The Economic Meltdown (408 Articles)

A once-in-a-generation financial meltdown has gripped the planet and incinerated the net worth of many. Economic giants are faltering and emerging economies are getting destroyed. Recession or depression? The Economic Meltdown section contains all of the latest news that could affect your bottom line.

--

October 22nd, 1981: The Day That The US Debt Clock Topped $1 Trillion For the First Time

A look back at the time when the United States passed the $1 trillion mark for the very first time - how long ago was that?

--

Russia in Turmoil As Oil Continues To Drop in Price

Oil continued downwards trend has thrown the nation of Russia into complete pandemonium - when will it stop?

--

Spain's Unemployment Rate Hits 27.2%

According to recently released numbers, Spain's unemployment rate hit a staggering 27.2% in the first quarter of 2013.

--

US Debt Up Over $10 Trillion Since Start of Iraq War

The United States has added over $10 trillion to its debt load since the start of the Iraq War in March of 2003.

--

Report: Treasury May Exhaust Borrowing Authority By as Early as February 15th

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the United State Treasury will exhaust its borrowing authority by no later than March 1st.

--

Sign of the Times: 22,000 People Apply for 300 Flight Attendant Jobs in One Week

In another sign of just how poor the US job market continues to be, 22,000 applied for 300 flight attendant positions over the course of just one week.

--

Food Stamp Use Continues To Grow

Over 47.7 million Americans used the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in September, which was yet another new all-time record.

--

National Unemployment Rate Ticks Up To 7.9% in October

The national unemployment rate ticked higher to 7.9% in October. This is the last jobs report before voters head to the polls next week.

--

Eurozone Unemployment Hits All-Time High

Eurozone unemployment has reached all-time highs as tens of millions of people remain out of work.

--

Median Household Income Falls For Fourth Straight Year

Median household income fell for the fourth straight year in 2011, dropping to a multi-year low of $50,054.

--

Report: Median Household Income Has Fallen Since Economic "Recovery" Started

According to a new report, median household income has fallen in the United States over the past three years on an inflation-adjusted basis.

--

CBO: "Fiscal Cliff" Would Tip United States Into Recession

According to the CBO, the upcoming fiscal cliff could tip the United States into another recession.

--

Jobless Rates Up in 44 States in July

State unemployment rates rose in 44 different states in July, including in a number of crucial swing states.

--

8.3% or 8.254%?

Alan Krueger's comments regarding the exact increase in the July unemployment number brought derision from the Republican camp.

--

41 Straight Months of 8%+ Unemployment - And Counting

The national unemployment rate has been over 8% for the past 41 months and counting. When will it end?

--

What Is The "Fiscal Cliff"?

The fight over the fiscal cliff is going to be a nasty one, but first - what exactly is the fiscal cliff?

--

Economists: Don't Expect "Normal" Unemployment Rates Anytime Soon

Economists have said that they believe that the national unemployment rate in the United States will remain over 6% for at least four more years.

--

Federal Reserve: Median American Family Lost Nearly $50k in Net Worth From 2007 to 2010

According to the US Federal Reserve, the median American family dropped nearly $50k in total net worth between 2007 and 2010.

--

Unemployment Rate Rises For First Time In Nearly a Year

The national unemployment rate ticked higher for the first time in nearly a year in May, which could prove to be bad news for President Obama.

--

Double-Dip Recession Hits The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has officially tipped into a double-dip recession after posting two straight quarters of negative growth.

--

The "Mancession" Has Now Become a "Mancovery"

With the resurgence of the manufacturing and construction industries, the mancession has now turned into a mancovery.

--

Gallup: Average American Would Make Major Life Changes If Gas Hit $5.30/Gallon

According to a recent Gallup poll, $5.30/gallon gasoline is the level at which many Americans would throw in the towel and be forced to make major changes.

--

Food Stamp Usage Continues To Grow in the United States

Food stamp usage continues to climb in the United States as the country continues to try to dig itself out of economic malaise.

--

CBO: Unemployment Rate Will "Gradually Decline" to Around 7% By 2015

According to the CBO, the national unemployment rate will be sitting at around 7% by the end of 2015.

--

What Economic Collapse? Dow Hits Highest Levels Since May of 2008

The DJIA has recovered to its highest levels since May of 2008, which was months before the economic collapse.

--

Black Friday: Nine Euro Zone Countries Downgraded

S&P pulled the trigger once again on Friday after downgrading 9 Euro Zone nations, including France and Austria.

--

Gallup: US Satisfaction Near 30 Year Low

According to Gallup, the level of satisfaction in the United States is currently sitting near 30 year lows.

--

You Think That Youth Unemployment Is High in the United States?

Youth unemployment is fairly high in the United States right now, but it has nothing on the unemployment rates being posted in the Euro Zone.

--

SuperFail

The super committee failed in its stated objective to reach a deficit reduction deal. What's next?

--

Federal Reserve Downgrades the US Economy

Earlier today, the Federal Reserve downgraded projections for the US economy, as they now expect higher unemployment and lower GDP growth.

--

Merrill Lynch: Another US Downgrade Likely By End of Year

Merrill Lynch has warned that a second US credit downgrade is likely coming as a result of a failed super committee hearing.

--

Median Household Income Continues to Drop in the United States

Median household income continued to drop in 2010, and we are currently roughly 4000 dollars away from 1999's highs.

--

$1.299 Trillion

The United States posted a deficit of just under $1.3 trillion in 2011, which was the second largest deficit in its history.

--

The Slimming Effects of the Recession

The number of Americans who are overweight or obese has dropped since the start of the Great Recession.

--

Bloodbath in the Third Quarter

The major US market indexes all tanked in the third quarter, leading markets to their biggest losses since 2008.

--

Majority of Americans Pessimistic on Economy

80% of Americans currently believe that the United States is in a recession, and 61% believe that the economy will not improve over the next year.

--

Cut Back: 40% of Americans Reduced Their Spending Over the Past 60 Days

According to a Bankrate.com report, 40% of Americans have cut back on their spending over the past 60 days.

--

Gallup: Unemployment is Most Important Problem in US Once Again

According to a recent Gallup poll, unemployment/jobs is the nation's most pressing issue once again.

--

World's Richest Nation? 46 Million Americans Lived Below Poverty Line in 2010

According to the US Census Bureau, 46 million Americans lived below the poverty line in 2010.

--

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs - Bank of America To Cut 30,000 of Them

Earlier today, Bank of America announced that they will be cutting around 30,000 jobs over the next couple of years.

--

Markets Drop After Weak August Employment Numbers

The US economy has posted a net monthly change of zero jobs for the first time since the second World War.

--

Consumer Confidence Index Plunged in August

The Consumer Confidence Index fell to its lowest level in over two years in August, prompting more fears of a double dip recession.

--

Stall Confirmed: Q2 GDP Growth Revised Down to 1.0%

US economic growth slowed to just 1.0% in Q2, up slightly from 0.4% in the first quarter of 2011.

--

Whose Fault? 51% of Americans Still Point Finger of Blame at George W. Bush for Poor Economy

Who do you blame for the current state of the US economy - George W. Bush or Barack Obama?

--

45.8 Million Americans Used Food Stamps in May

Food stamp usage continued to soar in the United States in May, as nearly 46 million Americans used the program.

--

It's Official: Another Trillion Dollar Deficit

The United States government has posted its third straight trillion dollar deficit according to the Treasury Department.

--

Historically Speaking, How Bad Was Today?

The DJIA, NASDAQ and S+P 500 all tanked today after the US had their credit rating downgraded. What happens tomorrow?

--

Credit Downgrade Imminent?

