Federal government could be paying more than half of tab next year In a stark reminder of growing costs, the government estimated today that health care consumed a record 17.3 percent of all spending in the U.S. economy last year - or about $2.5 trillion.

Investing to make your home more energy efficient may lower the bills, but it may not boost its price, partly because these investments aren't fully valued by appraisers.

Luckily for banks, the commercial real estate time bomb just keeps on ticking.

When faced with a financial crisis, consumers more often are opting to pay their credit-card bills first before turning to their mortgage payments, according to a report released by Trans Union Wednesday.

A report Wednesday from Automatic Data Processing suggested that the pace of job cuts may be slowing, while a separate report from Challenger said planned layoffs hit a 5-month high in January.

President Obama's State of the Union address will raise the curtain on how he plans to tackle the unsustainable growth in U.S. debt over the next decade.

One roadblock slowing Obama's foreclosure prevention program seems to be clearing up. Bank of America, the nation's largest mortgage lender, announced Tuesday that it was the first lender to sign an agreement to lower or eliminate payments on second mortgages.

Don't say we didn't warn you.

AP - Sales of previously occupied homes took the largest monthly drop in more than 40 years last month, sinking more dramatically than expected after lawmakers gave buyers additional time to use a tax credit.

Las Vegas home prices as tracked in a monthly nationwide report fell in November for the 39th consecutive month. Prices are down 55.6 percent from their peak, Standard & Poor's said.

Talk about cash for clunkers.

The government is expected to unveil a new program in the next couple of months that if approved may reimburse homeowners for up to half the cost of making their homes more efficient, but don't start shopping for new kitchens just yet.

Reuters - Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell sharply in November, but a surge in orders received by factories offered assurance the economic recovery remained on track.

Homebuyers abandoned the market in droves during November: They signed 16% fewer sales contracts than the month before.

Bonuses are making a comeback on Wall Street and that might help stabilize the Manhattan real estate market.

After years of debate and negotiation, the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site finally appears to be going forward. But there is considerable doubt as to its economic viability, writes Eliot Brown.

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In a recent piece in Wired, Clive Thompson suggests that the solution to the problem of texting while driving is not to stop texting, but to stop driving. The popularity of texting is a good reason to support public transit.

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State legislators in Illinois have lifted a 23-year ban on building nuclear plants within the state.

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Spain's high speed rail system is consistently beating out airlines for inter-city travel. But it's not through low prices.

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WalMart made an offer to purchase a plot from a family in Frankenmuth, Michigan, but withdrew the offer when the City Council rezoned the land for a limited building size. The family sued, and a federal judge awarded them $3.6 million.

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