Marketplace®

Daily business news and economic stories
  • Woman holding credit card.
    iStockPhoto

    Every time you swipe one a rewards card at a store, that data goes somewhere to get analyzed. Marketplace's Stacey Vanek-Smith takes a look at the multi-billion dollar data mining industry — how it has evolved and where it will go.

  • Visa credit cards.
    Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    As employment benefits run out, more people are turning to credit cards to make ends meet. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

  • A Wells Fargo customer enters a bank branch in San Francisco, Calif.
    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    If you ever spent more with your debit card than was in your account, your bank may have paid the amount but then slammed you with a big overdraft fee. Banks impose such policies as "protection plans." But now, as Stacey Vanek-Smith reports, you'll have a choice of whether you want one.

  • Using a credit card is easy. Writing a check is more time consuming. Host Tess Vigeland talks with personal finance columnist Jason Zweig about how different ways of paying can affect how much we spend.

  • Bank customer uses ATM machine.
    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    As more consumers are using debit cards for purchases, banks are seeing a decline in late fees and interest charges on credit cards. So they're looking to make up the difference — and lawmakers have noticed. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

  • Credit cards
    Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

    With consumers defaulting and newfound scrutiny from lawmakers, credit card companies are in a tough place. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports that's got companies trying a new tactic.

  • We've all heard about Alcoholics Anonymous. But Debtors Anonymous? Marketplace Money profiles three members.

  • It's that time of year again: young adults are schlepping off to college, many of them for the first time. How are parents handling the whole money conversation? Commentator Harriett Brackey tells her story.

  • During these tough economic times, a lot of folks are reaching out for help with their credit cards. Marketplace Money listeners chime in on whether credit counseling has worked for them.

  • Jill Schlesinger
    handout

    Commentator Jill Schlesinger says that although the government has passed new rules regarding credit cards, real credit card reform will only come when individuals change their spending habits.