Political Economy - Politics, politicians, big business, and the economy.

Posted at 10:33 AM ET, 07/29/2011

GDP shocker: ‘Much of the drag was government’

By Ariana Eunjung Cha

The “major drag” on the economy in the second quarter was from federal and state governments, analysts say

By Ariana Eunjung Cha | 10:33 AM ET, 07/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:25 AM ET, 07/29/2011

Mortgage interest tax deduction a debt talk target?

By Hayley Tsukayama

Trimming the mortgage interest tax deduction has become an issue in debt reduction talks — yet again.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 10:25 AM ET, 07/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Housing

Posted at 06:04 PM ET, 07/28/2011

No rosy outlook for Friday’s GDP report

By Neil Irwin

The Commerce Department is releasing its initial imprint on overall economic activity in the U.S. from April through June.

By Neil Irwin | 06:04 PM ET, 07/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:42 AM ET, 07/28/2011

Debt ceiling search spike reveals country’s concern

By Hayley Tsukayama

Spikes in searches for ‘debt ceiling’ and its variations show Americans’ concerns.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 11:42 AM ET, 07/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Diversions

Posted at 09:46 AM ET, 07/28/2011

Weekly jobless claims fall more than expected

By Hayley Tsukayama

Jobless claims fell more than expected in the past week, though analysts caution that the summer job market is volatile

By Hayley Tsukayama | 09:46 AM ET, 07/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Unemployment

Posted at 10:12 AM ET, 07/27/2011

The debt ceiling rap

By Sarah Halzack

The showdown over the debt ceiling has become such an all-consuming topic in the media that it’s now getting spoof treatment on YouTube.

By Sarah Halzack | 10:12 AM ET, 07/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:41 AM ET, 07/27/2011

Delaware, Mass. investigate mortgage clearinghouse MERS

By Hayley Tsukayama

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems is cooperating with a Delaware investigation of its business practices.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 09:41 AM ET, 07/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Housing

Posted at 09:39 AM ET, 07/26/2011

Washington homes buck national housing price decline

By Hayley Tsukayama

Washington home prices rose 1.3 percent over the past year as national prices fell.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 09:39 AM ET, 07/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Housing

Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 07/25/2011

Research in Motion lays off 10 percent of staff

By Hayley Tsukayama

Research in Motion will lay off 10 percent of its work force in a 2,000 job slash.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 01:25 PM ET, 07/25/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Unemployment

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 07/22/2011

Unemployment up in 28 states in June

By Hayley Tsukayama

The rate for the District surpassed the national rate, up to 10.4 percent.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 12:39 PM ET, 07/22/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Unemployment

Posted at 10:49 AM ET, 07/21/2011

Jobless claims rose 10,000 in the last week

By Hayley Tsukayama

Initial claims rose 10,000 in the week ending July 16

By Hayley Tsukayama | 10:49 AM ET, 07/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: U.S. Labor Department

Posted at 03:54 PM ET, 07/20/2011

First Lady, grocers commit to building stores in ‘food deserts’

By Ylan Q. Mui

First Lady Michelle Obama joined with supermarket chains today as they promised to build stores in so-called “food deserts” that lack access to fresh groceries.

By Ylan Q. Mui | 03:54 PM ET, 07/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:36 AM ET, 07/20/2011

Existing home sales slip, prices stabilize

By Hayley Tsukayama

Home sales slipped in June, according to a report from The National Association of Realtors

By Hayley Tsukayama | 10:36 AM ET, 07/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Housing

Posted at 01:50 PM ET, 07/19/2011

Home construction sees sharp rise

By Hayley Tsukayama

A new report from the Commerce Department shows new home construction has jumped 14.6 percent in June.

By Hayley Tsukayama | 01:50 PM ET, 07/19/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Housing

Posted at 09:16 AM ET, 07/18/2011

Eliminate the debt ceiling, Moody’s suggests

By Hayley Tsukayama

A Moody’s report suggests nixing the debt ceiling altogether

By Hayley Tsukayama | 09:16 AM ET, 07/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: budget and fiscal policy

Posted at 04:21 PM ET, 07/16/2011

Do you have a credit score nightmare?

By Washington Post staff

Please share your experience.

By Washington Post staff | 04:21 PM ET, 07/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:06 PM ET, 07/15/2011

Is ‘too big to fail’ really over? Rep. Barney Frank says yes but others disagree

By Cezary Podkul

Despite clear language in last year’s Wall Street reform bill outlawing taxpayer bailouts of financial firms, regulators and ratings agencies are questioning whether the government will never again have to bail out a firm deemed ‘too big to fail.’

By Cezary Podkul | 02:06 PM ET, 07/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:02 AM ET, 07/14/2011

Foreclosure numbers should be higher, report says

By Hayley Tsukayama

Foreclosure numbers for 2011 look lower due to paperwork delays

By Hayley Tsukayama | 09:02 AM ET, 07/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Housing

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 07/14/2011

Elizabeth Warren to face congressional scrutiny

By Ylan Q. Mui

With the new consumer watchdog launching in a week, the GOP prepares a last-minute attack on the agency

By Ylan Q. Mui | 06:00 AM ET, 07/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:29 AM ET, 07/13/2011

Sen. Rockefeller wants U.S. News Corp. investigation

By Hayley Tsukayama

Sen. Rockefeller wants U.S. authorities to see if Americans were also hit by the News of the World scandal

By Hayley Tsukayama | 09:29 AM ET, 07/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:22 PM ET, 07/12/2011

SEC settlement with former Morgan Stanley trader is inadequate, commissioner says

By David S. Hilzenrath

One of the SEC’s five commissioners has taken the extraordinary step of publicly dissenting from an enforcement action on the grounds that it was too weak.

By David S. Hilzenrath | 04:22 PM ET, 07/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:42 AM ET, 07/12/2011

Amazon seeking California voter referendum on new online sales tax law

By Washington Post Editors

Amazon is seeking 500,000 signatures to get the issue on the ballot.

By Washington Post Editors | 11:42 AM ET, 07/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:21 AM ET, 07/12/2011

Geithner: Obama has offered ‘a number of things that are very difficult for him politically’ in debt talks

By Washington Post Editors

Timothy Geithner said President Obama has “put forward a number of things that are very difficult for him politically” during negotiations over debt reduction. He called on the GOP to do the same.

By Washington Post Editors | 11:21 AM ET, 07/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:29 PM ET, 07/07/2011

Are you affected by unemployment?

By Brian M. Rosenthal

Have you, a loved one or a close friend dealt with unemployment? The Post is looking for stories of the real impact of the jobs crisis.

By Brian M. Rosenthal | 04:29 PM ET, 07/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Political Economy: July, 2011