recession

Is It Time to Revive Plans for Home Improvement?

Nearly every homeowner has some ideas for a makeover, but with the housing market as it is, many of us have chosen to put them on hold. Now, there are positive signs on the horizon that might encourage you to break out the tools.

Index of Leading Economic Indicators Rises

The Conference Board's Leading Economic Indicators Index rose 0.9% in October, outpacing increases in the previous two months and providing some grounds for hope of more robust economic growth to come.

Americans Getting More Worried About Retirement

Three separate surveys released this week show rising levels of anxiety among Americans over when -- or whether -- they'll be able to stop working. And even where confidence is rising, some of it may be misplaced.

Financial Distress Is Rising Again, Report Shows

Americans' economic health appears to be edging closer to code red: The Consumer Distress Index fell sharply in the third quarter, indicating that more of us are falling behind financially.

Hints of Recovery? J.P. Morgan Tells Firms to Prepare

Unemployment remains high. The housing crisis has chipped away at consumer confidence. Commodities costs have pushed prices upward. Yet there are signs the economic picture might be getting better for some Americans -- which means businesses could start working harder to get us to start spending again.

Home Ownership: American Dream or Nightmare?

Here's more evidence that the foreclosure crisis has changed the way we think about home ownership's place in the American dream. Nearly half of those polled in a newly released survey said that owning a home today was a "nightmare." But not all polls reflect such a pessimistic view.

Lean Bonus Season Ahead for Wall Street Bankers

With unemployment still high, late mortgage payments rising, and the number of Americans in poverty at record levels, it seems that Main Street is headed for a hard, cold holiday season. But, somewhat surprisingly, so too are the fat cats of Wall Street -- relatively speaking.

Lehman Brothers' First Share Sells for $33,000

While creditors continue to fight over the crumbs of Lehman Brothers, one tiny piece of the investment bank just demonstrated close to a 66,000% return on investment -- as a collectors item: A 50-cent share in the bank was sold at auction Saturday for 24,000 euros -- about $33,000.

Jobless and Eager to Shop on Black Friday ... for You

For many of the millions of Americans still out of work, shopping on Black Friday has become a luxury they can no longer afford. But some entrepreneurial consumers are refusing to be left with empty bags. They're going shopping for those doorbusters -- but for you, and for a fee.

Average Student Debt Hits Record High in 2010: $25,250

A report released on Thursday by the Institute for College Access & Success's Project on Student Debt shows that members of the class of 2010 who took out loans to finance their educations owed an average of $25,250 in student debt at graduation -- a 5% increase from the year before.

Holiday Shopping: Self-Gifting Is On the Rise

Recession-scarred shoppers are tired of cutting back, and they're ready to give in to their pent up spending impulses, experts say. So after a few years of austerity, this holiday season, many people are going to be splurging a bit more on presents for themselves.

Fewer Americans Can Afford the Basics

Fewer and fewer Americans can afford the basics that have been part of what the middle class has been able to expect for decades. That's not just bad for them -- falling demand for some services will undermine their ability to exist at all %u2014 at least at current levels.

Why Jewelry Sales Will Shine This Holiday Season

Are diamonds the ultimate recession buy? Recent data seems to suggest that our current economic turbulence is sending some Americans to the jewelers. Fine jewelry sales are expected to sparkle this holiday season, outshining much of the rest of the retail sector.

For Workers Laid Off in Recessions, Big Pay Gaps Persist

No matter when a person gets laid off, it can have long-lasting financial consequences -- among them, a wage gap that persists for years. But a new study reveals that men who are part of a mass layoff during a recession lose 72% more over their lifetimes than men who lose jobs in during periods of economic growth.

Why More People May Sell Their Gold for Cash

More people have been selling their gold jewelry in the past year, many to cover expenses, others to just to take advantage of record high prices. Prices have dipped a bit from their recent highs, but expect more people to sell in the months ahead, and expect the prices to rise again.

The Mall-ification of the American Church

A third of America's indoor malls are currently in financial distress as retailers vacate for trendier shopping areas. But a surprising new breed of tenant is stepping in to fill that vacant retail space: churches.

3 Signs We're Heading for a Recession

Zero jobs were created in August. Does that, by itself, augur another recession? Not necessarily -- but add the state of consumer confidence, and top it off with Wall Street skittishness, and all signs point to trouble ahead. Government economists, however, are predicting growth. Here's why they may be wrong.

GM On Track to Be August's Car Sales Winner

GM is expected to show a sales increase of 15.3% from a year ago when it posts August numbers later this week, according to auto industry research firm Edmunds. That would be an improvement of 30,000 cars and light trucks and would eclipse the unit gains of its smaller rivals.

Other Countries That Should Be Downgraded

As for downgrades, is the worst over for America? Standard & Poor's managing director John Chambers said just Sunday that another U.S. downgrade can't necessarily be ruled out. 24/7 Wall St. says the U.S. isn't the only country that should put on the watch list.

How to Survive the Stock Market's Wild Ride

It you're feeling sick to your stomach, you're not alone. The stock-market roller coaster of the last couple of weeks -- culminating with Thursday's 500-point plunge on the Dow -- has been enough to make even the most stoic investors sweat. But here's how you can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

'Wall Street Wives' Gets Down to Business with Auditions

Devon Fleming's casting call for her planned reality TV series, Wall Street Wives, attracted the media attention that producers relish, and hundreds of women responded. She allowed The Price of Fame to attend a recent audition, where we got a glimpse of the sort of drama the show might deliver.

Great Recession Created a Historic Racial Wealth Gap

The twin demons of the housing market crash and the Great Recession have created historic wealth gaps among racial groups in America: The median wealth of white households is 20 times that of black households, and 18 times that of Hispanic households. The main culprit in minority wealth loss? The housing bust.

Gas Prices Creep Up as Oil Hits $100

WTI crude oil hit $100 a barrel briefly Thursday, a rise at partly attributed to an apparent settlement for the Greece debt crisis. The price of gasoline usually lags the price of oil, so if that pattern holds, consumers can expect higher gas prices soon -- unless certain other factors come into play.

'Divorce Starts': A Leading Indicator for Home Sales?

While not everyone whose marriage ends rushes out to break ground on a new home, some real estate agents say divorcing spouses make up at least a third of their clients. With the economy impacting divorce trends and marital splits pushing spending trends, should economists be watching divorce rates when they chart the economic outlook?

Tattoos: An Oddly Recession-Proof Industry

The weak economy is affecting most businesses, but not tattoo parlors. Even in bad times, people will splurge on body art. And for those who later elect to have them removed, it's often a tattoo business that lasers away the ink. DailyFinance's Loren Berlin visited Tattoo Lou's to check out the state of this colorful industry.

5 Dividend Stocks You Can Rely on in a Slow Economy

Companies with strong balance sheets and high dividends will be among the few safe investment harbors if the economy continues to cool -- and given today's conditions, it's hard to imagine how the recent stock market rally could last much longer. Here are five dividend stocks that should keep paying strong returns.

The Financial Landscape: Is Italy the Next Greece?

As the eurozone sovereign debt crisis continues, focus is shifting to Italy as the next potential victim. But for worries closer to home, consider this: $37 billion in U.S. government benefits designed to help people through the downturn will expire by the end of 2011, leaving a hole twice that size in the economy.

Voodoo Economics: Mystical Methods to Attract Money

With millions of Americans near the end of their financial ropes, some may wonder if it's time to try some unconventional methods for turning their fortunes around. Magic. Feng Shui. Or even good old-fashioned prayer. Without judgment or endorsement, we explored some of the occult options.