Economy

President Trump speaks about the proposed tax overhaul on Wednesday.

Trump Gives Final Tax Pitch As GOP Lawmakers Reach A Deal On A Bill

8:13pm December 13, 2017

by Kelsey Snell

"We're going to make our tax system work for you again," Trump said Wednesday, the same day that House and Senate GOP lawmakers announced they have a final tax package they think they can pass soon.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, who will step down in February, has said she thinks the forces that have been holding inflation down are temporary and that she expects it will soon be on the rise again.

Fed Raises Interest Rates Again As Economy Rolls On

4:29pm December 13, 2017

by John Ydstie

Policymakers increased a key rate for the third time this year. The quarter-point move indicates the Fed is confident in the economy as it continues to recover from the financial crisis.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

Full Employment: Are We There Yet?

3:53pm December 13, 2017

Why is it so hard to figure out when the economy is at full employment? And why does the Fed keep getting it wrong?

Kansas' 2012 Tax Cut Experiment Could Serve As A Cautionary Tale

8:15am December 13, 2017

by Wade Goodwyn

People in Kansas are struggling to recover from the state's experiment with deep tax cuts. What happened in Kansas is similar in many ways to what Congress is attempting to do on a national level.

Queue Listen Now

Economy

Snow-Related Issues Lead To Temporary Closure Of Old Salem

5:18am December 12, 2017

by Paul Garber

Old Salem, a popular local destination for Christmas, is closed temporarily as a result of last week's snowstorm.

Economy

Bitcoin, Unemployment, and Mythical Beasts

3:39pm December 11, 2017

Our guest, Tyler Cowen, has smart insights into a ridiculously wide range of subjects. Our conversation is a lightning round that touches everything from the stock market to dystopian novels.

Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch Tops Private College Salary List

3:23pm December 11, 2017

by Eddie Garcia

Wake Forest University President Nathan O.

The Tax Bill And The Military

12:11pm December 11, 2017

President Trump has promised to increase military spending. Rachel Martin talks to retired Army Col. Peter Mansoor about whether that spending is possible under the Republican tax plan.

Queue Listen Now

People use the bitcoin ATM in Hong Kong, on Friday.

Bitcoin Futures Surge In First Day Of Trading

6:21am December 11, 2017

by Scott Neuman

January contracts for the skyrocketing digital currency opened at just under $15,500 on Sunday and had spiked to more than $18,000 hours later.

Shoppers walk through a forest of Christmas trees on the Snicker's Gap Christmas Tree Farm in Bluemont, Va., in 2004. This season, a tightened tree supply dates back a decade ago, when fewer trees were planted during the recession.

This Year's Christmas Tree Shortage Has Roots In The Recession

5:23pm December 10, 2017

This season, a tightened tree supply dates back eight to 10 years ago, when fewer trees were planted. Due also in part to an exodus of tree farmers in the industry, prices have more than doubled.