Reports are swirling of an imminent credit downgrade for the United States - will it come true?

--

Is Another Major Market Crash on the Way?

Is another major market crash on the way? Are the markets on the verge of a crash?

--

Near-Recession in First Half of 2011

Is another recession just around the corner in the United States? The Q1 and Q2/2011 numbers were very weak.

--

Nine Days Left

With just nine days left to go under the August 2nd deadline, people are wondering - will a debt ceiling deal be reached?

--

Horrific June Jobs Report Adds to Doom and Gloom of Nation

The United States added just 18k jobs in June as the unemployment rate ticked up to 9.2%.

--

The Great Recession Ended Two Years Ago

The Great Recession ended in the United States over 2 years ago. How have things changed since then?

--

President Obama Enters Debt Limit/Deficit Reduction Talks

President Obama has entered into debt limit/deficit reductions talks in order to help facilitate a deal.

--

Nearly Half of Americans Believe That a Depression is at Least "Somewhat Likely" Over the Next 12 Months

According to a recent CNN poll, nearly half of Americans believe that the US economy has a good chance of entering a depression over the next 12 months.

--

The Markets Continue to Wilt

The markets have been under siege as of late, and it all tracks back to the slowing economy.

--

The McDonald's Effect

According to Morgan Stanley, McDonald's added roughly half of the new jobs in the US economy in May.

--

National Unemployment Rate Ticks Up to 9.1% in May

May Unemployment Numbers - the national unemployment rate ticked higher to 9.1% in May after the economy only added 54k jobs.

--

Double Dip?

Is the United States currently heading towards a double dip recession? It certainly seems like a strong possibility at this point.

--

Northeastern University: Only 1 in 4 US Teens Will Be Able to Find a Job This Summer

According to a recent study by Northeastern University, only 1 in 4 US teens will be able to find work this summer.

--

Gallup: 47% of Americans Don't Want Debt Ceiling to be Raised

According to a recent Gallup poll, 47% of Americans have stated that they do not want the nation's debt ceiling limit to be raised.

--

Inflation Alert: 91% of Americans Say That They are Spending More on Groceries Now Over Last Year

According to Rasmussen Reports, a full 91% of Americans are paying more for groceries than they were last year.

--

44.2 Million Americans Received Food Stamp Assistance in February

According to the Food and Nutrition Service, food stamp usage in the United States continued to soar in February.

--

McDonald's Turned Away More than 938,000 Applicants on "National Hiring Day"

According to a statement released earlier today, McDonald's turned away more than 938,000 applicants on their recent National Hiring Day.

--

Wal-Mart CEO: Our Customers Are Running out of Money Faster Every Month

According to the CEO of Wal-Mart, American consumers are seeing their paychecks run out at a faster clip every month.

--

Do The Best Days Still Lie Ahead for the United States? Only 31% Think So

Do the best days still lie ahead for the United States? According to Rasmussen Reports, only 31% of the population think so.

--

Economic Recovery? 67% of Americans Believe that the Country is Still in a Recession

According to Rasmussen Reports, 67% of Americans believe that the United States is currently in a recession.

--

The Average Age of a Fast Food Worker in the United States Is..

Over the past decade, the age of an average fast food worker in the United States has risen from 22 to 29.5.

--

Great News! 50,000 Jobs to be Added on April 19th

According to CNN, McDonald's is planning on hiring 50,000 new people in a one-day hiring spree later this month.

--

Gallup: Americans Losing Confidence in Economic Recovery

According to a recent Gallup poll, confidence in an economic recovery in the United States is quickly waning.

--

A Balanced Budget in 20 Years?

When will the United States next post a balanced budget? 15 years? 20 years? Never again?

--

CBO: February Deficit Was Likely a Record of $223 Billion

According to the CBO, the United States posted a record deficit of 223 billion dollars in February.

--

Gas Price Panic Is Officially Setting In

Gas price panic is officially setting in in the United States thanks to continued unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

--

884 Banks Included on Q4/2010 "Problem Bank List"

The problem bank list continued to surge higher in the fourth quarter of 2010, and is now at its highest level in 18 years.

--

Global Food Prices Hit Record Levels in January

According to the FAO, food prices continued to march higher in January, leading to a great deal of unrest throughout the world.

--

CBO: $1.48 Trillion Deficit Expected For 2011

According to the CBO, the United States is expected to post a budget deficit of nearly 1.5 trillion in 2011.

--

Y2K To Today: $8.2 Trillion In New Debt For The United States

From Y2K to current day, the United States has added over 8 trillion dollars in total debt. That's right - 8 trillion.

--

2010 - Second Highest Average US Monthly Unemployment Rate Posted Since 1948

In 2010, the United States posted an average monthly unemployment rate of 9.64%, the second highest total posted since 1948.

--

"The Recession Generation"

Who is Generation R? Why are the people born between 1980 and 1990 called the Recession Generation?

--

The White House Continues To Drop in Value

The White House has dropped over 80 million in value over the past few years, thanks to the major real estate downturn in the United States.

--

$5 Gas In 2012?

According to the former president of Shell Oil, the cost of a gallon of gasoline could hit five dollars by 2012.

--

US Debt Clock Nears $14 Trillion

The United States is now perilously close to smashing through the fourteen trillion dollar mark in terms of its total national debt load.

--

It's Been 13 Months Since The National Unemployment Rate Hit 10.2%

Since peaking at 10.2 percent in October of 2009, the national unemployment rate has barely budged over the past year. How does this compare to past recessions?

--

It's Now Been Three Years Since The "Great Recession" Started..

What has changed in the United States and the world since the Great Recession started in December of 2007? This article outlines some of those changes..

--

CBO: Projected TARP Costs Down to $25 Billion

The Congressional Budget Office is now estimating the total cost of TARP to taxpayers to be just 25 billion, down dramatically from previous estimates.

--

"The Greediest Generation"

Senator Alan Simpson recently raised some eyebrows by stating that this is the greediest generation. Is he right?

--

Nearly 50 Million Americans "Food Insecure" In 2009

According to the USDA, nearly 50 million Americans were considered to be food insecure in 2009, an alarmingly high figure for one of the richest countries in the world.

--

Deficit Commission's Proposals Would Balance Budget By - 2037??

The Deficit Commission revealed earlier today that if their recommendations are fully implemented, the country will have a balanced budget by 2037.

--

Sign of the Times: A New Debt Clock That Is Capable of Counting Into the Quadrillions?

The company that maintains the national debt clock in New York is reportedly considering building a clock that counts into the quadrillions.

--

State Unemployment Rates Before The Recession And Now

State unemployment rates - which states have posted the largest increases in their unemployment rates since the start of the Great Recession?

--

Economic Turmoil Could Result in Work Stoppages in Two Major North American Sports Leagues Next Year

The NFL and NBA are both on the verge of losing some or all of their games to lockouts next year.

--

85% of College Grads Are Moving Back Home After Graduation?

According to CNN, a rising number of recent college grads are being forced to return to living at home due to poor economic conditions.

--

1.2% Annualized GDP Growth in the Third Quarter?

Macroeconomic Advisers reported lowered their expectations for Q3 GDP growth in the United States to just 1.2%.

--

United States Military Spending Up 76% Over The Past Decade

Despite the fact that the global economic crisis has caused havoc, global military spending has continued to trend higher, led by the United States.

--

National Unemployment Rate Tops 9.5% For 14th Straight Month

The United States posted an unemployment rate of over 9.5 percent for the 14th straight month in September. Will the streak end anytime soon?

--

41.8 Million Americans Used Food Stamps in July

Food stamp usage continued to increase in July of 2010, as a total of 41.8 million Americans used the SNAP program during the month.

