Housing sales take a dive

Sep 25, 2007
The housing news out today was especialy bleak. Sales of existing homes fell for the sixth-straight month to the lowest point in five years. Kai Ryssdal has more.

Lennar cuts labor

Sep 25, 2007
Miami-based homebuilder Lennar suffered it's biggest lost in the company's 52-year history, causing it to cut 35 percent of its jobs. Jeremy Hobson reports more are on the way.

A bigger cap for Fannie and Freddie?

Sep 22, 2007
This week the Treasury secretary suggested raising the cap on the size of mortgages Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy up from banks and other lenders. The Bush administration has opposed that move. Nick Retsinas, who teaches housing economics at Harvard, explains.
Freddie Mac headquarters in McLean, Va.
Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images

Bernanke loves me, he loves me not

Sep 22, 2007
The Fed and it's Chairman Ben Bernanke showed Wall Street some love by cutting the key federal funds rate by a half a percentage point. Tess Vigeland talks with Peter Morici about what the rate cut may mean to the average consumer.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifies during the House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Which subprime fix will hit home?

Sep 21, 2007
The White House, the Federal Reserve and Congress all have a plan to get us out of the subprime mess. Jeff Tyler goes over a few of the proposals to see which ones might stick.

A change of course and tone

Sep 20, 2007
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson let it be known today that the White House has decided to consider letting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy up jumbo loans, something it's been opposed to. And Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke added it better happen soon. Steve Tripoli reports.

Fed moves leave the little guy stuck

Sep 19, 2007
The Fed has done its bit to help out the mortgage-induced credit crunch by lowering interest rates. Commentator Robert Reich says that's great for lenders and investors, but it won't do a thing for the little guy.

For public good, not for profit.

Many consumers expect recession

Sep 19, 2007
A poll out today from Reuters shows one-third of Americans believe we're heading for a recession. But who's to blame? Steve Henn did his own poll this morning in D.C.

At these rates, what's next?

Sep 18, 2007
It was no surprise that the Federal Reserve cut interest rates today. But what really caught people unawares was what rates it cut -- and by how much. Amy Scott reports.

3 million bad letters on the way

Sep 18, 2007
In the last year, the number of warning letters sent to troubled mortgage-holders increased 115 percent. Steve Henn reports this may just be the beginning.