US Economy
The two Americas
By Andre Damon and Joe Kishore, October 19, 2009
Two reports in the media last week point to the interconnected phenomena of surging pay for bankers and record declines in the wages of the working class.
US House panel approves pro-Wall Street derivatives bill
By Barry Grey, October 19, 2009
The Financial Services Committee of the US House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill incorporating loopholes and exemptions that will allow Wall Street banks to continue unimpeded their luc...
Bailed out insurance giant AIG plans $198 million in new bonuses
By Andre Damon, October 17, 2009
American International Group, which has received nearly $200 billion in bailout funds from the federal government, is slated to pay out $198 million in bonuses.
Obama and the fiscal crisis of the states
By Tom Eley, October 17, 2009
State governments in the US, facing the indifference of the Obama administration in spite of record budget deficits, are slashing social spending and laying off workers.
Dow climbs to 10,000 as jobless rate nears 10 percent
By Bill Van Auken, October 16, 2009
Wall Street’s breaking the Dow’s 10,000 mark Wednesday was hailed as a further sign of the recession’s end, even as foreclosures rose to an all-time record and the official unemployment rate con...
Citigroup spins off subsidiary to pay trader $100 million
By Andre Damon, October 14, 2009
Citigroup announced Friday plans to sell its energy-trading subsidiary Phibro to Occidental Petroleum, the fourth largest US energy company. The $250 million sale is largely designed to fulfill Citigr...
White House defends inaction on jobs crisis as unemployment grows
By Jerry White, October 13, 2009
President Obama’s leading economic advisor said Monday that the US was well on the way to recovery, while acknowledging that higher levels of unemployment may become a permanent feature even after e...
Ten thousand unemployed apply for 90 jobs in Louisville, Kentucky
By Hiram Lee, October 10, 2009
Ten thousand workers rushed this week to apply for 90 job opening at a Louisville, Kentucky General Electric plant.
The socialist answer to unemployment and poverty
By Jerry White, October 9, 2009
Wednesday’s lineup of tens of thousands of people seeking housing assistance in Detroit is one of those events that suddenly reveals the social reality in America that is ignored and concealed by th...
US: Pennsylvania enters fourth month without a budget
By Samuel Davidson, October 9, 2009
Pennsylvania began its fourth month without a budget as schools, social service agencies, childcare providers and other social services were forced to close or make deep cuts for lack of funds.
Obama offers no relief to growing army of jobless workers
By Jerry White, October 7, 2009
In the face of the mounting unemployment crisis, the Obama administration has no plans to offer serious relief to the 15 million workers out of work and the millions more facing job losses and economi...
US: Watchdog says Treasury misled public about cost of bank bailout
By Andre Damon, October 6, 2009
The top government watchdog of the US bank bailout published an audit Monday claiming that Bush administration officials misled the public about the financial condition of the firms receiving funds.
