All articles from Mark Trumbull
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US economy turns south: Why many analysts see a blip, not a trend.
The US economy reversed more than three years of growth and fell 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. The drop was driven, in part, by sharp declines in defense spending that some expect will be temporary.
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Immigration reform: a bid to attract workers who will boost the economy (+video)
Immigration reform is foremost a social issue, but it has big economic implications. Exhibit A is a measure that, looking forward, aims to attract immigrants whose skills mesh with the US needs.
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Have degree, driving cab: Nearly half of college grads are overqualified
New study finds that 48 percent of college graduates are in jobs that do not require a college degree, fueling consumer doubts over whether a college education is worth the cost.
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Why Washington and its debt woes eclipse 'jobs' as public's top concerns
The mood shift, which showed up in a new Gallup poll, doesn't coincide with marked improvement in the jobs outlook. Rather, it indicates that Americans are becoming more worried about Washington's management of debt and other fiscal matters.
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Risky Java software: Oracle issues emergency fix to thwart hackers
Days after the US issued a security alert to millions of computer owners to temporarily disable Java, Oracle released an emergency fix to its product and urged it be made as soon as possible.
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White House opts not to create a Death Star. But a ‘magic coin’?
A number of fanciful ideas on economic policy have been floated in recent weeks. The so-called Death Star idea, officially rejected, was a stimulus plan. The 'magic coin' plot is meant to sidestep a showdown with Congress over the national debt ceiling. Seriously?
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Disable Java? Here's how, after US agency warns of software 'vulnerability.'
To prevent cyber crime, the Department of Homeland Security advises Americans to temporarily disable Java 7 software, commonly used in Web-browser programs.
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Why the Feds opted for a sweeping safety review of Boeing 787
Beset by glitches, the pioneering Boeing 787 Dreamliner will undergo a federal safety review, US officials said Friday. The unusual move stems from a series of first-year malfunctions and the plane's unprecedented reliance on electrical systems.
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New federal rule to prevent mortgage crisis: how it affects you
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it's new 'ability to repay' rule that sets guidelines for new mortgages, including limits on debt payments as a portion of income.
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Jacob Lew: Is 'safe' choice for Treasury also a good choice? (+video)
Jacob Lew is valued by Obama as a Beltway numbers guy able to endure high-stakes budget fights. But some critics worry he won't tackle fast-rising debt. And the Treasury job could demand big duties beyond fiscal strategizing.
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That didn't take long: AIG decides not to sue US over bailout terms
AIG, which said it had been legally bound to consider the interests of shareholders, appears to have concluded that damage to its public image would outweigh any benefits of joining the suit.
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AIG, saved by US bailout, now considers suing US government
AIG may join a lawsuit alleging that the terms of the US government bailout were unfair to investors, but such a move risks infuriating the taxpayers whose money saved it from ruin.
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Jobs report finds little overall progress. Why is recovery so slow?
Jobs report says the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in December – the same as for November. Employment growth is notably slower than in past recoveries from recession.
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Beyond the 'cliff': Why spending cuts are next on the agenda (+video)
The just-concluded fiscal cliff deal answered most questions about taxes, for now, but until Obama and Congress address spending cuts, the federal deficit problem has not been solved.
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One million workers get pay boost as 10 states adjust minimum wage
Nine states adjust minimum wage yearly to account for inflation and a tenth passed a new law raising minimum wage. Experts still debate minimum wage's impact on the economy.
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'Fiscal cliff' deal: What will it mean for you?
Some aspects of the fiscal cliff deal are well-known – such as rising tax rates on the rich. But, actually, everyone will be paying more taxes. Here's a look at the deal's details.
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'Dairy cliff'? Milk prices poised to spike unless Congress acts.
Prices could surge in January, but probably not double, if inaction by Congress results in the revival of a 1949 price system. And it probably won't come to that, as lawmakers work to avert dairy-case price shock.
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'Fiscal cliff' no more? Americans vote to banish the term, at least.
'Fiscal cliff,' 'spoiler alert,' and 'boneless wings' all made a list of overused terms and phrases that is compiled annually by Lake Superior State University.
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2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.
The year 2012 brought no shortage of significant news, from scheduled political transitions in the US and China to unexpected tragedies, moments of human triumph, and more record-setting in the realm of social media.It's gone by quickly. Were the London Olympics really just a few months ago? Test your knowledge of these events with the Monitor's 2012 news quiz.
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Russia's proposed ban on US adoptions: What would it mean for orphans?
Children's rights advocates say there's nothing wrong with efforts to reduce international adoption – if those efforts are focused on strengthening families and encouraging domestic adoption. Russia, however, has a long way to go to find domestic families for its orphans.
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