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The Great Depression

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Senate passes massive farm billupdated: Tue Jun 26 2012 15:01:00

Senators approved a giant farm bill Thursday that is estimated to cut the deficit by almost $24 billion, largely by ending direct payments to farmers and replacing them with taxpayer- subsidized crop insurance to assist farmers in need.

Surgeon's hobby creating cigar box guitars updated: Tue May 29 2012 06:55:00

He works with the precision and concentration of a surgeon because, well, he is one. But in the basement workshop of Kirk Withrow's Birmingham home, the stakes are much lower.

Surgeon creates cigar-box guitarsupdated: Tue May 29 2012 06:55:00

Dr. Kirk Withrow, an Alabama surgeon, spends some of his downtime crafting instruments from cigar boxes.

Golden Gate Bridge turns 75 with partyupdated: Fri May 25 2012 21:20:00

Seventy-five years later, the innovation and courage of those who designed and built the Golden Gate Bridge shine as brightly as the span's orange towers.

Rules 'holdup' puzzles food industry and food-safety advocatesupdated: Thu May 03 2012 19:42:00

Most of the provisions in a landmark food safety law which passed 16 months ago still haven't gone into effect and are stuck in a rule-making process at the White House, four months overdue.

Occupy protester: We're not going awayupdated: Wed Feb 22 2012 12:10:00

Sara Shaw with Occupy DC talks about a noon deadline for protesters to vacate two parks on Monday.

Six tips from your future selfupdated: Thu Jan 05 2012 08:31:00

In an episode of the popular sitcom "30 Rock," television CEO Jack has a hallucinatory encounter with his future self, from whom he receives life advice that helps him avoid major mistakes.

Obama: GOP made political 'calculation' to 'stand on the sidelines'updated: Mon Dec 12 2011 06:53:00

President Barack Obama accused Republicans of making a blunt political calculation after his election three years ago, deciding to resist his initiatives, skirt compromise and bank on the economy getting worse to bolster their re-election prospects.

UK unemployment highest in 17 years updated: Wed Oct 12 2011 06:12:00

Unemployment in the UK has risen by 114,000 to 2.57m, its highest level for 17 years, as the country's painfully slow recovery from recession takes its toll on the labour market.

CNNMoney: Home ownership: Biggest drop since Great Depressionupdated: Fri Oct 07 2011 07:26:00

The percentage of Americans who owned their homes has seen its biggest decline since the Great Depression, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

CNNMoney: Forecast says double-dip recession is imminentupdated: Fri Sep 30 2011 11:33:00

The U.S. economy is staring down another recession, according to a forecast from the Economic Cycle Research Institute.

'No one's going to save us' updated: Sun Sep 18 2011 13:13:00

"I may have spoken too soon," Bob Orsa said the other afternoon, with a sardonic laugh that didn't carry much mirth.

Recession leads to jump in child poverty ratesupdated: Sun Aug 21 2011 12:10:00

The Wallaces know what it means to struggle.

Poverty rates among children riseupdated: Sun Aug 21 2011 12:10:00

Poverty rates among children have risen sharply. CNN's Athena Jones talks with one family to see how they're coping.

Wake up GOP: Smashing system doesn't fix itupdated: Mon Aug 01 2011 07:42:00

I'm a Republican. Always have been. I believe in free markets, low taxes, reasonable regulation and limited government. But as I look back at the weeks of rancor leading up to Sunday night's last-minute budget deal, I see some things I don't believe in:

Democrats best Republicans in Congressional baseballupdated: Fri Jul 15 2011 13:12:00

Democrats and Republicans squared off in the 50th annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park Thursday night.

CNNMoney: Was the recession a good thing?updated: Tue Jul 12 2011 10:24:00

The Great Recession had many lasting negative effects -- high unemployment, falling home prices, stunted growth -- just to name a few. But the news isn't all bad.

The number that's killing the economyupdated: Fri Jul 01 2011 05:59:00

This is the only number that matters: 350.