--

Median Household Income Fell Once Again in 2009

Median household income fell for the second straight year in 2009, thanks to the Great Recession which started in December of 2007.

--

82% of Americans Believe That The Country Is Still in a Recession

A new Gallup poll has revealed that a full 82 percent of the US population believes that the US economy is still sputtering through a recession.

--

Unlucky: Nevada Unemployment Rate Continues To March Higher

Nevada's unemployment rate continued to march higher in August, hitting an all-time high of 14.4 percent. When will things finally turn around?

--

Gold Nearing $1,300 USD/oz

With the price of gold nearing 1300 per ounce, many people are starting to wonder - just how high will gold go?

--

Home Prices Fell in 36 States in July

According to CoreLogic, home prices fell in 36 states in July. The reasons? Expiration of home buyer tax credits and a drop in home buyer confidence.

--

Double-Dip Recession Coming To The US? Warren Buffett Says No Way

Warren Buffett, in comments made earlier this week, believes that there is no chance that a double-dip recession is coming to the US.

--

92% of Americans Believe That Economy Is In "Bad Shape"

A full 92 percent of those included in an ABC News / Washington Post survey said that they believed that the economy is in rough shape.

--

Who's To Blame For The Weak Economy?

Who is more to blame for the current weak state of the US economy - President Obama or former President George W. Bush?

--

More Than 10% of FDIC-Insured Institutions on Problem Bank List in Q2

The problem bank list continued to swell during the second quarter of 2010, and now sits at a total of 829 banking institutions.

--

US Birth Rate Continues To Tumble Thanks to Recession

The birth rate in the United States continued to tumble in 2009, thanks in large part to the continued deterioration of the economy.

--

July State Unemployment Breakdown - Nevada Continues To Lead

The BLS released the state unemployment numbers for July earlier today, and in no surprise, Nevada continues to lead the nation in terms of highest unemployment rate.

--

Will Q2 Economic Growth Be Revised Down to Just 1.2%?

More sobering news for the US economy - according to the New York Times, Q2 GDP growth estimates may be lowered to as little as 1.2 percent.

--

CBO Budget Outlooks: Then and Now

In the year 2000, the CBO predicted that the United States would post a budget surplus of over 3 trillion from 2001-2010. In 2010, the organization expects a cumulative deficit of almost 10 trillion over the next ten years.

--

The "Great Recession" Was Worse Than Previously Thought

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Great Recession was quite a bit worse than previously anticipated.

--

Goldman Sachs: 10.0% Unemployment in 2011

Goldman Sachs is now predicting that the US national unemployment rate will rise to an average of 10.0% in 2011, further fueling the probability of a double dip recession.

--

13.3% of US Population Used Food Stamps in May

Food stamp usage continued to soar in May in the United States, as a total of 40.8 million people received assistance from the SNAP program during the month.

--

Sign of the Times: June Consumer Spending, Income Flat; Personal Savings Up

A number of June economic numbers weren't very good - personal savings was up, while consumer spending and income were both flat.

--

Recession Has Wreaked Havoc on the Credit Score of the Average American

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the credit score of the average American has dropped over the past few years due to the Great Recession.

--

US Economic Recovery Continues to Slow in Q2

The pace of growth in the US economic recovery continued to slow in Q2, as the real GDP grew at an annualized rate of just 2.4 percent.

--

Many Economists Turning More Pessimistic on US Economy

A recent survey of economists by the AP showed that many economists are starting to think that the economic recovery will be slower than expected in the US.

--

Homeownership Rate in United States at Lowest Level Since 1999

US homeownership levels have plummeted over the past couple of years due to the sudden implosion of real estate values. Can anything be done to reverse the trend?

--

103 Bank Failures This Year and Counting

A total of 103 banks have failed so far in 2010 - how many will end up failing by the end of the year? Will we end up topping 1992's totals?

--

Another Trillion Dollar Plus Deficit Is Coming in 2011

The White House had some pretty sobering news for Americans on Friday - the country's budget deficit is expected to top 1.4 trillion in both 2010 and 2011. Uh oh.

--

Estimated $3.7 Trillion in Taxpayer Dollars Have Been Committed By US To Support Financial System

Neil Barofsky recently released a report in which he stated that total taxpayer commitments have risen to 3.7 trillion to support the financial system.

--

Nevada's Unemployment Rate Continues to Tick Higher

The unemployment rate in Nevada continued to trend higher in June, hitting an all-time high of 14.2 percent. What can be done to turn things around in the once-prosperous state?

--

Sign of the Times: Delta Air Lines Expecting 65,000 Applications for 1,000 Job Openings

Delta Air Lines recently announced that they are expecting to receive up to 65,000 job applications for their 1,000 new job openings.

--

Federal Reserve Officials: Waiting For the US Economy To Get Back to Normal? Don’t Hold Your Breath

In recently released minutes from the Fed, Federal Reserve officials stated that they believed that it would take 5-6 years for the US economy to return to normal.

--

Britain: Surprise! We Have 4.95 Trillion Pounds of Debt, Not 903 Billion

The ONS in Britain dropped a bombshell on the population of the country earlier this week - Britain currently owes nearly 5 trillion pounds of total debt.

--

President Obama’s Debt Commission: "This Debt Is Like a Cancer"

President Obama's debt and deficit commission co-chairmen have warned of an impending debt crisis in the United States unless major changes are made.

--

Fears of a "Double Dip Recession" Are Rising

Is the world about to fall into a double dip recession? Based on recent economic data, this certainly appears as though it might be the case..

--

June Unemployment Rate Expected To Tick Up to 9.8%

The June national unemployment rate in the United States is expected to rise to 9.8% thanks to the loss of hundreds of thousands of temporary census positions.

--

WSJ Poll: Pessimism On The Rise

According to a recent Wall Street Journal poll, confidence is dropping in both President Obama and the economy. Can Obama reverse the negative momentum before November?

--

Don't Count on Junior Being Able to Find a Job This Summer

May employment numbers for teenagers were the lowest posted since 1969, which probably means that youth unemployment will skyrocket over the summer.

--

The Problem With the Employment Numbers

The problem with the employment and unemployment numbers is that they don't tell you the true story about the actual condition of the US job market.

--

US Debt Clock Ticks Past $13 Trillion For the First Time

The United States debt clock ticked past the $13 trillion mark for the first time earlier today. The clock is up dramatically in recent years due to trillion dollar deficits.

--

Problem Bank List Continues to Increase in Size

The number of banks on the problem bank list continued to grow in size in Q1/2010, rising to a total of 775, up from 702 the quarter before.

--

The Euro Continues to Plunge

The Euro has experienced a remarkable decline over the past few months as the future of the European Union has been called into question by many.

--

California - 20% Chance of a Default?

According to CMAVision.com, the state of California currently has a 20% chance of defaulting on their debt, making them the 8th most likely sovereign debt issuer to default on their debt.

--

A Timeline For the Possible Downgrade of the USA's Pristine Credit Rating?

Moody's has issued a pretty specific timeline as to when the United States might expect to lose their AAA credit rating. The worse case scenario? 2013.

--

National Unemployment Rate Jumps to 9.9% in April

The national unemployment rate in the United States rose to 9.9% on Friday, confounding many people who expected the rate to come in at 9.7%.

--

Europe In Crisis

Greece's recent debt issues are threatening to set the entire nation ablaze, as countries like Portugal and Spain are now under pressure as well.

--

39,430,724 Americans Participated In Food Stamp Program in January

Nearly 40 million Americans participated in the national food stamp program in January 2010, a number that is an all-time high.

