Obama Presses Middle-Class Jobs Agenda in Texas
President Obama resurrected his jobs proposals Thursday, advancing modest initiatives as he pushed for action on more ambitious efforts that face resistance from Republicans.
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Employers Eager for New Foreign Worker Program to Fill Jobs
As desperate as unemployed Americans are to find work, there are still some jobs that many would never consider applying for because they are seen as unappealing.
Retail, Fast Food Stocks Stung by Obama's Minimum Wage Push
President Obama's State of the Union proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour has the retail industry on edge and fast food stocks struggling.
Who Pays Better: Big Companies or Small Companies?
Complaints over higher tax brackets aside, one rule holds true when it comes to your paycheck: Bigger is better. Now, thanks to a recent report out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we now know exactly where to look to score the bigger paycheck.
New Unemployment Applications Fell to 382,000 Last Week
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell only slightly last week to a seasonally adjusted 382,000. The level suggests hiring remains weak -- too weak to lower the unemployment rate.
U.S. Economy Adds 96,000 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.1%
U.S. employers added 96,000 jobs last month, a weak figure that could slow the momentum President Obama hoped to gain from his speech Thursday night to the Democratic National Convention. The unemployment rate fell -- but only because more people stopped looking for work.
Retail Sales Dropped 2% in May Thanks to Falling Gas Prices
U.S. retail sales declined in April and May, pulled down by a sharp drop in gas prices. But even after excluding volatile gas sales, consumers barely increased their spending.
107 Days: That's How Long It'll Take to Pay Your Taxes
More than three months of your hard-earned wages are going straight to your tax bill this year. Americans will spend an average of 29% of their income on federal, state and local taxes in 2012, the Tax Foundation announced Monday.
5 Financial Turkeys of 2011 (and a Side of Stuffing)
At Thanksgiving, we remember the year's blessings and declare hope for the future. But if you're having a hard time swallowing that this year, we offer this recipe for cooking up 2011's most egregious financial news stories. Bon appetite!
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.
Not So Friendly's: Bankrupt Chain Lays Off 1,260
The 63 restaurants Friendly's closed on Wednesday resulted in about 1,260 layoffs -- more than 12% of the company's 10,300 person workforce. Everyone from managers to dishwashers were told Tuesday evening that the following day would be their last at Friendly's.
What Middle Class Voters Should Remember in 2012
The U.S. middle class is caught in a vice with falling wages on one side and rising costs on the other. Robert S. Kaplan, author of the business leadership book What to Ask the Person in the Mirror suggests five ways that politicians should be responding -- not specific policies, but mindsets that could lead to better ones.
My Three Cents: How Much Are You Looking to Earn?
It seems like a trick question when the job interviewer asks: "How much are you looking to make?" In today's tough job market, your instinct might be to answer, "I'll take anything." But the smarter move is to do some research so you can walk into salary talks with a sense for your market value.
Will Your Finances Be Better in 2012? Most Think Not
When it comes to the the state of their family finances, Americans seem to be moving toward the "acceptance" stage. Some of us think our own household scenarios will get better in the coming year, some of us dread things getting worse, but mostly, we expect more of the same.
Private School ROI: Is the High Tuition Worth it?
Bruce Watson recently took a look at the rising cost of private high school tuition. Can you bank on getting a strong return on investment from sending your teen to one? Depends on how you measure.