CNNMoney: Jobless claims jump 9,000 in latest weekupdated: Thu Jun 23 2011 09:46:00

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, remaining above the 400,000 mark for the 11th straight week.

CNNMoney: Housing expert sees another price plungeupdated: Thu Jun 09 2011 15:51:00

In an off-hand remark before cameras and microphones, economist and housing market guru Robert Shiller opined earlier this year that he would not be shocked if there was another 10% to 25% in the nation's home price plunge -- and he's not backing down from that statement.

With no Huckabee, who in GOP will stand for jobs, middle class?updated: Tue May 17 2011 12:30:00

The exit of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee from the 2012 presidential race opens a huge void in the Republican field.

Review: 'Water for Elephants' is old-fashionedupdated: Fri Apr 22 2011 12:13:00

Do children still dream of running away to join the circus?

What the census can teach us about ourselvesupdated: Tue Jan 11 2011 20:18:00

Throughout most of her 86 years, Florence Hand had been haunted by "floating dreams" that always revealed "somebody in the room besides me," she said.

Money Magazine: The young and the riskless shun the marketupdated: Thu Jan 06 2011 15:49:00

During the years B.C. -- that is, Before the Crash -- Caroline Chesnutt was the very model of a modern young investor.

Is the American dream dead?updated: Mon Jan 03 2011 08:39:00

October 2010: Have technology and globalization killed the American dream? CNN's Fareed Zakaria reports.

Stop trashing America's futureupdated: Mon Jan 03 2011 08:39:00

Here's a New Year's resolution for the nation in 2011: Stop predicting the death of the American Dream.

CNNMoney: Census: 308.7 million people live hereupdated: Tue Dec 21 2010 16:34:00

The population of the United States grew 9.7% to 308.7 million people over the past decade -- the slowest rate of growth since the Great Depression -- the Census Bureau reported on Tuesday.

CNNMoney: November jobs report: Unemployment rate upupdated: Fri Dec 03 2010 13:52:00

The government's monthly labor report threw a curve ball Friday morning as November's job growth came in far lower than expected and the unemployment rate rose to 9.8%. U.S. employers added 39,000 jobs to their payrolls in November, the Labor Department reported. That marks a major slowdown from October, when the economy added an upwardly revised 172,000 jobs.

'Migrant Mother' your number one photographupdated: Thu Nov 25 2010 09:26:00

The votes are in, the numbers tallied and your number one iconic photograph is "Migrant Mother," by Dorothea Lange.

Why tax cuts for the rich make no senseupdated: Fri Nov 19 2010 15:36:00

Democrats and Republicans agree on extending tax cuts to the middle class. People who are already struggling to get by do not want to see their taxes go up on January 1.

Monopoly celebrates 75 years of passing goupdated: Fri Nov 05 2010 15:40:00

Even as remnants of a recession leave the nation's real-estate market in a lurch, machines crank out millions of tiny hotels and houses at a factory in western Massachusetts.

We've been passing Go for 75 yearsupdated: Fri Nov 05 2010 15:40:00

The board game Monopoly turns 75 and the workers who make the game reflect on why it's still going strong.

Message to Obama: Americans want jobsupdated: Wed Nov 03 2010 12:24:00

The midterm election was clearly a repudiation. The question is, a repudiation of what?

Your view: Fighting debt from the pulpit?updated: Fri Oct 22 2010 11:15:00

From job fairs to seminars on credit counseling, many churches and religious institutions are not only caring for its congregation's spiritual life, but also taking an active role in its financial life, too.

White House's charges are falseupdated: Wed Oct 13 2010 07:25:00

Sorry, Mr. President. Nobody's listening.

Recession not over, public saysupdated: Mon Sep 27 2010 07:06:00

Economic experts may believe the recession is over, but try telling that to the public.

CNNMoney: Stimulus: Economists debate its successupdated: Wed Sep 22 2010 14:03:00

Did the federal stimulus plan work in fixing the economy?

CNNMoney: Recession officially ended in June 2009updated: Mon Sep 20 2010 16:00:00

The Great Recession ended in June 2009, according to the body charged with dating when economic downturns begin and end.

