Several bills have been introduced in Congress to increase oversight of the Federal Reserve. These bills are being opposed by both current and previous leaders of the Federal Reserve system. What's the debate about? Listen

One apparent impact of the ongoing recession has been a sharp increase in college enrollments. How have the numbers changed, and is the recession the only reason? Listen

The latest unemployment rate for North Carolina showed the jobless rate rising to 11 percent, up from 10.8 percent in the previous month. This doesn't sound good. Was there anything in the report that makes you somewhat optimistic about the state's...

Everyone tries to figure out the stock market by looking for predictors of how the market might move. Recently, some people have pointed to a relationship between the dollar's value and the stock market. What is the theory? Listen

The Christmas buying season is upon us. It's well known Christmas spending is crucial to many retailers. How are things shaping up for buying during this holiday season? (An audio version of this Economic Perspective program is not available.)