U.S. debt-ceiling options are limited, Lew says

(Simon Dawson / Bloomberg)

The Treasury secretary says Congress must act soon to increase the government’s borrowing authority before “extraordinary measures” need to be taken to conserve cash even as tax filers wait for refunds.

Steven Pearlstein

Steven Pearlstein

The federal outsourcing boom and why it’s failing us

NSA leaks, health-care rollout make clear that contractors do too much while federal workforce atrophies.

Warren Brown

Warren Brown

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sedan: Satisfying expectations

Proof that at least one European luxury automaker has learned the lessons taught by South Korea.

Michelle Singletary

Michelle Singletary

For job security, try something on the side

Side gigs and odd jobs can bring extra cash — and peace of mind.

Allan Sloan

Allan Sloan

Want to save a little money? Try Forever stamps.

The stamps will always be good for the first ounce of a first-class mailing, regardless of price changes.

Latest Business News

Agencies are ill-prepared for cyberattacks, report finds

Agencies are ill-prepared for cyberattacks, report finds

A study by GOP Senate staffers finds that federal officials repeatedly fail to take basic preventive actions.

Dow, S&P, Nasdaq each fall more than 2 percent

Dow, S&P, Nasdaq each fall more than 2 percent

Fed tapering, weak factory data and emerging-market concerns lead investors to take cautious turn.

U.S. debt-ceiling options are limited, Lew says

U.S. debt-ceiling options are limited, Lew says

The Treasury secretary says Congress must act soon to increase the government’s borrowing authority before “extraordinary measures” need to be taken to conserve cash even as tax filers wait for refunds.

Farm bill on verge of passage after three years of talks

Farm bill on verge of passage after three years of talks

The wide-ranging legislation looks to be a rare bipartisan highlight of a rancorous era on Capitol Hill.

The best sentences we read today

The best sentences we read today

“It’s pretty much impossible to feel anger at someone for driving too slowly in front of you in traffic when you’ve just come from sanding your own coffin. “

DOT starts down the road toward driverless cars

DOT starts down the road toward driverless cars

“Connected-vehicle technology” could prevent millions of crashes and save many thousands of lives a year.

US factories expanded at much slower pace in Jan.

US factories expanded at much slower pace in Jan.

U.S. manufacturing barely expanded last month as factories cut back sharply on production, and new orders plunged.

Chrysler, Nissan sales up; Ford, GM, VW down

Chrysler, Nissan sales up; Ford, GM, VW down

Sales at Chrysler and Nissan dealers were hot last month, but General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen sales were as frigid as the weather that gripped much of the nation.

Rep. Anna Eshoo wants to make net neutrality the law

Rep. Anna Eshoo wants to make net neutrality the law

A new bill she’s unveiling with Rep. Henry Waxman would reinstate the FCC’s open Internet order — and give her a boost in pursuing Waxman’s old position.

Tech companies publish new surveillance stats

Tech companies publish new surveillance stats

Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and Facebook can finally reveal the extent of NSA spying.

How the Seahawks cost one small business $7 million

How the Seahawks cost one small business $7 million

Think Peyton Manning suffered a big loss on Sunday? Meet furniture store owner Jim McIngvale.

This ad agency won the Super Bowl

The megamerger of Omnicom and Publicis counts a significant percentage of major advertisers as clients.

Just when you thought it was safe to ignore Congress, the debt ceiling returns

Just when you thought it was safe to ignore Congress,  the debt ceiling returns

The United States is about to hit the debt ceiling again. But this time, there’s a twist.

How Washington built one of the country’s best Obamacare exchanges

How Washington built one of the country’s best Obamacare exchanges

It’s not just the Seahawks having a great season in the Pacific Northwest.

Why Bitcoin will stabilize in the future

Why Bitcoin will stabilize in the future

Bitcoin’s volatility is driven by rapid growth. Once growth stops, volatility probably will too.

The big problems with the farm bill

The big problems with the farm bill

We’ve seen what the $956 billion farm bill does. Now let’s look at some of the criticisms.

Southwest to add routes to D.C., 14 other cities

Southwest to add routes to D.C., 14 other cities

Southwest Airlines plans to start nonstop flights between Dallas and New York and 14 other cities this fall, when federal limits on the airline’s home airport end.

How the FCC could intervene in the fight over public fiber

How the FCC could intervene in the fight over public fiber

A recent court decision could let the FCC thwart cable companies’ plan to stop public fiber-optic networks.

Shadow Fed? Bernanke’s move to Brookings solidifies think tank’s influence

Shadow Fed? Bernanke’s move to Brookings solidifies think tank’s influence

Bernanke joined the Brookings Institution today. That shouldn’t really comes as a surprise.

Building a brand around female leaders

Building a brand around female leaders

Filmmaker Dyllan McGee is turning her “Makers” project, which aired on PBS, into a global brand.

If the newest Obamacare lawsuit succeeds, Obamacare is in big trouble

If the newest Obamacare lawsuit succeeds, Obamacare is in big trouble

The Affordable Care Act is being litigated. Again.

December U.S. construction spending up 0.1 percent

December U.S. construction spending up 0.1 percent

U.S. construction spending rose modestly in December, slowing from healthy gains a month earlier.

The abortion rate is at a 30-year low

The abortion rate is at a 30-year low

The American abortion rate hit a three-decade low in 2011 -- and a new wave of abortion restrictions aren’t necessarily the reason why.

Wonkbook: Janet Yellen takes the reins

Wonkbook: Janet Yellen takes the reins

Today’s top five stories: (1) Yellen’s first day; (2) what Healthcare.gov still can’t do; (3) Republican support for immigration reform is shaky; (4) on Keystone, it’s up to Kerry; and (5) another small State of the Union promise fulfilled.

The Switchboard: Apple met with FDA over mobile medical apps in December

The Switchboard: Apple met with FDA over mobile medical apps in December

The Yelp defamation case ends in a draw, the early start of tech’s diversity gap, and other tech policy stories you need to read.

Market News

After tough January, stock extend slide

After tough January, stock extend slide

For investors, February is starting off even rougher than January.