Patrice Hill
Articles by Patrice Hill
Owning a house no longer part of the American dream?
As Congress and the White House debate how to patch up the housing market after four years of crisis, one clear lesson has emerged: Political leaders for the first time in decades no longer see the American dream of homeownership as the all-consuming goal it once was. Published February 15, 2011
White House proposes winding down Fannie, Freddie
The Obama administration Friday morning endorsed a very gradual phasing-down of the enormous role Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now play in the housing market, taking a first step by reducing the size of loans they can guarantee. Published February 11, 2011
Debt-ceiling debate stirs up speculation
The White House is warning of financial Armageddon this spring if Congress fails to raise the Treasury's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, but many on Wall Street are skeptical that the looming spending clash will produce anything but riveting political theater. Published February 10, 2011
Unemployment rate fell to 9% in January
The nation's unemployment rate plunged from 9.4 percent to 9 percent last month apparently as thousands of people decided to sit out snowstorms and suspended their search for work, the Labor Department reported Friday morning. Published February 4, 2011
GOP plan would let states go bankrupt
Financial markets have been rocked recently by predictions of a rash of municipal bankruptcies this year and talk among Republican leaders of drafting a law allowing states to go bankrupt as well. Published February 3, 2011
Lawmakers not likely to evict Fannie, Freddie
Many members of Congress say they want to end the shotgun marriage between the federal government and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which was arranged in the heat of the 2008 financial crisis. But breaking up could be hard to do. Published January 31, 2011
With a GDP record, ‘economy is back’
The economy turned an important corner at the end of last year, recouping all the ground lost during the Great Recession and expanding into record territory. Published January 30, 2011
Obama tries to unite parties on jobs
Congress and the administration in the past three years already have used many of the standard moves in the playbook for spurring job growth, but President Obama rolled out a couple of new and untried ideas in his State of the Union address Tuesday with hopes of attracting lawmakers from both parties. Published January 25, 2011
Turkey leverages economy for global power
While much attention has been focused on China and India, other quickly emerging nations are establishing themselves as powers to contend with in their parts of the world. Published January 23, 2011
U.S.-Chinese currency link creates spiral in global food costs
Loose-money policies in the United States have combined with robust growth in China and other emerging nations in recent months to set off a price spiral in food, energy and other basic goods needed to run the economy. Published January 13, 2011
Oil panel comes up dry on offshore drilling
A report from a presidential commission Tuesday did little to break the political deadlock over offshore drilling, prompting some observers to warn that the United States is headed toward another gas-price crunch this summer. Published January 11, 2011
Bernanke urges Congress to adopt sweeping deficit plan
Federal Reserve chairman Ben S. Bernanke on Friday morning urged Congress once again to act to bring down trillion-dollar deficits that threaten the nation's economic future. Published January 7, 2011
Unemployment fell to 9.4 percent in Dec.
The nation's unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent last month, the lowest level since May 2009, after a year in which employers created more than a million jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday morning. Published January 7, 2011
Auto industry’s Big Three look overseas for sales
Now that Detroit's automakers are back to financial health, they increasingly are looking overseas for sales. Published January 4, 2011
Markets kick off new year with bang
The economy and markets got off to a strong start in the new year as signs emerged Monday of gains in manufacturing, construction and employment. Published January 3, 2011
Dramatic spike in gas prices forecast
Oil and gasoline prices have risen to their highest levels in two years, and analysts say prices could shoot up dramatically this year as the thirst for fuel grows in the U.S. and around the world. Published January 2, 2011
Home-price dip casts pall on economy
The slumping housing market struck a sour note Tuesday, somewhat dampening optimism that the economy is getting a big sugar rush from the best Christmas selling season in three years. Published December 28, 2010
U.S. free-traders sour on China
Long-simmering trade tensions between the United States and China have broken out into open verbal warfare, with some highly respected and influential voices on trade now advocating an all-out economic war with the Asian giant. Published December 12, 2010
Experts split on tax-cut deal
President Obama's tax-cut compromise with Republicans should provide a powerful boost to the economy next year by putting a lot of extra cash in consumers' pockets, and was cheered on Wall Street on Tuesday. Published December 7, 2010
Unemployment jumped to 9.8% in November; slow job growth blamed
The nation's unemployment rate crept back up toward double-digit levels last month, rising to 9.8 percent after being stuck around 9.6 percent for much of the year, the Labor Department reported Friday morning. Published December 3, 2010
