Obama Jobs plan: It'll help, but only so much, by Jeanne Sahadi, CNNMoney.com, January 13, 2009 Summary: President Obama is trying to rally Congress around a two-year plan to create 3.7 million jobs and revive the economy. But analysts say that the expensive government works project will do little to ease the economic crisis between now and 2011.

Fashion giants Chanel and LVMH forced to economize, by Charles Bremner Paris, Times Online, December 30, 2008 Summary: The world's top luxury brands are feeling the pinch in the global recession. Fashion house Chanel recently announced new layoffs, and luxury conglomerate LVMH said it lost 44 percent of its market value in 2008. These troubles are mirrored across a French-dominated luxury goods industry, which had previously enjoyed an historic boom with sales growth of about 10% a year since 2003.

Worst year for jobs since '45 David Goldman, CNNMoney.com, January 9, 2009 Summary: Job losses in 2008 marked the highest yearly job-loss total since 1945, the year in which World War II ended. The hemorrhaging of American jobs accelerated at a record pace at the end of 2008, bringing the year's total job losses to 2.6 million.

Senate Votes To Release Bailout Funds To Obama, by Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane, The Washington Post, January 16, 2009 Summary: After authorizing the U.S. Treasury to spend $350 billion on untraceable cash infusions to U.S. banks in 2008, the Senate voted in January to grant President Barack Obama unfettered authority to spend another $350 billion to revive sluggish credit markets. Despite the government's unchecked spending, taxpayers say the money should be used to buy toxic assets and to help distressed homeowners renegotiate mortgages that are defaulting at historic rates.

Money in '09: Saving More (Video), Money Talks News, January 19, 2009 Summary: Saving money is a challenge for most people-especially in an economic downturn. But budget professionals say saving money is about setting aside small amounts each month, not waiting around until big money rolls in.

Starbucks: No China Slowdown (Video), Reuters, January 14, 2009 Summary: Despite plans to shutter more than 600 stores, coffee giant Starbucks sees no slowdown in China from the global economic crisis. Part of Starbucks' push includes increasing the currently small amount of coffee it sources from the mainland, and the company will sign cooperation agreements soon with local governments aimed at helping farmers increase coffee yields and improve quality.