--

$500 Billion+ In New Public Debt For the United States Since December 31st

The United States has added about 500 billion to its national debt load over the past 3 1/2 months, bringing its total to nearly 13 trillion dollars.

--

6,900 Personal Bankruptcy Filings Per Day in March

According to the Wall Street Journal, there were a total of 158,000 personal bankruptcy filings in March, the highest such number in five years.

--

Shocker: "U.S. Fiscal Policy is Unsustainable" According to CBO Director

CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf has warned that the fiscal policy of the United States is unsustainable and that fundamental changes to the system are needed going forward.

--

Workers Aged 16 to 29 Posting Highest Unemployment Rates Since 1948

Workers between the ages of 16 and 29 are facing one of the tightest labor markets since 1948, a development which will have long-lasting implications for the US economy.

--

Long-Term Unemployment Numbers Continue to Trend Higher

A total of 6.5 million people are considered to be long-term unemployed - how will the US government solve the problem of this ever-increasing number going forward?

--

The CBO's 10-Year Budget Outlook: +$247 Billion to -$7.4 Trillion in Just Two Years

The Great Recession has conspired to make the Congressional Budget Office's rosy 10-year budget outlook for the United States look quite laughable in just two short years.

--

On Edge - Americans Continue to Worry About Economy

According to a recent poll on Fox News, a total of 79% of the US population believes that there is a chance that the US economy could collapse.

--

It's Official: 2009 Was a Really Bad Year

2009 was a horrible year for the US economy, despite the markets roaring higher. Income was down, jobless rates were up and home values were down.

--

Big Deficits Equal Big Market Gains

Want to bet against the markets just because the US government has posted a large deficit? You might be wise to read this article first..

--

Not Enough Jobs in 2010 and Too Many Jobs in 2018?

A new study contends that by the year 2018, there will be too many job openings in the United States, due to the aging Baby Boomer population.

--

Shock: Berkshire Bonds Yielding Less Than US Treasuries

In some shocking data that was recently released by Bloomberg, the company revealed that numerous corporate bond offerings have had lower yields than US treasuries with similar maturities.

--

The EBRI Posts Some Frightening Data Re: Retirement

According to the EBRI, many American workers are completely unprepared for their upcoming retirements, with many indicating that they will be forced to postpone their retirement dates.

--

Moody's Fires Another Warning Shot at the United States

Moody's has fired another warning shot at the United States, warning them that they may lose their pristine AAA credit rating if they don't quickly bring their deficits under control.

--

Unemployment Rate Up in 30 States in January

30 of the 50 states in the Union posted an increase in their unemployment rates in January, led by Michigan which posted a rate of 14.3%.

--

CBO to President Obama: Your Numbers Are Off

The Congressional Budget Office released a letter earlier today in which they questioned some of the Obama Administration's revenue and expense numbers over the coming 10 years.

--

Debt Watch - US Public Debt Tops $12.5 Trillion For The First Time Ever

The public debt load of the United States has surged past 12.5 trillion for the very first time - this figure is expected to approach 14 trillion by the end of the year.

--

A History of Personal Savings Rates in the United States

The personal savings rate of the average American has plummeted over the past few decade due to an excess of credit and increased materialistic needs. Can it rebound?

--

"Problem Bank List" Tops 700

A total of 702 banks found themselves on the problem bank list as of December 31st, 2009, the highest such year-end total since 1992.

--

The CBO's Unemployment Rate Projections For The Next Ten Years

The Congressional Budget Office currently estimates that it will take until approximately 2014 for the unemployment rate to fall to natural levels. Pessimistic, optimistic or just right?

--

The Last 13 Major Sovereign Bond Defaults..

Which countries have most recently defaulted on their sovereign debt obligations? Which countries came close last year?

--

$383 Billion in Interest Expense for the United States in 2009

The United States spent a whopping 380 billion dollars plus on interest in 2009, thanks to its rapidly increasing national debt load.

--

2009's Average National Unemployment Rate Third Highest Since 1948

2009 had the third highest national unemployment rate on record since 1983, as there was an average unemployment rate of 9.26% in the country.

--

A $1.6 Trillion Dollar Deficit?

The Obama Administration, according to published reports, is expecting to post a 1.6 trillion dollar deficit for the fiscal year ending 2010.

--

15 Banks Have Already Failed in 2010

A total of 15 banks have already failed in the United States in 2010 - will we end up beating 2009's number of 140?

--

CBO: Unemployment Rate Not Likely To Dip Below 9% Until 2012

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the national unemployment rate in the United States won't dip below nine percent until 2012 at the earliest.

--

Unemployment Rates Increase in 43 States in December

A total of 43 states posted an increase in their unemployment rate in December - a reminder that we may be a ways off from bringing our economy back.

--

A History of Debt Limit Increases In the United States

There have been a flurry of debt ceiling increases over the past 10 years in the United States - when will it all stop, or has the country become a perpetual borrower?

--

California Isn't the Only State Facing a Major Budget Gap

California isn't the only state that is facing a major budget gap in this current fiscal year. Find out which other states are struggling as well.

--

Just How Bad is California's Credit Rating?

California, which is currently on the ropes in terms of their economy, has seen their credit rating significantly decline over the past number of years.

--

California's Continuing Economic Woes

California's economic problems continue to persist, meaning that the state will have to figure out how to close a twenty billion dollar budget gap sometime this year.

--

Population of Michigan Drops Under 10 Million As Recession Ravages State

The population of Michigan has dropped under 10 million people for the first time since 2000, a sure sign of the state's current economic woes.

--

$6.36 Trillion Dollars in New Debt For the United States Over The Past 10 Years

The public debt load of the United States has more than doubled over the past 10 years, due to multiple wars, multiple recessions and a near-financial collapse.

--

State Tax Revenues Fell 10.7% in Q3 '09 vs Q3 '08

State tax revenue collections continued to tumble in Q3 2009, dropping an estimated 10.7 percent from the same quarter last year.

--

Average Income in the United States Will Continue to Drop in 2009

Median household income and mean household income numbers are currently on the decline in a big way. How bad might the numbers be in 2009?

--

The '00s - A Lost Decade For the US Equity Markets

The three major North American stock market indexes are all down big from 1999, with the Nasdaq leading the way with a drop of approximately 44%.

--

US Economy Needs to Add 127,000 Jobs Per Month Just To Keep Up With Population Growth

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the United States needs to create over 125,000 jobs per month just to keep up with population growth - that's a pretty staggering number.

--

Largest Jobless Gender Gap In 60 Years (At Least)

The gap between the male and female unemployment rates in the United States is the highest that it has been in at least 60 years, prompting many to ask - what should be done about it?

--

Big Trouble in Dubai

Markets trembled today after news broke that Dubai World had requested a six-month reprieve from paying interest on its debt. Will Dubai end up defaulting, and what will the global ramifications be?

--

"Problem Bank List" Swells To 552

There are currently 552 banks that are on the problem bank list according to the FDIC. This number is up dramatically from 416 the quarter before.

--

From Zero to $12 Trillion In 173 Years

The United States now has a debt load of over $12 trillion dollars as of yesterday. How fast has the United States added debt over the years? When were they last debt-free?

--

United States National Debt Load About to Pass $12 Trillion Dollars

The United States is on the verge of owing more than $12 trillion dollars in total national debt - it should pass the mark over the next few weeks.

--

October Unemployment Rate Comes In at 10.2%

The US unemployment rate in October was 10.2%, stunning many who had been expecting a more moderate uptick in the national jobless rate.

--

Could The Unemployment Rate Hit 10% Tomorrow?

