ECONOMY

Graduates of the University of Alabama's class of 2011. The economic downturn has hit recent college grads hard. New data show only half of those who graduated from 2006 to 2011 are working full time.

College Grads Struggle To Gain Financial Footing

A new Rutgers University survey finds just half of those who graduated from college between 2006 and 2011 are working full time. Burdened by student loan debt, and with wages depressed even for those with jobs, many say they no longer believe that education and hard work will necessarily lead to success.

ECONOMY

Members of the Greek neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party celebrate in Thessaloniki on Sunday. Golden Dawn is now set to enter parliament for the first time since the end of the military junta in 1974.

Austerity Loses As Greece's Fringe Parties Win Big

According to exit polls, angry Greek voters have overwhelmingly punished the two major parties that endorsed draconian international loan agreements. There is no front-runner in sight, but the fringe parties on the left and the right that strongly oppose the bailout terms have benefited the most.

Is Housing Sector Getting Better? Increase In Starts May Signal It Is

There was a 2.6 percent increase in housing starts in April from March.

Portugal Looks Back On 1 Year Since Its Bailout

Uncertainty in Greece is rattling nerves in other European economies worried about a domino effect, if Athens were to leave the euro. Among those is Portugal. Wednesday marks one year since that country received a 103 billion dollar bailout. Reporter Lauren Frayer has more on how Portugal is faring.

The Latest On Greece's Financial Crisis

Government talks in Greece ended badly after the president invited the leaders of five parties to try to form a coalition. Meanwhile, analysts, economists and several European politicians are talking about a Grexit — a Greek exit from the eurozone — as being inevitable.

Debt Ceiling Debate Is Revived In Washington

The debt ceiling topic came up at the third annual Peter G. Peterson Foundation Fiscal Summit.

Hollande Talks Austerity With Merkel On First Day

Robert Siegel talks to Sylvie Kauffman and Josef Joffe.

Greeks To Head Back To Ballot Box After Talks Fail

Political leaders failed to agree on a governing coalition to run the economically-troubled country.

Can The Government Help Young People Find Jobs?

The school year is winding down, and lots of young people are in the market for a summer job. But finding one in this economy can be hard, especially for teenagers. Host Michel Martin speaks with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis about what the Obama Administration is trying to do to help. - READ MORE

Why So Many Ph.D.s Are On Food Stamps

It's no secret more Americans are relying on food stamps, but host Michel Martin looks at why those applying for government aid with master's and Ph.D degrees have more than doubled in recent years. Martin speaks with Stacey Patton, a reporter with The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Tony Yang, who is unemployed and holds a doctorate degree. - READ MORE

Consumer Prices, Consumer Spending Both Flat In April

Dropping gas prices helped hold inflation down. Meanwhile, April consumer spending may have been slowed because warm weather in March encouraged folks to get out their wallets then. - READ MORE

Boomerang Generation Data Is Wrong

The fact-checking organization PolitiFact looked into a claim made in a political ad. It said 85 percent of recent college graduates moved back in with their parents. That number is wrong. Kim Parker, the lead researcher for a Pew Research Center survey on the boomerang generation, talks to Steve Inskeep about what the real number is. - READ MORE

Paying for College: More Tough Decisions

From your late 40s through early 60s, you're supposed to squirrel away cash to cope with health care costs in your old age. But for millions of Americans, middle age also is the time when children are seeking help with higher-education bills, and elderly parents may be needing assistance with daily care. - READ MORE

Caring For Grandparent Matures A Young Man

Nicholas McDonald grew up tempted by drugs and under pressure to hit the streets. Lacking male role models, he says he always saw his mom as "the apple of my eye." She tried to protect him growing up. Now, the 24-year-old is doing his best to return the favor, helping provide for his multigenerational family. - READ MORE

From Iowa To Russia, Tractors Build Economic Bridge

Russia has one of the world's 10 biggest economies, but it isn't even among the top 30 U.S. trading partners. A new John Deere plant there shows the complications of that relationship. To avoid tariffs, tractors and combines are built in Iowa, then taken apart and shipped to Russia, where they're reassembled. - READ MORE

Resignations Begin At JPMorgan After $2 Billion Loss

JPMorgan Chase's chief investment officer resigned over the weekend and will retire. The bank made the announcement Monday morning, but didn't comment on other expected resignations. Last week JPMorgan surprised the markets with a $2 billion trading loss. That loss has revived interest in the Volcker Rule, which is supposed to reduce risk by prohibiting "proprietary trading." - READ MORE

Calif. Budget Deficit Nearly Doubles To $16 Billion

The California budget deficit has grown to $16 billion; that's nearly double the amount Governor Jerry Brown had announced earlier this year. Brown is calling for increased sales and income taxes and cut backs in state programs. - READ MORE

Uneven Economy Evens The Field For Obama, Romney

Lately, key economic indicators seem to be moving sideways. The lack of clear improvement or real weakness has turned the presidential race into a seeming statistical tie. - READ MORE