ROME, Italy - April 7, 2011 - Portugal became the third European country in less than a year to seek a bailout when it finally admitted it was effectively broke, a development that could infect neighboring Spain and even cause political damage to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country funds the single biggest proportion of the rescue packages.

TOKYO, Japan (PNN) - April.4, 2011 - Toyota Motor Corp. is warning it will probably shut down its North American assembly plants later this month amid a shortage of parts from Japan, as the economic aftershocks of the crisis gripping that country threaten to add to the current North American Depression.

WASHINGTON - April 3, 2011 - Builders started work on fewer homes, apartments and government projects in February, pushing construction activity down to the lowest level in more than a decade.

SAN FRANCISCO, Kalifornia - April 3, 2011 - The cost of beef has gone through the roof, coffee prices are at a 13-year high, and even produce grown right here in Kalifornia is more expensive than usual.

Grocery prices rose by more than 1½  times the overall rate of inflation in 2010, according to government statistics, and economists predict that it will be even worse this year. Consumers have grappled with higher prices at the supermarket for months, while restaurateurs pulled out every kitchen trick they could to absorb food inflation costs.

NEW YORK - March 31, 2011 - U.S. consumers face serious inflation in the months ahead for clothing, food and other products, the head of Wal-Mart's U.S. operations warned Wednesday.

The world's largest retailer is working with suppliers to minimize the effect of cost increases and believes its low-cost business model will position it better than its competitors.

LISBON/DUBLIN - March 31, 2011 - Portugal revealed that its budget deficit had ballooned above target and Ireland said its banks needed 24-billion euros in extra capital, shaking euro zone markets and deepening the bloc’s sovereign debt crisis.

European leaders had hoped a package of new anti-crisis measures agreed at a Brussels summit last week would help draw a line under the woes that have plagued the 17-nation currency area for over a year, forcing bailouts of Greece and Ireland.

WASHINGTON - March 29, 2011 - U.S. single family home prices fell for the seventh straight month in January, fresh evidence that the housing market remains in Depression, according to a survey released today.