The unemployment rate in the United States may top 10% in October, potentially giving us double digit unemployment for the first time since 1983.

--

Say Goodbye To $2.3 Billion Dollars

According to WSJ.com, the US Treasury is set to record their first loss TARP-related loss if CIT files for bankruptcy as expected.

--

Bah Humbug! 65% of Americans Planning To Cut Back on Holiday Expenses This Year

According to a recently released report, 65% of Americans are planning on trimming their holiday expenses compared to last year.

--

Americans Turning More Pessimistic on the Economy Once Again

After a brief surge of optimism in September, Americans returned to being more pessimistic about their economic prospects going forward.

--

More Bank Failures in 2009 Than The Last Fifteen Years Combined

Seven banks failed this past week, bringing the total number of bank failures up to 106 through the third week of October.

--

Moody's To the United States: Shape Up or You Might Lose Your AAA Rating

Moody's made some waves on Thursday when they announced that the United States must trim its deficits over the coming 3-4 years in order to avoid a credit downgrade.

--

Government to Bank of America: Your Shares "Should Go Up" Following Completion of Merrill Lynch Deal

Newly released emails show that the government promised BAC executives that their shares would rise if the proposed deal with Merrill Lynch went forward.

--

State Tax Revenues Continue to Plunge

State tax revenues continue to plunge throughout many of the 50 states in the union, meaning that tough budget decisions will be looming for many states.

--

The US Dollar Continues To Plunge

The US dollar has weakened considerably over the past number of months as worries about deficit spending in the United States continue to mount.

--

Sign of the Times: 10,000 People Apply In Three Days for 90 Factory Jobs in Louisville

Over 10,000 people applied for 90 job openings at General Electric that pay just $13/hr. Just another sign of an extremely weak economy in the United States.

--

The Accelerating Debt Burden of the United States

The United States has added trillions of dollars to its debt load over the past 30 years, with no end in sight.

--

U-6 Unemployment Rate Hits 17% in September

The U-6 unemployment rate in the United States ticked to its highest level in the post WWII era, as 1 out of every 6 working Americans want full-time work but can't find it.

--

The FDIC Has No Money Left In its Deposit Insurance Fund

It may come as a bit of a shock to some, but the FDIC recently revealed that it has no money left in its deposit insurance fund.

--

Job Seekers Outnumber Job Openings 6-to-1 in the United States

The Labor Department in the United States is reporting that 14.5 million people were officially unemployed in the United States in July, and that there were 2.4 million available jobs.

--

Julian Robertson: "We Could See Inflation Go To 15 to 20 Percent"

Julian Robertson, the founder of the Tiger Fund, anticipates that high inflation is coming to the United States sometime soon.

--

Joseph Stiglitz: Recession Is Over.. in 2012 (If We're Lucky)

Joseph Stiglitz, former chief economist at the World Bank and well-respected economist, predicts more weakness ahead for the US economy.

--

The Lost Decade in the United States

All three major North American market indexes are down over the past decade, which isn't good news for North American investors.

--

Report: Andrew Cuomo Preparing Charges Against "High-Ranking" Bank of America Executives

Is NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo going to file charges against high-ranking Bank of America executives? That is the current rumor on the streets right now..

--

Median Household Income in the United States Falling Off a Cliff

Median household income declined dramatically in 2008, dropping by a staggering total of 3.6%. Things are expected to get even worse in 2009.

--

Divorce Lawyers: Just More Victims of the Recession

The rate of divorce in the United States is way down due to the recession. The reason? Many people simply can't afford to get divorced right now.

--

Savings Bonds Instead of Tax Refund Checks?

President Obama recently announced that he is planning on implementing a plan that will allow taxpayers that are eligible for a refund to receive their refund in bonds instead of cash.

--

"Official" August Unemployment Rate was 9.7%; U-6 Rate Was 16.8%

The unemployment rate in the United States continues to tick higher, as the August 2009 rate was 9.7%, the highest in over 20 years.

--

Will 2009 End Up Being Similar to 1930?

Are we in the midst of the beginning of a brand new bull market, or is this simply a bear market rally of historic proportions?

--

Youth Unemployment Surging In the United States

A weak overall job market has led to a dramatic spike in the youth unemployment rate in the United States since July of 2007.

--

416 Banks on FDIC Problem Bank List

The problem bank list continues to swell, as there are now a grand total of 416 banks and thrifts on the list.

--

How Will the United States Fund $9 Trillion Dollars in Deficit Spending Over the Next Decade?

Earlier today, White House officials announced that the deficit over the next 10 years will be approximately nine trillion dollars. Where will this money come from?

--

Surprise! 2009 Deficit Will "Only" Be $1.58 Trillion Dollars

President Obama's budget office is reportedly going to trim their 2009 deficit estimate to approximately $1.5 trillion dollars next week, which is $260 billion dollars less than expected.

--

Recession Ends in Japan, Germany and France

France, Germany and Japan have recently announced a return to economic growth, leading many to believe that the Great Recession is already over.

--

Will the United States Break Its Consecutive Deficit Record?

The United States posted a series of deficits between 1970 and 1997 - the question is, can they break this record of consecutive deficits?

--

Putting The July Deficit Into Perspective

The United States posted a budget deficit of almost $181 billion dollars in July 2009 alone, which leads many to ask the question - how does this compare to deficits that have been posted in the past?

--

Recession Leads to Lower Birth Rate in 2008

The US birth rate took a tumble in 2008 as a result of the ongoing recession - many families simply could not afford the added expense of a child.

--

Deutsche Bank: 48% of Mortgaged US Homeowners Likely to Be "Underwater" By 2011

Will there be a short-term recovery in the housing market? Deutsche Bank doesn't seem to think so, based on a report that was released by the firm earlier today.

--

Federal Tax Revenues Crashing - How Will the Government Cope?

The US government is currently coping with a dramatic (18%) drop in federal tax revenues, leading people to wonder - how will they deal with this dramatic drop in revenues?

--

12 Bank Failures In the Past Two Weeks

5 more banks failed this week, bringing the total of failed banks in the United States in 2009 up to a whopping 69.

--

Andrew Cuomo's Bank Bonus Report Prompts More Outrage

Despite receiving hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds, a recent report from Andrew Cuomo revealed that many of the original TARP recipients paid out billions in bonus money.

--

Is the "Great Recession" Nearly Over?

Is the recession in the United States nearly over? Recent housing data may indicate yes, whereas other data - not so certain.

--

Has Ben Bernanke Earned Himself A Second Term as Fed Chairman?

Should Ben Bernanke be reappointed as Fed Chairman? People are fairly mixed on the matter, although nearly 75% of investors that were surveyed by Bloomberg.com believe that he has done a good job.

--

FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair: "We Could Lose Up to 500 More Banks"

Did the FDIC Chairman really predict that up to 500 more bank failures could take place in the United States? That's exactly what Sen. Bunning of Kentucky is claiming in recent comments.

--

State Tax Revenues Down 11.7% In Q1 2009

State tax revenues are currently experienced a dramatic decline across the nation, which is leading many states to scramble to try to fill the void left by disappearing revenues.

--

57 Banks Have Failed So Far in 2009

There have been 57 bank failures so far in 2009 in the United States, which has some people asking if there will be more than 100 this year.

--

Should Google Search Data Be Used as an Economic Indicator?

Is Google search traffic an important economic indicator? According to Lawrence Summers, one of President Obama's top economic advisors, it is.

--

United States Deficit: $1 Trillion Dollars and Climbing

The United States passed the $1 trillion dollar mark in deficit spending for the first time in their history in June.

