Hot Topics from Today's Headlines

Tennessee Crucial to Presidential Hopefuls

The election season is heating up with the start of caucuses and primaries. Without an incumbent president or vice president running, the race for both parties appears wide open. Michael Fitzgerald, UT professor of political science and senior teaching fellow at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, offers his insight into the national scene and how Tennessee has become a must-win state for Republicans and Democrats seeking the White House. To set up an interview with Fitzgerald, contact Elizabeth Davis, UT Media Relations, at 865-974-5179.

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National Housing Crunch May Mean Less Spending

The crisis in the national housing market may mean less consumer spending, according to Matt Murray, research professor and associate director of the UT Center for Business and Economic Research. The median price of a home is expected to fall again this year, which means the average American household will have less home equity and less capacity to spend. Even those not directly affected may spend less if they feel that the problems in the housing market will ripple more broadly across the entire economy.

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The Ups and Downs of Gas Prices

With the price of crude oil briefly surpassing $100 per barrel this week, rising fuel costs will once again be a hot-button issue for consumers. UT's Glen Schuler brings more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry to his position in the university's Corporate Governance Center. Schuler can address the ins and outs of the fuel market to help explain what brings about change in the prices we pay at the pump.