Money Magazine: The U.S. is a mess. Should we invest overseas?updated: Wed Sep 01 2010 14:07:00

Question: Looking into the future of the American economy, I see tons of debt, the yoke of increasing social spending, pork-fed bureaucratic waste, the exporting of jobs and the importing of poverty. While this may paint a negative picture, I feel it's reality. We all want to be patriotic, but aren't there more fiscally responsible places to invest in that may offer a better landscape? --Dave, Bethlehem, Penn.

Fortune: Curtis Roosevelt on lessons from FDRupdated: Wed Aug 04 2010 14:45:00

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's grandson, Curtis Roosevelt, recently gave this speech about the presidents at an event in Washington, DC.

CNNMoney: The fear economyupdated: Tue Jul 27 2010 16:24:00

FDR said we have nothing to fear but fear itself -- and even though we're a long way from the Great Depression, uncertainty about the economy is proving pretty scary, and a major drag on the recovery.

Political leaders bid farewell to West Virginia's favorite sonupdated: Fri Jul 02 2010 17:10:00

He was raised an orphan of the West Virginia coal mines years before the Great Depression.

Fortune: What's so tough about this financial reform bill?updated: Tue Jun 29 2010 11:36:00

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a former editor, who told me how to handle topics that were likely to annoy the powerful. "Don't nibble at their toes," he told me. "Go for their throat."

Mr. Moms become more commonupdated: Sun Jun 20 2010 07:54:00

Atlanta radio personality Jimmy Baron describes the events that left him unemployed as a perfect storm. In 2006, the radio station where he had worked for 13 years was bought and the new owner cut his pay by 60 percent.

Fortune: Most big banks not even paying lip service to risk-based payupdated: Thu Jun 17 2010 13:16:00

Last October the Federal Reserve issued proposed guidance to banks on the structure of bank pay. The reason for the guidance was the need for banks to change pay so it would no longer encourage the excessive risk taking that led to the financial crisis.

CNNMoney: Is a housing shortage coming?updated: Tue Jun 15 2010 14:08:00

As the nation struggles to shrug off the worst housing crash since the Great Depression, it may be hard to believe a housing shortage could be on its way.

CNNMoney: Stocks: $2.9 trillion on the sidelinesupdated: Sun May 16 2010 16:15:00

Investors have socked away billions of dollars since March 2009 and it's unlikely that money will come pouring into the stock market anytime soon.

Famous folks launched careers after 50updated: Sun May 16 2010 08:58:00

Sadly, the down economy has put a lot of workers over age 50 in the unenviable position of needing to find a new profession. Don't believe that old cliché about middle-aged dogs and new tricks, though; lots of wildly successful people found big success in careers they began after their fiftieth birthdays.

Historic Manhattan hospital shuts doorsupdated: Sat May 01 2010 16:21:00

After 161 years of treating survivors of major catastrophes, from the sinking of the Titanic to the attacks of September 11, and leading early HIV treatments, New York's St. Vincent's Hospital closed Friday.

Money Magazine: Deflation? Inflation? Protect against bothupdated: Wed Apr 21 2010 10:02:00

You know that stocks have a knack for climbing a wall of worry. You saw that firsthand last year, when in the midst of the global financial crisis, the Standard & Poor's 500 index skyrocketed more than 70% from its March 2009 lows.

CNNMoney: Big profits, big expectationsupdated: Tue Apr 13 2010 11:31:00

A strong first-quarter reporting period is underway, igniting what could be a big year for corporate profit growth.

Movie food -- from low-class nibbles to luxury diningupdated: Fri Apr 02 2010 09:54:00

Movie audiences have always known the joys of in-seat snacking, but it took the theaters a while to come around.

The #@*!#*! office copier turns 50updated: Tue Mar 30 2010 10:14:00

It may be the most iconic piece of office equipment of the past half-century.

CNNMoney: Unemployment claims fallupdated: Thu Mar 18 2010 13:53:00

The number of Americans filing for initial unemployment insurance fell last week, the government said Thursday.

