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Is the recession returning?

Economics can estimate what the probability of an economic recession is by looking at long and short yields.
Bernanke comments spur markets to record highs

A day after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced his commitment to maintaining a relaxed monetary policy, markets responded positively.
Dutch gas stations: Stop charging electric cars here.

Although the Netherlands has built up a reputation for being an electric car-friendly location, Dutch gas stations are not happy: they're suing the state to try to prevent third parties from operating electric car charging points at gas stations.
Stocks surge as Bernanke calms stimulus worry

Stocks rose Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank will keep supporting the economy. Stocks that benefit most from a continuation of low interest rates, such as homebuilders, notched some of the biggest gains.
Foreclosures fall nationwide, but problem lingers in some states

Foreclosures fell in June to their lowest leve since December 2006, but a lengthy judicial foreclosure process in certain states is leading to a rise of pent up foreclosure activity.
Wal-Mart rebuked: D.C. city council approves living wage bill

Wal-Mart warned that it would scrap plans for three D.C. stores if the city council approved a bill requiring major retailers to pay employees a 'living wage' of at least $12.50 an hour. Wednesday, the D.C. Council rebuked Wal-Mart and did it anyway.
Land Rover Range Rover Sport: zippy, powerful, and slim

The sport version of the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover has a powerful engine and is 800 pounds lighter than its predecessor. It's a standout option for those looking for sporty SUVs, Padgett says.
Bernanke speaks, markets jump (both up and down). Are Fed's signals working? (+video)

On Thursday, the latest words from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke pushed stocks up. Last month, he had the opposite effect. The aim is transparency, but some critics prefer the bygone days of the inscrutable Fed.
US lifts ban on hedge fund advertising

Hedge funds will be allowed to advertise to the general US public for the first time after the SEC voted Wednesday to lift a decades old ban that prevented the marketing of hedge funds to a wide audience.
Going on vacation? Book on Airbnb, save money.

69 percent of consumers say they are planning on taking a summer vacation this year. If you're hoping to travel without breaking the bank, you could save up to $65 a night in NYC by booking your lodging through Airbnb.
Mortgage rates climb to two-year high

Mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage climbed to 4.51 percent this week, hitting a two-year high. Mortgage rates have been rising on expectations that the Federal Reserve will slow its bond purchases this year.
Mortgage rates 'explode,' moving to 2-year high

30 year fixed-rate mortgages rose 10 basis points from last week, jumping to 4.52 percent.
Ben Bernanke calms markets, eases fears of early Fed taper

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke at an economic conference near Boston Wednesday, saying the Fed will continue to pour stimulus into the US economy — at least until unemployment and inflation improve.
Free Slurpee Day: 7-Eleven goes big(ger) this 7/11 (+video)

Free Slurpee Day is here at 7-Eleven, which means a free small Slurpee treat for every customer, while the cups last. No purchase is required, but strangely, actual sales of Slurpees tend to skyrocket on Free Slurpee Day.
Not all curbs on tax preferences are created equal.

There isn't much talk on Capitol Hill debating the merits of specific individual tax preferences. The different plans being circulated, however, would each have radically different outcomes, Gleckman says. Here's how they break down.
You're buying an item, not a price tag.

No matter how lucrative a deal might seem, if an item isn't be useful for you, it's not worth buying, Hamm says.
Volvo debuts new safety features for cars

Volvo says it aims to completely eliminate all deaths and serious injuries among Volvo drivers and passengers by 2020.
Stocks little changed on Federal Reserve minutes

Stocks barely reacted to the release of Federal Reserve minutes Wednesday. Major stocks were down just a fraction of a percent more than an hour after the Federal Reserve released a report on its latest policy meeting in June.
Big bounce in interest rates: why no one should hit the panic button

The cost of a loan has gone up significantly since early May, affecting both the housing market and investors. But interest rates are still low, and experts say their rise shouldn't cause panic.
Are low interest rates masking the deficit?

Artificially low interest rates have allowed the government to finance more than $1 trillion worth of deficits every year from 2009 to 2012. When interest rates do pick up, there may be a very big bill on the table to pay.