Stacey Vanek Smith

The U.S. economy has been doing well. That's pushed the value of the U.S. dollar up — relative to other currencies. A strong dollar sounds like good news, but there are winners and losers.

The world is running out of chocolate. A scientist in Ecuador has come up with a solution. But if you love chocolate, you might not like it.

Valentines Day is this one day when one product — a red rose — is worth two or three times more than it is at any other time of the year. If a florist catches that window, he's golden...

Everyone hates to pay extra for checked baggage on an airline. But you probably aren't paying enough — in fact, your baggage is bumping far more lucrative cargo.

Gyms take on way more members than they have space for. Here's a look at how they get us to sign up and never show up.

Cattle theft has been making a major comeback. A drought in the West has meant higher beef prices, making cattle an attractive target for thieves.

Costume shop owners think about stocking their shelves like investors think about putting together stock portfolios. They need a diverse mix of classic costume favorites and risky hot new things.

Oil is denominated in dollars. When the dollar is strong compared to other currencies, it makes oil cheaper in the U.S. but more costly in many other countries. And that puts a crimp in global demand.

Game designers get deep inside your brain to keep you playing. We challenged them to design a video game about the most boring thing we could think of: making toast.

A Civil War-era law that encourages whistleblowers to turn in their employers has been successful at exposing corporate fraud.

In most stores, you can see how much everything costs. Why do jewelry stores hide the price tags?