CNNMoney: Jobs recovery will be sluggishupdated: Wed Mar 03 2010 16:35:00

The annual unemployment rate rose across all states and the nation's capital last year, with Michigan and Nevada posting the biggest jumps, according to a government report released Wednesday.

Fortune: Bernanke: Too big to failupdated: Tue Jan 26 2010 11:12:00

Just a year after he unleashed a flood of dollars in a bid to prevent a second Great Depression, Ben Bernanke's job is on the line. More than a dozen senators have said they will oppose the Fed chairman's reappointment after his first term ends on Jan. 31. The rest of the vote counting is still in question.

CNNMoney: Ghosts of recessions pastupdated: Tue Jan 26 2010 05:25:00

Congress will soon spar over how to spur jobs.

CNNMoney: Regulators shutter small banks in Illinois and Minnesotaupdated: Fri Jan 15 2010 19:26:00

Two small banks failed Friday night, making them the second and third banks to close in 2010.

CNNMoney: Horizon Bank is the first to fail in 2010updated: Sat Jan 09 2010 11:52:00

The first bank to fail in 2010 is Horizon Bank, based in Bellingham, Washington.

Learn how to time success and avoid failureupdated: Thu Jan 07 2010 08:53:00

My timing stinks!" my friend Jackie moaned. "I always do the right thing at the wrong time."

CNNMoney: Stocks: Good year, bad decadeupdated: Sat Jan 02 2010 08:17:00

Since cratering at 12-year lows in March, the S&P 500 has staged a powerful rebound as investors turned what could have been an abysmal 2009 into the second best year of the decade for stock returns.

CNNMoney: Farewell to an ugly decadeupdated: Thu Dec 31 2009 12:55:00

Call the last 10 years whatever you want: the Naughty Aughties, the Awful Aughts or the Zilches are all appropriate. If you are an investor, you're probably thankful the decade is over and are longing for better times ahead in the Teens.

CNNMoney: Local tax coffers fall lower nationwideupdated: Tue Dec 29 2009 12:44:00

In another ominous sign for state budgets nationwide, state and local governments reported another drop in overall tax revenue on Tuesday.

Genius behind the 'Joy of Cooking'updated: Mon Dec 28 2009 13:09:00

The ubiquity of the "Joy of Cooking" is staggering. More than 18 million copies have sold since the Great Depression -- when a Midwestern widow named Irma Rombauer published her recipes and anecdotes in the hope of lifting America's spirits.

Americans must start saving againupdated: Wed Dec 23 2009 09:54:00

This year, despite the recession and record-high unemployment, Americans appear to be getting into the holiday spirit by starting to shop again.

CNNMoney: Gold slides more than $20 in two daysupdated: Tue Dec 22 2009 14:38:00

Gold prices have taken a dive this week as investors rekindle their faith in the stock market and the almighty dollar.

CNNMoney: The unemployment rate is falling!updated: Fri Dec 18 2009 13:46:00

The balance has shifted: More states reported declining unemployment in November than posted increases, according to a government report released Friday.

CNNMoney: U.S. bank failure tally reaches 133updated: Fri Dec 11 2009 19:37:00

Regulators closed regional banks in three U.S. states Friday, bringing the total number of failed banks this year to 133, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said.

Optimism on economy fading, poll showsupdated: Tue Dec 08 2009 14:35:00

Two years into the recession, Americans don't see economic conditions getting better any time soon, and the steady growth in optimism that previous surveys measured throughout the year appears to have stalled, according to a new national poll.

Tea Party movement threatened by internal riftsupdated: Mon Dec 07 2009 15:38:00

It emerged in anger and it threatens to split in anger.

Money Magazine: Hang on to your down payment moneyupdated: Mon Dec 07 2009 09:24:00

Question: My wife and I have two small kids and we're saving for a house that we'd like to buy within the next two years. We've got a significant pot of cash (more than $100,000) that we almost invested before the market tanked, but thankfully did not. I'm now wondering, however, whether I should invest some or all of it to grow our house fund more quickly or whether I should just keep this money liquid. What do you think? -- Dave, Boston, Mass.

