Business

Germany aims to revive its solar power industry which was booming a decade ago

6:11am May 02, 2023

by Rob Schmitz

German solar panel manufacturers are working with lawmakers to rejuvenate the industry in Europe. They are seeking to counter China's dominance of the industry with tax incentives and legislation.

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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, seen here on April 13, warned on Monday that the federal government could default on its debt as early as June 1 unless Congress raises or suspends the debt ceiling.

The U.S. could run out of cash to pay its bills by June 1, Yellen warns Congress

7:29pm May 01, 2023

by Scott Horsley

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned lawmakers that unless the debt ceiling is raised soon, the federal government may not have enough money to pay its bills as early as June 1.

Eastwind Books, an anchor for the SF Bay Area's Asian community, shuts its doors

5:33pm May 01, 2023

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Harvey and Beatrice Dong about the closing of their Berkeley shop Eastwind Books and the decades they've spent promoting Asian-American authors.

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Troubled First Republic Bank is bought by JPMorgan Chase after FDIC takeover

7:27am May 01, 2023

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center at the Brookings Institution, about JPMorgan Chase buying First Republic Bank's deposits, some assets and certain liabilities.

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JPMorgan Chase to take over deposits and most of the assets of First Republic Bank

7:27am May 01, 2023

JP Morgan Chase is buying the troubled lender First Republic, after its shares plummeted on the New York Stock Exchange last week. The FDIC oversaw the sale.

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Economy

Experts say don't wait for interest rates to drop before you buy a house

5:58am May 01, 2023

by Juma Sei

Mortgage rates have fluctuated a lot in the last year and interest rates are still climbing. No one knows for sure when the housing market will improve, and not everyone is waiting until it does.

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Strike looms as the contract between Hollywood writers and studios is set to expire

5:02am May 01, 2023

The Writers Guild of America is preparing to go on strike for the first time in 16 years. Writers are demanding better pay for TV shows that appear on the biggest streaming platforms.

Hollywood film and TV writers prepare to strike when their contract expires

5:02am May 01, 2023

Talks are ongoing between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to avoid a strike. NPR's A Martinez talks to guild member Eric Haywood.

Economy

Digital news sites fight to survive as online ad dollars dry up

5:02am May 01, 2023

by Bobby Allyn

Social media giants like Facebook redefined how we use the internet. Now many major companies are seeing big changes. What does it mean for news online and what might come next?

Small banks are dealing with the ripple effects of two prominent failures last month

10:46am April 30, 2023

by Stacey Vanek Smith

The U.S. has more than 4,000 banks — more banks than any other country. The huge number of banks has shaped the economy in countless ways, but it also poses risk.

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