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The recent move by Congress to extend unemployment benefits drew a heavy response from bewildered readers who have been hearing conflicting stories about who is eligible and who isn’t.
Not many stories this year have touched a nerve with readers as much as executive compensation.
Unemployed workers and homebuyers caught a break thanks to a new law signed by President Barack Obama on Friday. The law offers tax credits for homebuyers, extending and expanding a popular program, and extends jobless benefits up to 20 weeks for unemployed workers who can’t find a job. Here’s how the plans will work.
The economy is still shedding jobs, but at a much slower pace than at the height of the financial crisis this year, according to government figures released Friday. That bolsters the view that the economy is making a slow but steady recovery from the worst downturn in decades.
Out of work, out of savings and out of things to sell, Carolyn Johansen is running out of options to keep her home even as her unemployment benefits run out.
Last week's news that the economy is growing again produced a number of reports that "the Great Recession is over." Even if that were true, what follows may be more painful that any economic recovery in living memory.
Even though the for the first time in more than a year, don't assume that the Great Recession of 2008-09 is over.
If and when Congress gets around to passing a bill to overhaul the health care system, the price tag will be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Where is all that money going to go?
That big whoosh you're hearing is the air rushing out of a commercial real estate bubble.
Government jobs data are only estimates. The "official" numbers don't include everyone who wants and needs a fulltime paycheck.
The stalled pace of the government's effort to head off home foreclosures has left families looking for other ways to save their homes. There are people out there who can help. But you have to pick very carefully.
Recent skirmishes in global trade have prompted readers to wonder why protecting American jobs with tariffs is such a bad idea. Unfortunately, in a global trade war, everybody loses.
The recent drop in the value of the dollar has been a good thing for U.S. exporters. But if the currency falls too far, the consequences could be serious. The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
The federal tax credit for first-time home buyers has given the ailing housing market a shot in the arm. Will Congress extend it? The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
A year after the financial markets trashed trillions in retirement savings, it's a great time to take a closer look at your investment risk. The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
There's a lot of interest in rates this week. The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
Despite recent signs of improvement, the housing industry still faces a long road back. The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
Our story last week on the failure of the government's mortgage relief efforts drew a flood of mail from homeowners facing default and foreclosure. The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
With foreclosures rising and mortgage companies flooded with borrowers in trouble, is it a good idea to just pay the thing off if you can afford to? The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
Last week's news on the slow pace of mortgage relief for millions of struggling homeowners generated a flood of mail from readers looking for help. The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
While the U.S. banking industry struggles to right itself, Goldman Sachs has figured out how to turn financial turmoil into gold. Here’s how.
The budget mess in California has readers in that state wondering: So just where does my tax money go, anyway? Unraveling that question helps explain why the Golden State's financial problem has so far defied a solution.
The long national banking nightmare may be over — but only for a select few banks.
Maybe it's because there are signs that the housing market could be stabilizing — for now — and the financial markets have gotten past panic mode. But lately a lot of readers complain that those of us who follow these things for a living completely missed the boat on warning readers that it was coming.
It would be a fitting use for this quasi-cash to send it right back to the government. But for most state workers, it likely won’t get that far.
Long-term jobless face frayed safety netFor millions of out-of-work job seekers, unemployment insurance is providing an increasingly tenuous financial lifeline.
Recession over? Readers sure don\'t believe itDespite government data showing the economy growing again, hundreds of msnbc.com readers wrote to say they don\'t see the recession ending where they live. The Answer Desk.
What's pushing oil prices higher?Why are oil prices rising so high? The Iraq war is one reason, but there are at least seven others. MSNBC.com's Answer Desk explains.
How are older, laid-off workers faring?Many older workers who get laid off face a tough time replacing their salary, and Michael in California is wondering what is happening to workers who lose their jobs as they near retirement. Meanwhile, J.T.
What if we all paid off our credit cards?There's no such thing as a good time to start thinking about taxes. But with six weeks to this year's filing deadline, some Answer Desk readers are slogging through their returns.
What are the steps involved in buying a house?This week, Ralphy in New York is looking for some step-by-step guidance on buying a house. We've also launched a new round of video Answer Desk installments, which will appear every other Thursday for the next few months. By MSNBC.com's John W. Schoen.
Getting mortgage relief is an uphill battleLast week's news on the slow pace ofmortgage relief for millions of struggling homeowners generated a flood of mail from readers looking for help.The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
Strong bank results mask wider weaknessThe long national banking nightmare may be over - for a select few banks. But much of the industry remains mired in a pile of bad debts and rising defaults. By John W. Schoen.
California will gladly pay you Tuesday ...With California set to print $3.6 billion in IOUs to pay bills, a lot of recipients are wondering: Just what good are these bogus bucks anyway? The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
How to get out from under credit card debtIt's the single most common question these days in our Inbox: I'm drowning in credit card debt! What can I do? Here's our Seven Step plan for getting the monkey off your back.The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
Meltdown will leave vastly changed economyWith the economy showing early signs of stabilizing, a lot of people are wondering: what's the 'new normal' economy going to look like? The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
Are immigrants bad for the U.S.?The recent spotlight on immigration reform has drawn lots of mail on the issue -- most of which centers on a pretty basic question: Is the recent surge in immigration good or bad for the U.S.?
Bailouts don't help banks' surprising profitsDid the taxpayer-funded bailout put banks back in the black? If so, should that really count as "making a profit"? The Answer Desk.
Where do my income tax dollars go?You worked hard for that money you just sent off to the IRS. So like many tax filers, including Mark in Colorado, you're probably asking yourself: just where, exactly, does my money go when the government gets its hands on it? Let's see who gets what.
Readers stumped by tax rebate riddlesAs readers sit down to the annual brain-teaser of filing their income tax returns, this year offers a new enigma. Will I get one of these tax rebates from the government?
How can I raise my credit score?Maybe it's the rising tide of spam offering "credit repair" but a number of readers have been asking how they can increase their credit score.
What is the sign the economy is recovering?Readers have some very hard questions - like when will stocks and the economy recover? We have no idea. But here are some things to keep an eye on. The Answer Desk.
Is the power grid ready for electric cars?With all the talk about a new fleet of electric cars coming down the �pike, Jacob in Denver is wondering: Is the nation's power grid ready for all these vehicles? The Answer Desk.
Is the power grid ready for electric cars?With all the talk about a new fleet of electric cars coming down the ?pike, Jacob in Denver is wondering: Is the nation's power grid ready for all these vehicles? The Answer Desk.
How can I fix my phone bill?This week, Doris in Texas is having trouble getting the phone company to live up to their promise to give her some free calls.
$8 trillion question - will bailouts help me?It's the $8 trillion question: Are we ever going to see all of this bailout money again? The Answer Desk.
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