The May jobs report was dismal to say the least. Yes, the economy added jobs. But there are 14 million people out of work in this country. And that number only dropped by 54,000 last month. The number reinforced how much the …
unemployment
Why Don’t Jobs and Corporate Profits Match Up?
The vibe on Wall Street couldn’t be more at odds with deflated Main Street. Yes, stock prices headed down after today’s disappointing jobs report, which showed unemployment rising to 9.1%. But for anyone who hasn’t noticed, big corporations are still making a killing. What gives?
It was only last week that a slew of companies reported …
Don’t Count on Job Growth. Bring Back the WPA!
The monthly jobs report released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics proved to be a pleasant surprise. Nearly 250,000 more people were employed, for a total of more than 750,000 more jobs between February and April. While these numbers are the product of complicated formulas that are never quite accurate and will eventually be …
Both Unemployment and Working Too Much Will Kill You. But Shopping Helps You Live Longer?
A trio of new studies indicates that to live a long and healthy life, one should have a job—just one that doesn’t require exceptionally long hours. And it seems like getting out and shopping regularly seems to extend one’s life in the golden years. So long as unemployment or a stressful job hasn’t already killed you, that is.
This Week in Mostly Awful Job News
Plummeting employee moral, the job fair cancelled because of lack of jobs, a study showing that crappy jobs are as bad for your mental health as being unemployed, and more.
10 Questions: What Makes a Pasta Worth $26? Do Health Insurers Owe You a Refund? What Is Money Anyway?
For thoughtful, insightful answers—or at least discussions with some funny comments—about these and other pressing consumer issues, here’s a roundup of recent posts and stories. The list even includes a special bonus question: What’s the difference between a collection and junk?
Curious CapitalistEconomy & Policy
Jobless Claims Jump
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Should we worry about the numbers out today showing that jobless claims have surged to 454,000 thousand, up from 403,000 the week previously? That’s a large jump, one of the biggest in recent memory. At the same time, there’s some new data showing that orders of big new equipment and machinery are down, which …
The Holiday Season’s Ugliest Moments
Shoppers, workers, needy kids, the fashion world, and even Santa have had a rough go of things this holiday season. Here’s a look at some of the uglier scenes.
How to Handle Getting Fired Right Before Christmas
A freshly laid-off personal finance blogger demonstrates how to deal with the situation like a pro—because the last thing you want to do is make a bad situation worse by burning bridges. Tip one: Suppress the urge to punch anyone in the face.
The Curious American Consumer: Notable Trends for Housing, Shopping, Work, Fast Food, and More
As the numbers attest, life has changed quite a bit recently for homeowners, workers, shoppers, families, and even for rich people. And it’s not all bad: At least TVs are cheaper, right?
People of the Great Recession: What It’s Really Like to Be a 99er, or a Strategic Defaulter
They’re the two most-talked-about recession-era creatures: the unemployed American who has maxed out on 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, and the homeowner who can afford his mortgage but walks away from it anyway because the home no longer seems like a good investment. So what’s it really like to be one of these prototypical Great …
Why Oh Why: Why You Should Care About These 8 Consumer Questions Asking ‘Why’
For instance: Why in the world would you have to pay a fee just to pay your bill?