--

4.38 Million Americans Have Been Unemployed for More Than 27 Weeks

The unemployment rate in the United States continues to trend higher, which is causing many people to have to endure long stretches of being unemployed.

--

30 Million Underutilized Workers in the United States

Recently released data suggests that 18.2% of all working-age people in the United States are considered to be underutilized.

--

Which Two States Aren't Facing a Deficit This Fiscal Year?

Which two states didn't have a fiscal deficit for the 2010 year in the United States? The answer is here.

--

World Bank: Recession Will Be Worse Than Anticipated

The World Bank warned on Monday that it expects the global economy to contract more than expected. This news led to many market indexes retreating and trading lower on the session.

--

239 Million Unemployed People Worldwide By The End of 2009?

The International Labour Organization recently published a very startling statistic: 239 million people are expected to be unemployed worldwide by the end of 2009.

--

Credit Card Defaults Hit Record Highs in May

Credit card default rates climbed to record highs in May, as unemployment numbers continued to march higher.

--

Unemployment Rate Hits 9.4%, Highest Since July 1983

The ranks of the unemployed continued to swell in the United States in May as an additional 345k jobs were axed.

--

$63.8 Trillion Dollars in US Federal Government Debt and Unfunded Obligations? Ouch

The USA Today recently released an astonishing article that details the extent of the US government's money woes - it's not pretty.

--

Will the Dollar Crash?

Is a crash of the US dollar inevitable at this stage of the game? Some believe that this is the case, while others strongly disagree.

--

Founder of Elliott Wave International Inc. Predicting Major Crash In US Equities

Robert Prechter, who made a name for himself by correctly predicting the crash of 1987, has gone on record as saying that US equity values will decline up to 80% from their current levels.

--

The US Metropolitan Area With the Highest Unemployment Rate Is..

Which metropolitan areas in the United States had the highest unemployment rates in March of 2009? Which had the lowest?

--

Credit Card Industry Buckling Under the Strain of a Struggling Economy

Who is to blame in the credit card crisis? Is it consumers for borrowing too much money, or credit card issuers for making it too easy to obtain credit?

--

What Effects Could a Swine Flu Pandemic Have on a Fragile US Economy?

According to the CBO, a severe flu pandemic could cause the US economy to contract as much as 4.25%, and up to 1% in milder circumstances.

--

11% of Housing Units Sitting Vacant in the United States

The USA Today is reporting that 1 out of every 9 housing units in the United States are currently sitting vacant. What can be done about this problem?

--

Is the New York Times On The Verge of Bankruptcy?

Can the New York Times avoid filing for bankruptcy? Is NYT destined to go bankrupt?

--

Jamie Dimon Dishes on Economic Collapse in JPMorgan Chase Annual Shareholder Letter

Jamie Dimon, current CEO and Chairman of JPMorgan Chase, had some interesting comments as to the root causes of the economic collapse in his recent letter to JPM shareholders.

--

California Sets Official Unemployment Rate Record in March

California posted its higher ever unemployment rate on record in March, coming in at a whopping 11.2%, leading many to ask the question: when will things begin to recover in the state?

--

If You Thought That The US Economy Was In Shambles, Wait Until You See Japan

The United States is currently in an uneviable position in terms of their economy, but there are many countries (think, Japan) that are currently much worse off.

--

The U-6 Unemployment Rate in March was 15.6%

The government reported that the official unemployment rate in March was 8.5% - however, did you know that the U-6 unemployment number for March came in at almost double that number?

--

California Unemployment Rate Continues to Spike

California reported a 10.5% unemployment rate in February of 2009, which is one of the worst numbers that the state has seen in the past 25 years, leading many to wonder: how bad will things get?

--

FBI: 2,000+ Open Investigations Into Mortgage Fraud, 566 Into Corporate Fraud

Are the perp walks finally coming to Wall Street? Will people finally start getting thrown in jail for their roles in the egregious fraud that has taken place over the past few years?

--

Is Buy and Hold Investing Dead?

Will the recent severe downturn in the markets, is buy and hold investing dead? Will people ever put their trust (and money) back in the markets again?

--

The Real Unemployment Rate Is Much Worse Than 8.1%

The federal government massages the official unemployment numbesr to make things look much better than they actually are - find out the real unemployment rate in this article.

--

The Weak Economy is Wreaking Havoc on Major North American Sports Leagues

The recession has wreaked havoc on many different industries, from the auto industry to the banking industry to the sports industry. How has the recession hurt the major North American sports leagues?

--

FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair: "Deposit Insurance Fund Could Become Insolvent This Year"

Sheila Bair, Chairman of the FDIC, recently warned through the FDIC's deposit fund could become insolvent without a sufficient influx of new capital. The method that is being proposed by the FDIC is drawing the ire of banks both big and small.

--

Is Blockbuster Filing For Bankruptcy Protection?

Blockbuster traded down nearly 80% on Tuesday after a Bloomberg.com report surfaced, stating that the company was possibly considering filing for bankruptcy. The company denied these claims. Who is right?

--

Recession or Depression?

Are we currently struggling through a really bad recession, or is this something worse? When all is said and done, will this end up being a depression?

--

Egan-Jones: Bank of America "Next In Line" For Government Equity Infusion

Egan-Jones, a prominent credit analysis firm, stated today that the government will likely end up converting their preferred shares of Bank of America into common shares, similar to what happened with Citigroup. What will happen with BAC next?

--

Capital Assistance Program (CAP) Details Unveiled By Treasury Department

The Treasury Department announced details of their new Capital Assistance Program (CAP) on Wednesday. Banks will be subjected to stress tests and given six months to raise private capital under the plan. Failing this, they would be forced to accept money

--

Ben Bernanke: "Reasonable Prospect That The Current Recession Will End in 2009"

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testified to Congress on Tuesday, and said that there was a possibility that the recession would end in 2009, if the banking system started to stabilize.

--

Berkshire Hathaway Down 47.6% In The Past Five Months

Berkshire Hathaway, which looked like it might be able to get through the recession with minimal damage, has plummeted nearly 50% in the past five months.

--

The Newspaper Industry Is Under Siege - Can It Recover?

The newspaper industry has been issued a vicious beating over the past few years, as advertising revenues have declined as well as daily readers. Can the industry possibly recover?

--

Are Citigroup and Bank of America Going To Be Nationalized?

Nationalization, once considered a dirty word, is now being actively talked about by a number of prominent figures, including Alan Greenspan and Senator Graham. Is nationalization an inevitability at this point?

--

S&P 500 Within Striking Distance of Its November Lows

The markets continued lower on Tuesday, and are now dangerously close to their November lows. Will these lows hold, or will we head lower? What could possibly reverse the tide at this point?

--

Kansas Has Suspended Income Tax Refunds

Kansas joined California as states that have temporarily had to suspend income tax refunds due to budgetary shortfalls and gridlock over how to solve these disputes. There is no word when the payments will resume.

--

The $787 Billion Dollar Stimulus Package Has Passed - Now What?

The $787 billion dollar stimulus package has now passed both the House and the Senate. Will this package help, or will it end up hurting in the long-run? What happens if this package doesn't work as expected?

--

Fed: Average Net Worth Of An American Household Has Dropped 22.7% Since December 2007

A Federal Reserve economist recently stated that the average American household lost 22.7% of their total net worth in 2008. Were you negatively affected? And if so, how much?

--

The Spiraling Cost of the Federal Bailout

Nearly $10 Trillion dollars has been earmarked (so far) by the US government to fight the crippling global economic meltdown. Will it be enough? Or will this end up being too much, and ended up having far more negative consequences in the long run?

