Recession Briefing: Highway Robbery on the Rise

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Thieves are increasingly swiping tractor-trailers filled with goods, triggering a spike in cargo theft on the nation’s highways. (Wall Street Journal)

Nationally, 37 million people — about one in eight Americans — visited food pantries and soup kitchens in 2009, compared with 25 million in 2006, according to Feeding America, the national hunger-relief network that did the study. Officials say the numbers really began to skyrocket at the onset of the recession in late 2007. (Chicago Sun-Times)

President Obama’s proposals to tax and curb the activities of Wall Street have thrown an unpredictable element into the debate over financial regulatory reform. They also have touched off an intensive new round of lobbying and raised questions in Congress over whether his plan will add urgency or merely bog things down. (New York Times)…

Recession Briefing 8.21: Elmo’s Recession Woes

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

Elmo, Sesame Street’s most giggly spokesmonster, is going through some tough economic times. His mommy has lost her job. (Daily Finance)

Data is beginning to show that the rich, as a group, are no longer getting richer. Over the last two years, they have become poorer. And many may not return to their old levels of wealth and income anytime soon. (New York Times)

The rough economy is inflicting hardship on people even in death. Coroners and funeral directors in several cities say the number of people seeking government-paid funerals, cremations and burials is spiking… (USA Today)

If you come across a good article or blog post about the recession pass it on. To receive Recession Briefing in your inbox, subscribe to our daily email.

Seven Ways to Shrink Your Housing Costs

The recession’s not over yet, folks. Jobs continue to be lost, money is still tight. So why are you still paying the same rent, mortgage, or storage fees?

One upside to the crisis is that cutting those costs may be easier than ever. In many parts of the country, landlords are willing to negotiate on rent. New federal policies have made it easier to refinance home loans. Here are seven ways to pay less—and most are even sacrifice-free…

Recession Briefing 4.16

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The Treasury Department is giving six large lenders as much as $9.9 billion each to modify mortgages that are in danger of defaulting. (Wall Street Journal)

The number of weekly initial jobless claims declined sharply this week to 610,000. That’s a decline of 53,000 from the prior week. (CNN/Money)

Advertisers have started to ramp up recession-themed campaigns, many of which, naturally, are repurposing the phrase “stimulus package.” (New York Times)

Recession Briefing 4.10

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The economy appears to be leveling off, with retail sales slowing their decline, the stock market up, and credit markets loosening. But the recession’s not over yet… (AP)

Slowly but surely, the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—better known as the economic stimulus package—is beginning to percolate nationwide, six weeks after President Obama signed the legislation.(Washington Post)

It’s a renter’s market around the country, which means landlords are getting more creative (and desperate) to hold down vacancies and prevent turnover. (BusinessWeek)

President Barack Obama yesterday touted the economic benefits of refinancing, but he should keep the 30-year mortgage on his Chicago spread, a broker says. (Chicago Tribune)

Dealing with Debt: Mortgages

In this economy, things change fast. One day you have job, the next you don’t. Companies fold within days. Investments evaporate.

In a recent story about how to handle a layoff, we suggested that you take a look at your finances—particularly what you owe—so that you can start planning. But that actually holds true for everyone these days.

Most of us have some sort of debt. And even if you have a job, the bonus you normally rely on to pay off credit card bills has probably shrunk or vanished. Freelancers and consultants still have student loan obligations, even as their gigs are being cut. Many people are taking salary reductions, but continue to carry mortgages. And just how secure is your job, anyway?

Meanwhile, as credit markets shift at lightning speed, it’s not easy to find up-to-date information. So we’re doing it for you, compiling the most current advice on managing debt, starting with mortgages.