The US car maker, Chrysler, is closing down all production at its plants for at least a month as sales plummet because of the economic downturn.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy takes an in-depth look at the United States economy, as President-elect Obama prepares in Chicago for his transfer of power to Washington.
The economy will be one of Barack Obama's key challenges
Listen Listen to James Coomarasamy reporting from Chicago (11 mins 11 secs)
The American writer Joe Bageant, author of "Deer Hunting with Jesus" lives in a small, rural, southern community.
He calls himself a Redneck. So with the election over, we asked Joe to send a message, on behalf of those voters, to their new president.
Listen
Listen to Joe Bageant (2 mins 26 secs)
First broadcast 18 & 26 December 2008
The World Today has also reported on the state of the economies of China, India and Egypt.
