Where'd the bailout money go? Shh, it's a secret, by Matt Apuzzo, MSNBC, December 22, 2008 Summary: After receiving billions in aid from U.S. taxpayers, the nation's largest banks say they can't track how they're spending the money or they simply refuse to discuss it. The lack of financial transparency highlights the unusual secrecy surrounding the Troubled Asset Relief Program, which earmarked $700 billion to help rescue the financial industry.

US stocks suffer worst year since Great Depression, by Alistair Gray, The Financial Times, December 31 2008 Summary: With the U.S. credit crisis winding its way throughout the global economy, Wall Street suffered its worst performance since the Great Depression. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 33.8 percent for the year in the index's worst decline since 1931.

Shopping Season a Flop Despite Discounts by Ann Zimmerman and Jennifer Saranow, Smartmoney.com, December 26, 2008 Summary: Retailers recently survived one of the worst holiday seasons in decades, as cash-strapped consumers cut back on Christmas spending in 2008. Although women's apparel and electronics saw large double-digit declines, luxury goods were hit hardest, with sales down 35% from a year ago.

Wall St vs. Main St: Predictions for 2009 (Video), by MoneyTalks News, January 5, 2009 Summary: Investors on Wall Street said good riddance to a troubling 2008 and are lining up to make their economic forecasts for 2009. But do leading economists have an edge over everyday consumers when it comes to predicting the future of stocks, oil, and housing?

Home Prices in Free Fall (Video), CBS News, December 31, 2008 Summary: American home values fell 18 percent in October 2008, the sharpest drop on record. While many homebuyers are taking advantage of the best bargains in decades, analysts predict that the housing prices will continue to slump into summer of 2009.