October 2009 Headlines

Economy Growing, But Americans Aren't Buying It

A new government report shows that the nation's GDP grew by 3.5 percent in the third quarter, but polls show that Americans don't believe the recession is over.

Pew: Deceptive Credit Practices Rising

A new Pew Charitable Trusts report shows that despite the threat of Congressional action, deceptive credit card practices are on the rise.

Most Americans Don't Believe Recession Over

A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll shows that 82 percent of Americans believe we are still in a recession, despite new numbers indicating economic growth.

GDP Growth Gives Economy Glimmer of Hope

Thursday's report shows that the gross domestic product grew by 3.5 percent in the third quarter -- the best in two years.

New Home Sales Fall a Surprising 3.6 Percent

Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a temporary tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.

Tough Economy Delays Retirement for Some

A recent survey shows that more Americans plan to delay their retirement because of steep drops in their savings accounts.

Bank Failures Hit 106 for Year; Many More are Weak

The number of banks that have failed so far this year topped 100 on Friday - hitting 106 by the end of the day - the most in nearly two decades.

Home Sales Rise 9.4 Percent in September

Home resales rose in September to the highest level in more than two years, beating expectations, as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires.

Fed Proposes to Police Bank Pay for 1st Time

For the first time, the Federal Reserve is suggesting that it keep an eye on the way banks pay their employees.

New Jobless Claims Rise in Recovering Economy

Labor Department figures show new jobless claims rose to 531,000 last week, which is up from 520,000 during the previous week.

Home Prices Expected to Drop in 2010

Real estate forecasters say home prices will continue to drop next year.

Is America Committing Suicide by Deficit?

The U.S. government's debt is growing so large, it's no longer just an embarrassment -- it's becoming a threat to one of history's greatest success stories: the American way of life.

Oil Prices Rise Above $80 a Barrel

One reason the price of oil is going up is because the value of the dollar is going down.

Housing Numbers Homeowners Mixed Signals

New numbers released Tuesday show home construction is on the rise, yet applications for building permits continue to decline.

Federal Deficit Hits All-Time High

As a portion of the economy, the budget deficit stood at 10 percent, the highest since World War II, according to government data released Friday.

U.S. Economy Shows Signs of Life

Several months after President Barack Obama first proposed his $787 billion recovery plan, the economy is showing small signs of recovery.

Dow Indicates Economy Moving in Right Direction

Investors on Wall Street are breathing a sigh of relief after the Dow Jones Industrial average broke 10,000 Wednesday.

Foreclosures Rise 5 Percent From Summer to Fall

The number of households caught up in the foreclosure crisis rose more than 5 percent from summer to fall as a federal effort to assist struggling borrowers was overwhelmed by a flood of defaults among people who lost their jobs.

Consumers Show Signs of Life as Prices Stay Low

Consumers may be slowly regaining their appetite to shop, as the prices they encounter in stores remain low.

Is Now the Time to Reinvest?

Wall Street is showing new signs of life, but is it time to take a fresh look at stocks?

Wall Street Hits Landmark Closing

Wall Street's recovery hit its biggest landmark yet, Wednesday, with the Dow closing well above the 10,000 mark.

China's Foreign Exchange Reserves Hits Record

China's government says it has nearly $2.3 trillion in foreign assets -- that's the largest in the world.

House Panel to Begin Push on Financial Overhaul

The House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday is taking up key elements of President Barack Obama's proposal for correcting the practices of financial institutions that caused last year's economic collapse.

Gold Rallies as Dollar Drops

As the U.S. dollar drops in worth on world markets, more investors and foreign governments are turning instead to gold.

World Banks Moving Away from U.S. Dollar

International bankers and foreign governments warn that the U.S. government is printing too much money in order to finance its huge annual deficits.

New Jobless Claims Lowest Since January

The number of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits fell to the lowest level since early January.

Gov't Projects Lower Winter Heating Costs

A new government report shows Americans can expect to pay $105 less to heat their homes this winter.

National Retail Sales Group Offers Weak Holiday Forecast

After parents cut back on clothes and accessories for children this past fall, the retail industry suspects they won't be any more generous by the holidays.

Greenspan: Jobless Rate Likely to Pass 10 Percent

He says the growing number of Americans who have been out of work six months or longer is of particular concern because jobless workers lose skills over such a long period.

Analyzing the Economy's Mixed Signals

CBN News spoke with Washington Times Chief Economic Correspondent Patrice Hill about the latest financial numbers.

Bernanke Subdued on Consumer Protection

Ben Bernanke told Congress the central bank is "well suited" to oversee colossal financial companies whose failure could endanger the entire economy.