Economy

Kevin Evans relaxes in his small apartment after arriving home from work. Evans, who lost income and his home in the recession, is now having his wages garnished after falling behind on his credit card payments.

Millions Of Americans' Wages Seized Over Credit Card And Medical Debt

10:52am September 16, 2014

One in 10 working Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 is getting his or her pay docked for not paying debts. And in most states, the law allows a quarter of wages to be withheld.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in Cupertino, Calif., on Tuesday. The company unveiled a new mobile payment system called Apple Pay, which uses security built into the latest iPhones.

Economy

Apple Takes A Swipe At The Credit Card

10:40am September 16, 2014

by Tim Fitzsimons

Apple wants to change the way you pay for things. Credit card companies are embracing its new mobile payment system as a boost to security, but analysts say Apple could disrupt the payments industry.

Conrad Goetzinger and Cassandra Rose struggle to pay their bills as $760 is garnished from their paychecks every two weeks by debt collectors. Twice, Goetzinger's bank account has been emptied by collectors after he failed to payoff a loan for a laptop.

Economy

With Debt Collection, Your Bank Account Could Be At Risk

8:36am September 16, 2014

A 1968 federal law allows debt collectors not only to garnish wages but to take from a debtor's bank account. Consumer advocates say the outdated law is overly punitive and out of touch with reality.

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A soldier guards a pipe en route to the Kawergosk Refinery near Irbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, in July. Fighting in northern Iraq forced the closure of the country's largest oil refinery, Baiji, and cut production fr

With Turmoil Roiling Abroad, Why Aren't Oil Prices Bubbling Up?

8:32am September 16, 2014

by John Ydstie

Conflict in oil-producing regions usually sends oil prices higher. But the cost of oil has actually dropped, despite turmoil in the Middle East. Economists say it's a matter of supply and demand.

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Smoking has declined by about 4 percent annually in Uruguay since the country required graphic warnings on cigarette packages.

Philip Morris Sues Uruguay Over Graphic Cigarette Packaging

8:08am September 15, 2014

by NPR Staff

The country requires photos of decaying teeth and gruesome hospital scenes on every pack. Philip Morris sees this as a violation of a trade agreement and is suing Uruguay for $25 million.

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Visitors look at old boil tanks at the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam last month. As it celebrates 150 years of brewing, Heineken has also reportedly rejected a takeover offer from SABMiller.

Economy

Heineken Owners Reportedly Rebuff SABMiller's Purchase Offer

8:08pm September 14, 2014

by Bill Chappell

In a move seen as a way to fight off Anheuser-Busch InBev, brewer SABMiller reportedly offered to buy Heineken. The family that controls Heineken rejected the idea, Bloomberg News says.

Economy

A Dozen Puffins Will Get You 800 Mackerel: Inside The Weird Economy Of Zoos

4:35pm September 12, 2014

by Gabrielle Emanuel

Zoos and aquariums almost never buy or sell animals. But trade is thriving.

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Health Costs Inch Up As Obamacare Kicks In

2:45pm September 12, 2014

by Jay Hancock

While there were increases in the second quarter of this year, they don't appear to be pushing the growth in health spending toward the painful levels of a decade ago.

Soybeans in a field in Springfield, Neb., on Wednesday. The nation's corn and soybean farmers will bring in by far the largest harvest ever this year, driving down the price of the commodities, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Food Is Cheap, At Least Compared With 4 Years Ago

2:30pm September 12, 2014

by Dan Charles

Global food prices are at a four-year low because of good harvests in the U.S., Europe and China. But food still costs more than it did in the 1990s, even accounting for inflation.

Economy

North Carolina's Hazardous Waste: Where Does it Go?

7:59pm September 11, 2014

by Keri Brown

Every day, businesses across the Triad and the state generate hazardous waste like toxic chemicals and solvents.

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