http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93717361&ft=1&f=1017 : Soaring Food Prices Threaten Progress - Food prices around the world have hit record highs — and that's starting to take a toll. For example, some experts worry those left hungry in Ethiopia will suffer permanent physical and mental disabilities, such as chronic illness and lower IQ.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93737714&ft=1&f=1017 : How To Know If You're Rich - Pastor Rick Warren asked both presidential candidates about their definition of "rich" this weekend. They gave very different answers. Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute offers his definition of rich, middle class and upper middle class.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93737720&ft=1&f=1017 : Fannie And Freddie Still Shaking - After a bail-out last month, the government-sponsored companies are still on unsteady ground. The director of macroeconomics at Moody's Economy.com examines what trouble for Fannie and Freddie means for the economy.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93737723&ft=1&f=1017 : 'Marketplace' Report: Inflation Surges - The Labor Department reports that prices at the wholesale level shot up 1.2 percent in July — the hottest inflation since 1981. The federal government blames rising energy motor vehicles costs, among other matters.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93737729&ft=1&f=1017 : Tax Credit For First-Time Home Buyers - Congress just passed the Housing Act, authorizing a tax credit of up to $7,500 for certain first-time home buyers. Our personal finance contributor says consumers need to be careful when signing up.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93737732&ft=1&f=1017 : Send Your Back-To-School Saving Tips - How are you economizing during the back to school shopping season? We want all your creative ideas.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93731981&ft=1&f=1017 : U.S. Cost Of Living On The Rise - The cost of living is growing at a rate unseen since the early nineties, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Labor. And wages aren't keeping up. William Spriggs, professor of Economics at Howard University, explains why the gap between earning and spending power is increasing by so much, and so fast.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93731984&ft=1&f=1017 : Money Coach: Myth vs. Fact In Cost Cutting Tips - Is public transportation always cheaper? Can pulling the plug on cable television really help save money? Money Coach Alvin Hall combs through some of the most popular money saving myths, and explains which measures are actually effective in trimming costs.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93740402&ft=1&f=1017 : The Econonaut - What does "producer price index" mean? Adam Davidson, NPR's economics reporter explains.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93728816&ft=1&f=1017 : Calif. Home Sales Up Amid Drastic Price Cuts - The number of home sales is finally increasing in Southern California, one of the hardest-hit areas. The bad news is that about half of the homes were sold as part of foreclosure proceedings, and it appears that many homes finally moved because of drastic price reductions.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93728832&ft=1&f=1017 : Grim Anniversary: Credit Crunch Is 1 Year Old - It was a year ago this week that the global credit crunch began. The mortgage business was struggling with steep losses, and the troubles were spreading throughout the credit markets. Since then, the economy has ground almost to a halt. How much has changed in a year and what's been learned?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93728811&ft=1&f=1017 : What Happens To Patrons' Cash When Bank Fails? - Banks are failing as a result of the housing crisis, and a former chief economist with the International Monetary Fund predicted Tuesday that the global financial crisis is far from over. David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal, talks about what happens to people with money in a bank that fails.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93733299&ft=1&f=1017 : Inflation A Growing Threat As Producer Prices Jump - An index tracking prices that companies pay for goods jumped up sharply in July, which means inflation is a growing threat. Meanwhile, the housing market continues to slump, with home-builders sharply cutting back on construction projects.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93709452&ft=1&f=1017 : 'Amenity Migrants' Alter Life In Resort Towns - Summer vacation season is winding down, but desire to move to the beach or the mountains is running strong. An increasing number of people are translating that urge into a reality.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93697466&ft=1&f=1017 : 'Marketplace' Report: Fun Gadgets In Rough Times - Rather than going out in the evenings, Americans appear to be spending time and money on new gadgets. The U.S. government says consumer electronic sales were up 4.8 percent in July.