CNNMoney: Bernanke's biggest fearsupdated: Thu Dec 03 2009 09:46:00

These should be good times for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who some economists give much of the credit for averting a second Great Depression.

CNNMoney: Economic rebound not as strongupdated: Tue Nov 24 2009 10:10:00

Economic growth was weaker in the third quarter than originally reported, according to government data released Tuesday.

CNNMoney: FDIC announces 124th bank failureupdated: Fri Nov 20 2009 17:33:00

State regulators shuttered Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers, Fla., Friday night, bringing the 2009 national tally to 124.

CNNMoney: Bank failure toll reaches 123updated: Fri Nov 13 2009 20:25:00

Two Florida banks and one in California failed Friday night, bring the 2009 national tally to 123. Regulators closed Century Bank, Federal Savings Bank in Sarasota, Fla., Orion Bank in Naples, Fla., and Pacific Coast National Bank in San Clemente, Calif.

CNNMoney: Manufacturing at a 3-1/2 year highupdated: Mon Nov 02 2009 10:48:00

A key index of U.S. manufacturing activity jumped in October, reaching its highest level in three and a-half years, a purchasing managers' group said Monday.

CNNMoney: Jobs will return -- in 2012updated: Fri Oct 30 2009 13:25:00

The economy is growing again. So when are the jobs that go with growth going to get here?

Money Magazine: Get Ivy League smarts - freeupdated: Fri Oct 30 2009 09:18:00

Last autumn I took time off to go back to school. The timing turned out to be just right: My American economic history course at the University of California at Berkeley got to the Great Depression in early October, around the time everyone became convinced we were about to have another one.

CNNMoney: Economy finally back in gearupdated: Thu Oct 29 2009 12:46:00

The U.S. economy grew at a 3.5% annual rate in the third quarter, ending a string of declines over four quarters that resulted in the most severe slide since the Great Depression. But some economists raised doubts about how long such strong growth can last.

CNNMoney: Don't expect a Great Recoveryupdated: Thu Oct 29 2009 07:08:00

The economy may get a good report card Thursday for the first time in a long time.

CNNMoney: Euro tops $1.50, at 14-month highupdated: Wed Oct 21 2009 16:28:00

The dollar slumped Wednesday, with the euro rising above $1.50 for the first time in 14 months, as optimism about the global economic recovery boosted demand for higher yielding currencies.

CNNMoney: Federal action prevented second Great Depression -- White Houseupdated: Tue Oct 20 2009 21:57:00

Without the bold steps taken by the federal government over the past year, the country could have fallen into a second Great Depression, said the White House's chief economic adviser.

Brides can be cheap, but not tackyupdated: Fri Oct 16 2009 11:21:00

Planning the celebration of a lifetime during the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression is a daunting task, so it's no secret that many brides are cutting back. The average amount a couple is spending on their wedding this year is down more than $5,000 from 2008, theweddingreport.com estimates.

Avlon: Extremism in danger of acceptanceupdated: Wed Oct 07 2009 14:55:00

We are witnessing a wingnut war break out in American politics, organized on the Internet and fought out in airwaves and in town halls, wingnuts firing their shots from the outer reaches and strafing the common sense center.

Study points to benefits from Great Depressionupdated: Tue Sep 29 2009 23:46:00

Americans appear to actually thrive on adversity, according to a study published this week that reached the conclusion after researching the nation's biggest economic downturn.

Study: Bad economy may be good for your healthupdated: Tue Sep 29 2009 15:40:00

Are you finally ready for some good news about the recession? As it turns out, a shaky economy might actually be good for your health.

Homeless find temporary haven in tent campsupdated: Tue Sep 29 2009 10:03:00

In cities across the country, people with nowhere to live have done what many would have thought unthinkable before the economic crisis: moved into tents.

Tent camp for homelessupdated: Tue Sep 29 2009 10:03:00

A tent camp in Seattle offers a temporary haven for the homeless. CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports.

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