Northern Plains, where the state of North Dakota has fast become one of the nation's most productive drilling regions. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks with NPR reporter Kirk Siegler, back from a recent reporting trip in North Dakota for the series.

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