Economy

Trump Says African-American Communities In 'Worst Shape' Ever; Data Disagree

6:13pm September 21, 2016

by Scott Detrow

A look at major indicators suggests that while African-Americans lag behind the rest of the country in many key areas, they've also experienced steady economic and socioeconomic gains.

November Voters Will Be Asked To Raise Taxes To Fund Transit Projects

8:02am September 21, 2016

by David Schaper

Ballot measures in more than 30 cities would raise $200 billion to expand rail and bus lines, to build new transit stations and to fix and replace aging transit infrastructure.

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How Presidents Can Help Boost American Economic Mobility

6:03pm September 20, 2016

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with UC Berkeley economist Enrico Moretti about what it takes to increase economic mobility and how that could change under a President Clinton or President Trump.

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Under Internal Revenue Service rules, high-deductible insurance plans that can link to health savings accounts can only cover preventive services, such as vaccinations and mammograms, until patients pay down their deductible.

Tax Rule Limits Care For Chronic Ills Under High-Deductible Health Plans

2:06pm September 20, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

The IRS limits health plans linked to health savings accounts from covering most care until the deductible is paid off. Proposed legislation would expand what's allowed before that happens.

People attend the Independents' Day Festival in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. The city has become a nearly recession-proof hub.

A Diversified Economy Cushions Columbus, Ohio, From Downturns

12:59pm September 20, 2016

by Sonari Glinton

Being the state capital, home to Ohio State University and attractive to younger workers has made Columbus, a nearly recession-proof economic hub of Ohio. Can its success be replicated elsewhere?

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Economy

Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf To Appear Before Senate Banking Committee

12:56pm September 20, 2016

Earlier this month, regulators fined the bank after it was discovered employees created at least 2 million fake accounts. David Greene talks to Sen. Sherrod Brown, chairman of the banking committee.

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Administration Aims To Fight Crime With Job Training

9:50am September 20, 2016

The Labor Department is handing out $5 million in grants to fund job centers for people coming out of jail. The program is part of a broader effort to reduce recidivism.

Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Colorado Springs earlier this month.

Analysis: Trump Tax Plan Would Cost Trillions, Boost Incomes For The Rich

6:11pm September 19, 2016

by Danielle Kurtzleben

The plan would also help the rich more than the middle class, according to the Tax Foundation. And there's still one huge, $1.5 trillion uncertainty in the plan.

Economy

Planet Money Explores The Value Of Crude Oil

4:36pm September 19, 2016

NPR's Planet Money team embarked on a quest to buy, transport and refine crude oil, and met all the people who make gasoline possible.

It's pretty easy to buy a tank of gasoline. It's not so easy to buy a tanker of crude oil — actual, physical oil. But getting into the oil business seemed like the best way to see how it really works.

Economy

What Happened When Planet Money Bought 100 Barrels of Crude Oil

3:03pm September 19, 2016

by Alex Goldmark

It's pretty easy to buy a tank of gasoline. It's not so easy to buy a tanker of crude oil. Here's what happened when a team of radio reporters tried it.