Big Picture

Latest Big Picture News & Insights Insights into economic and market news that matters to you

• Unemployment Rate at 10.2%

  The jobless rate hadn't topped 10% since 1983. The number of Americans out of work for more than six months is now a record 5.6 million

  Videos | 11-06-09

• Jobs Report: Unemployment Breaks 10%

  10.2% -- that's the most important number from the October Employment Report. For the first time since 1983, the over 1 out of every 10 American is out of work. How's that for starting your Friday with some sobering news? The 190,000 jobs lost in October means that since the start of the...

  Blog posts | 11-06-09

• Eye on Unemployment Rate

  As October data is released, President Obama is expected to sign a bill extending unemployment benefits by 14 to 20 weeks

  Videos | 11-06-09

• Stocks Soar on Jobs Data

  The Dow surges back above 10,000 after initial jobless claims fell to the lowest level in 10 months. Plus: Congress extends unemployment benefits

  Videos | 11-05-09

• Retail Sales Beat Last Year's Weak Turnout, But Are Still In a Slump

  Each week, watchers of the retail industry release two different flash reports on the latest sales. The reports, out Thursday, show that late October showed the best numbers in over a year, but as we've seen in housing, car sales, manufacturing, and just about everywhere else, the credit crisis...

  Blog posts | 11-05-09

• Whose Recovery Is This?

  Like most recoveries, this has been an uneven one. Wall Street, women, and older workers are thriving, while Main Street, men, and younger workers are simply surviving. Our scorecard shows some of the recovery?s biggest winners and losers so far. Here’s another option: Just ask him to...

  Articles | 11-05-09

• Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged

  The central bank says the economy is growing without inflation. Plus: The Senate is close to extending unemployment benefits

  Videos | 11-04-09

• The Fed: Kicking the Economy's Steroid Habit

  We knew that the Fed wouldn't change interest rate policy, but as my favorite teacher Mr. Maloney used to say, "words matter!" The Fed surely gets mired in word-smithing, but as the economy comes to a critical juncture, can't the central bankers speak in plain English? Just tell us...

  Blog posts | 11-04-09

• India Prefers Gold Over Paper, As Developed Economies Pile On Debt

  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country's central bank, announced it bought 200 metric tons of gold, worth $6.7 billion, from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It's a good-sized purchase in the world of gold, but in wealth terms not that big a deal, even for a so-called emerging country...

  Blog posts | 11-04-09

• Ask The Experts, Episode Deux!

  Here's the second episode of "Ask the Experts"...please send more questions for the 3rd episode on Thursday morning. Just post your comments below and we'll tackle the questions! by Jill Schlesinger

  Blog posts | 11-04-09

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