Marilyn Geewax

U.S. Airlines Forecast a Sunnier Summer

Marilyn Geewax — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:09:00 +0000

After a long bumpy ride that started five years ago, the domestic airline industry seems to be pulling up and smoothing out.

The number of passengers planning to fly this summer will tick up 1 percent from 2012, climbing back to the highest level since 2008, an industry group said Thursday.

The airlines' profit outlook is also brighter, as jet fuel prices have settled down a bit.

Comp Time Or Cold Cash. Which Would You Pick?

Marilyn Geewax — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:12:00 +0000

Overtime or comp time? Which one suits you best?

Both you and your boss may agree it would be best for you to work a sixth day when a big project is due in March, and then take off for a long weekend in June. No big deal.

But under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, private employers must pay time and a half to workers who put in more than 40 hours on the job in any one week.

In most cases, workers are eager to get that overtime pay.

Flight Delays Push Congress To End Controller Furloughs

Marilyn Geewax — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:24:00 +0000

The U.S. Congress — a body not exactly known for its swift feet — raced Friday to complete legislation to help travelers avoid delays at airports.

The House voted 361-41 to approve legislation that the Senate passed without objection late Thursday.

Still In The Middle Class, But Standing On A Banana Peel

Marilyn Geewax — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Most U.S.

Airport Delays Raise Questions About Controller Furloughs

Marilyn Geewax — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:28:00 +0000

Some air travelers faced delays Monday as furloughs of air traffic controllers began taking effect.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that with fewer eyes on the skies, it was forced to delay some flights.

An Exploration Of The Changing Lives Of Women

Marilyn Geewax — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:47:00 +0000

Many revolutions begin with the sound of explosions and marching boots.

Now, another revolution is shaking up the world, and it's moving forward to the beep of alarm clocks and the clack of heels heading out.

Legions of women around the world are leaving their homes to join the paid labor force.

Tax Tips for Procrastinators, And You Know Who You Are

Marilyn Geewax — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 11:28:00 +0000

Still haven't filed your taxes, eh?

Well, you have until 11:59 p.m. Monday to get it all done — or at least file for an extension that gets you off the hook until Oct. 15. To help all of you procrastinators, here are answers to a few of your questions.

If I'm filing by mail, can I come skidding into the post office at 11:58 p.m. and still make the deadline?

Maybe — depending on where you live. Most post office locations will keep regular hours; some will stay open until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. to make sure tax returns get postmarked before midnight.

Will You Be Chained To A Smaller Check In Retirement?

Marilyn Geewax — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:46:00 +0000

When President Obama on Wednesday unveils his blueprint for the government's 2014 budget, he'll offer lots of ideas for changes in taxes and spending.

But the proposal likely to grab the most attention will be the one dealing with cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients.

U.S. Job Growth Slows As Jobless Face Benefit Cuts

Marilyn Geewax — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:43:00 +0000

The 11.7 million Americans searching for work got discouraging news Friday morning when the Labor Department said employers created only 88,000 jobs in March. The weak job growth comes at the same time benefits for the long-term unemployed are shrinking.

The smaller-than-expected increase in payrolls was a big disappointment, coming after a long stretch of much better results.

Cheap Natural Gas Pumping New Life Into U.S. Factories

Marilyn Geewax — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:16:00 +0000

The millions of Americans who lost factory jobs over the past decade may find this hard to believe, but U.S. manufacturing is coming back to life.

The chest compressions are applied by the pumping of cheap, domestic natural gas.

"We are entering a new era," says economist Jerry Jasinowski, a former president of the National Association of Manufacturers, a trade group. He and other optimists are cheered by the increase in industrial production, which has grown at a 5 percent annualized rate since the Great Recession ended.