--

There Is Plenty Of Depression Talk These Days

Numerous well-known figures in the financial world have recently stated that we are either currently in a depression or very close to it. Is this is a deep recession, or something much more sinister?

--

19 Million American Homes Vacant At End of 2008

According to recently released Census data, 19 million American homes stood vacant at the end of 2008 - a great number of these vacant homes were empty due to foreclosures.

--

How Long Will This Recession Last?

The current recession is currently about 14 months old according to the National Bureau of Research. How much longer might this recession last before things start to improve?

--

The Icelandic Coalition Government Collapses

The Icelandic coalition government collapsed earlier today, and Prime Minister Geir Haarde is expected to hand in his resignation in short order. This is another development in the startling collapse of Iceland and its economy.

--

Nouriel Roubini Predicts More Pain For Global Equities in 2009

Nouriel Roubini, professor of economics and economic prophet, contends that global equity markets will drop 20% in 2009 - will Roubini be correct once again, or will the markets start to rebound in 2009?

--

Will We Retest November Lows?

Will we break through the November lows on the Dow Jones Industrial Average? Is the bottom near, or do we have more downside to go?

--

Warren Buffett - The United States Is Engaged In An Economic Pearl Harbor

Warren Buffett, the world's richest man and economic adviser to Barack Obama, warned that the United States is currently in an economic Pearl Harbor and that a recovery will take some time.

--

1.84% of American Households Received a Foreclosure Notice in 2008

Nearly 2% of all housing units in the United States received a foreclosure notice in 2008, a dramatic increase from 2007. Will there be more of the same this year as well?

--

Nortel Files for Bankruptcy

It was the end of an era earlier today as Nortels, previously one of the largest companies in the world, filed for bankruptcy protection.

--

The Dangers of Trillion Dollar Deficits

President-elect Barack Obama warned about the possibility of trillion-dollar deficits in recent comments. What is the negative impact of future trillion-dollar deficits?

--

Instead Of A State Income-Tax Refund Check - An IOU?

Due to their ongoing state budget crisis, the state of California might be forced to have to issue IOUs instead of state income tax refund checks this year.

--

Global Stock Markets Lost $30.1 Trillion Dollars of Value in 2008

Over thirty trillion dollars worth of total value was erased from the global markets in 2008, resulting in one of the worst years in the history of the markets.

--

The SEC Issues Statement re: Madoff Scandal - We Messed Up

The SEC took the extraordinary step of admonishing themselves on Tuesday night, saying that they should have caught the Madoff fraud much easier. They also announced their intentions for an internal investigation at the SEC.

--

Are You A Bull Or A Bear for 2009?

After an absolutely awful 2008, I can't help but wonder - are you bullish or bearish for 2009? Will things start to improve, or are we in for more of the same?

--

General Motors, Chrysler Staring Bankruptcy in the Face After Bailout Falls Apart

World markets plunged Friday morning after the US Senate rejected a proposed bailout bail after the UAW refused to agree to wage and benefits concessions.

--

Why Would Someone Buy a T-Bill With a Zero Percent Yield?

The United Government sold $30 billion dollars worth of T-bills earlier this week at an annualized yield of 0.00%. Why would an investor buy something that was guaranteed to have no return?

--

Fortress Investment Group LLC Halts Redemptions From Its Drawbridge Global Macro Fund

Fortress Investment Group LLC Has Halted Redemptions From Its Drawbridge Global Macro Funds, after investors requested almost half of their money back.

--

Citadel Investment Group LLC Continues To Struggle in November

Citadel Investment Group LLC continued to struggle in November, losing another 13% of its value in its two biggest funds, bringing the YTD total to a 47% loss. Can Citadel survive?

--

The Recession Explained: What Is a Recession?

What is a recession? What is the actual definition of a recession? Are we currently in a recession right now?

--

BVI Global Fund Ltd (of Tudor Investment Corp) Temporarily Suspends Withdrawals

Tudor investment Corp. recently announced a plan to split their BVI Global Fund Ltd. into two separate funds, including the "Legacy" funds that would hold the firm's hard-to-sell assets.

--

Satellite Asset Management LP Halts Client Withdrawals

Satellite Asset Management LP, founded in 1999 by three former employees of Soros Fund Management LP, has temporarily frozen investor withdrawal requests in three of its funds.

--

Barton Biggs - "We Are In For the Mother of All Bear Market Rallies"

Barton Biggs of Traxis Partners believes that we are close to a major 30-50% bear market rally. Is he right?

--

Citigroup Is Going To Have A Hard Time Finding a Buyer

Can Citigroup avert collapse and secure much-needed funds over the weekend? Will anyone step up to buy the company, or is Citigroup doomed to fail?

--

Eight Major Stock Market Indexes Are Down At Least 60% in 2008

Eight major stock market indexes, including the RTS Index and Shanghai Composite, are down over 60% in 2008.

--

What's Wrong with Berkshire Hathaway?

Berkshire Hathaway dropped 12% on Wednesday and is currently down over 40% on the year. What's wrong with Berkshire Hathaway?

--

101 of All S&P 500 Stocks Now Trading for Less than $10 Per Share

101 of the 500 stocks that are listed in the S&P 500 are currently trading for less than $10 a share, illustrating just how bad things are right in the stock market.

--

Citadel's Kensington Global Strategies Fund, Wellington LLC Fund Have Their Counterparty Credit Ratings Cut by S&P

More bad news for Citadel today after S+P cut their ratings on Citadel's Kensington Global Strategies Fund and the Wellington LLC fund.

--

Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Jose and Atlanta Want To Be Bailed Out as Well

The mayors of Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Jose and Atlanta have petitioned the government, asking for billions of dollars in relief for their cities.

--

$60 Billion Dollars in Hedge Fund Investor Redemptions in October

The hedge fund industry was rocked in October after investors pulled a total of $60 billion dollars of assets from the $1.7 trillion dollar industry.

--

Best Buy: "Most Difficult Climate We've Ever Seen"

Best Buy's CEO has reported that this is the most difficult retail climate that he has "ever" seen. How bad will things get this year for retailers?

--

Citadel Continues to Deny, Deny, Deny

Is the Citadel Investment Group on the brink of collapse, or are other hedge funds spreading false rumors to hasten Citadel's fall?

--

Deutsche Bank Drops the Hammer on General Motors: "Shares are Worthless"

Deutsche Bank poured some more dirt on General Motors on Monday, proclaiming that the company will be completely worthless in 12 months.

--

Icahn Enterprises GP Inc. Feeling the Pinch as Well

Carl Icahn and Icahn Enterprises LP have been forced to inject capital into Icahn Enterprises GP Inc. to deal with increased investor redemption demands.

--

Platinum Grove Asset Management LP, Another Myron Scholes Hedge Fund, Is Struggling As Well

Platinum Grove Asset Management LP, a hedge fund co-founded by Myron Scholes, is down a reported 38% on the year.

--

Jerry Yang to Microsoft: Buy Us. Please?

Jerry Yang has publicly spoken out about Microsoft, and seems to be heavily indicating that Yahoo! would look favorably on another buyout offer.

--

Blue Mountain Capital Management LLC Halts Redemptions in Its Blue Mountain Credit Alternatives Fund

Another hedge fund is under duress - this time it is the Blue Mountain Credit Alternatives Fund, which has temporarily halted investor redemptions. The fund has done much better than the hedge fund industry as a whole this year.

--

Tight Credit, Low Consumer Confidence and High Gas Prices Conspiring to Destroy the US Auto Industry

General Motors reported a precipitous 45% drop in auto sales in October compared to last year, while Ford reported a 30% drop. Can the US auto industry recover from this?

--

HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index Down 19.6% YTD

The HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index is down nearly 20% on the year, offering a much grimmer picture of the under-siege hedge fund industry.

--

Can the Citadel Investment Group Survive?

Can the Citadel Investment Group recover after sustained major losses in 2008? Rumors are swirling about the health of the multi-billion dollar fund.

--

Emerging Markets in Trouble Due to Global Financial Crisis

Many of the world's emerging markets have taken it on the chin over the past few months due to rapidly dropping demand for commodities and weakened currencies.

--

Major Stock Market Crash Coming on Friday?

The markets are looking to get savaged on Friday, October 24th, 2008. Will this become known as "Black Friday" or will the markets bounce back?

--

Russian and Icelandic Stock Markets Continue to Take It on the Chin

Many of the global stock markets have taken a beating over the past year. None have been hit worse than the Iceland OMX 15 Index and the RTS Index (RTSI) - both for different reasons.

--

A Tale of Two Companies: McDonald's vs Starbucks

McDonald's and Starbucks have been gone in opposite directions since the fall of 2007. McDonald's has traded higher, but Starbucks has plummeted. Why?

--

Hedge Fund Industry Posts Worst Month Since At Least 2000

The hedge fund industry posted its worst month since at least 2000 in September after succumbing to the falling global stock markets and credit contagion. The industry posted a one-month loss of 4.75% in September.

--

Millenium Global Investments Closes Their Emerging Credit Fund

Millenium Global has closed their Emerging Credit Fund, citing the global economic meltdown and subsequent change in bank financing options as the reason.

--

What Have Been the Worst Global Housing Markets of 2008?

The IMF recently published a report in which they identified the weakest housing markets of 2008 (so far). Surprisingly, the United States did not top the list - Denmark did.

--

State And Federal Prosecutors Investigating Trading in Credit-Default Swaps

A joint investigation has been launched into credit-default swaps and whether or not illegal manipulation of the market may have taken place.

--

Lehman Brothers Is the Focus of Three U.S. Grand Jury Investigations

Lead Lehman Brothers bankruptcy lawyer Harvey Miller announced that Lehman Brothers was now the subject of three US grand jury investigations. Dick Fuld, CEO of the company, has been subpoenaed in the matter.

--

The Stock Market Crash of 1987 (Black Monday) Revisited

The Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its worst one-day drop (percentage-wise) of all-time on October 19th, 1987.

--

Some Notable Hedge Fund Heavyweights, Including Steven Cohen of SAC Capital Advisors, Liquidated Many of Their Positions in Recent Days

Many of the "heavyweights" in the hedge fund industry moved to heavy cash positions over the past few days, which surely contributed to last's weeks slaughter in the stock market.

--

How Have The Major North American Stock Market Indexes Performed Short-Term After Very Bad Years?

The Dow, Nasdaq and S+P 500 are set to post extremely weak years in 2008. Historically, how have these indexes done after horrible years?

--

2008 Is On the Verge of Becoming the Worst Year Ever for the Nasdaq Composite

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S+P 500 are both down a great deal in 2008, but what about the Nasdaq? How does 2008 compare to some of the previous worst years for the Nasdaq?

--

When Will the Stock Market Hit Bottom?

With the markets trading lower on an almost daily basis, the question needs to be asked - when will we hit bottom?

--

The Worst Years in the History of the Dow Jones Industrial Average

What have been the worst annual performances for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and how does 2008 compare?

--

Aggressive Interest Rate Cut by Australia's Central Bank Likely Start of Coordinated Global Rate Cuts

Australia's Central Bank has aggressively slashed interest rates today, leading many to believe that this is the start of a global coordinated interest rate reduction.

--

Does the PPT (Plunge Protection Team) Actually Exist?

Does the Plunge Protection Team actually exist? And if so, what is their role in the markets?

--

Neel Kashkari, 35 Year Old Advisor To Henry Paulson, To Oversee $700 Billion Dollar Bailout Program

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, 35 year-old Neel Kashkari is being tapped by Hen...

--

What Now for the Financial Markets?

After a very up-and-down week for the stock markets, investors are nervously looking forward to next week. Will the markets continue to tank or begin to rebound?

--

United States National Debt Tops Ten Trillion Dollars for the First Time

Every man, woman and child in the United States currently owes over $30,000 for their share of the US National Debt.

--

The Stock Market Plunge on Monday Changed Many People's Minds About the Bailout

The Stock Market Plunge on Monday Likely Ensured the Passage of a Revised $700 Billion Dollar Bailout Deal. People Panicked, and now they want some sort of bailout to soothe the markets.

--

John Paulson Forced to Reveal His Big Short Positions in UK Banks

John Paulson has been forced by the Financial Services Authority in the UK to reveal his short positions in publicly listed UK banks.

--

Five of the Biggest One-Day Drops in the History of the Nasdaq

Five of the biggest one-day drops in the history of the Nasdaq stock exchange.

--

The Church of England Attacks Short-Sellers and Debt Traders

The Church Of England Launched a Surprising Attack Against Short-Sellers, Calling Them "Grave Robbers" and "Asset Strippers"

--

Washington Mutual's New CEO Alan H. Fishman Received Twenty Million Dollars For Just 17 Days of Work

New CEO of Washington Mutual Alan H. Fishman Received Twenty Million Dollars For Just 17 Days of Work

--

FDIC Seizes Washington Mutual; JP Morgan Swoops In and Buy Assets On the Cheap

JP Morgan Swooped In and Bought Washington Mutual's Assets on The Cheap Thursday Evening

--

Why Is IBM On the Prohibited Short Sale List?

IBM was inexplicably added to the prohibited short sale list earlier this week, leaving many market watchers scratching their heads at the bizarre decision.

--

Home Equity Withdrawals Drop to $24 Billion From $700 Billion Dollars in 2005

Many Americans tapped the equity in their homes from 2001-2006 as the real estate market surged, and are now paying the price.

--

Warren Buffett Scores Sweetheart Goldman Sachs Deal

Berkshire Hathaway is purchasing five billion dollars worth of Goldman Sachs perpetual preferred shares with a dividend payment of 10%.

--

Proposed Federal Bailout Numbers: Nearly $2 Trillion Dollars and Counting

The Great Bailout of 2008 May End Up Costing the Taxpayer Over Two Trillion Dollars

--

The Biggest One Day Gains (and Losses) For the Dow Jones Industrial Average

The Biggest Historical One Day Advances and Declines for the DJIA

--

British Ban on Short Selling Will Prove To Be Disastrous For Some Hedge Funds

The FSA ban against short-selling in certain firms will leave many hedge funds scrambling.

--

Warren Buffett Putting Berkshire Hathaway Money to Work In Face of Crumbling Market

While the stock markets crash, Warren Buffett is accelerating the pace of his purchases, snapping up a number of companies on the cheap.

--

Financial Sector Has Lost Well Over a Trillion Dollars In Market Capitalization Since October of 2007

29 of the Biggest Companies in the Financial Sector Have Lost Well Over a Trillion Dollars of Market Cap in the Past Year

--

Government To Provide Secured Loan to AIG and Take an 80 Percent Stake in the Company

The United States Government Will Provide A Loan to AIG And Take Over 80 Percent of the Company

--

The Stock Market Goes Into Complete Meltdown Mode on Monday

The stock market seized up on Monday after Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch was purchased by Bank of America.

--

Merrill Lynch Agrees to Buyout From Bank of America; The Financial Landscape Continues to Abruptly Change

Merrill Lynch Agrees to $44 Billion Dollar Buyout from Bank of America

--

Soros Fund Management LLC Has Large Exposure to Lehman Brothers