Since President Obama introduced the American Jobs Act in September of this year, he has spoken publicly about it more than 50 times. The jobs report for November comes out this morning and the consensus call is that 125,000 new jobs were created this month. Charlie Herman, economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC, speaks about the latest jobs numbers as well as specific economic and educational reforms that are trying — with mixed success — to remedy the situation.

Over the weekend, U.S. retail sales climbed 16 percent, hitting a record total of $52.4 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. The average shopper spent $398.62 during the holiday weekend. Despite these promising retail numbers, other economic indicators aren't as positive this week. 

The week starts out on an ominous note as the Congressional "super committee" charged with reducing the national debt announces that they will not reach a deal. What went wrong during their negotiations, and where do we go from here? How will markets react? Also, the Euro crisis rages on as another government falls in Spain with the election of a new Conservative party. Finally, another GOP debate, the start of the holiday shopping season, and Thanksgiving traditions from Takeaway guests.

This week, all of the Republican presidential candidates are back on the campaign trail. Former speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and Representative Michele Bachmann will all visit Iowa. Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney heads to Florida, and Cain will be in Wisconsin. President Obama travels to Australia, steering clear of the Congressional "super committee" as its deadline to shave $1.2 trillion from the U.S. budget grows near. 

As Greece negotiates a new unity government, Europe watches closely for signs of a widening crisis. In the U.S. a deadline for members of a congressional "Super Committee" to reach an agreement approaches. Meanwhile, a new book by Bill Clinton comes out  this week, and it reportedly criticizes President Obama's decision not to raise the debt ceiling in 2010 when the Democrats still controlled the House of Representatives.

The U.S. economy added 80,000 jobs in the month of October, pushing the unemployment rate down to 9.0 percent from 9.1 percent according the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In October, the private sector added 104,000 jobs, though 24,000 government workers lost their jobs. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve forecast that unemployment will likely only drop to between 8.5 and 8.7 percent in 2012. Charlie Herman, business and economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC, analyzes what these figures mean for the economy.

The markets responded positively to the news last week of a euro zone deal to try and turn around their two-year financial crisis. Marcus Mabry, editor-at-large of the International Herald Tribune, which is the international edition of The New York Times, tells us how he expects the markets to continue to go this week and to be on the lookout at Italy, which could be the next euro zone country to be in financial trouble. Charlie Herman, business and economics editor for WNYC and The Takeaway, looks at the upcoming G20 Summit in France this week, and if they can come up with a framework to deal with Europe's economic troubles.

The Congressional "super committee," put in charge of finding $1.2 trillion to cut from the deficit, have mostly been a top secret committee that have shared very little about their meetings. As the super committee continues to find cuts in the deficit, a number of economic indicators are set to be released this week, including new home sales and GDP figures. Also on the agenda for this week, the Pentagon is set to release a report on the role of women soldiers in the military and whether or not they should be allowed to serve in combat roles. And after President Obama's announcement that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year, there could be some fallout, especially among Republicans, on Capitol Hill.

Republicans will hold their next debate in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday. Maggie Haberman, senior political writer for Politico thinks this is a make or break moment for Rick Perry. "If Perry has a bad performance," Haberman said, "it'll be virtually impossible for him to come back." Herman Cain's performance will also be closely watched as he is running very high right in the polls now. If Perry falters, could Cain be a valid challenger to Romney? In response to the GOP's debate, Democrats began their Project New West summit on Sunday, also in Vegas.

The Occupy Wall Street protest is still growing, and it's caught on in other cities across the country. Meanwhile, last week in Alabama the strictest anti-immigration bill in the country was again challenged by the Department of Justice. California passed a state Dream Act — the most lenient immigration bill legislation in the country. And, corporations will begin announcing their quarterly earnings results this week, which may briefly distract investors from the still-faltering European economy. Plus, The Washington Post and Bloomberg News are sponsoring a Republican debate on Tuesday night.

Employers added 103,000 jobs in September, keeping the unemployment rate at 9.1 percent. Employers have added an average of only 72,000 jobs in the last five months. The economy must create twice as many in order to keep up with population growth. The figures rebuff grim warnings from economists in recent weeks that the U.S. is headed for a double-dip recession. Many economist continue to be concerned over the growing European sovereign debt crisis, which President Obama said in a press conference on Thursday "could have a very real effect on our economy at a time when it's already fragile."

The New York police department arrested over 700 Occupy Wall Street protesters Saturday, for allegedly walking across the Brooklyn Bridge's roadway, instead of using the pedestrian path. Now in its third week, the movement has spread to other cities around the nation. Meanwhile, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to testify before Congress tomorrow on the economic outlook for the country, and unemployment figures are set to be released Friday, as President Obama continues to push his jobs bill. And Nevada has moved its caucus date back, ahead of Florida's, which will likely affect the race for the Republican nomination.

It's Monday morning, which means we're looking at the agenda for the week ahead. President Obama will make a west coast trip this week, hitting Seattle, the San Francisco Bay area, San Diego, Los Angeles and Denver, raising funds for his re-election campaign and advocating for his jobs bill. Back in Washington, D.C., Congress is in the midst of another stalemate over government funds. Meanwhile, some key economic indicators will be released this week, including home sales figures and consumer confidence reports.

This week, Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve will hold a rare two-day meeting to decide on interest rates, which are currently close to zero. Meanwhile, President Obama will release details of his deficit reduction plan this morning, and one key component is taxing the wealthy, which has many Republicans screaming "class warfare." The Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting begins tomorrow, and the primary topic of discussion will be jobs, as unemployment and poverty prove to be an ever-increasing global problem. Later in the week, the Palestinian Authority will ask the United Nations Security Council for full membership, which the U.S. has already said they will veto.

President Barack Obama continues his jobs tour this week, with stops in Columbus, Ohio and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., rallying support for his jobs plan. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected to speak at a conference on regulation of systemic risk on Thursday, five days before the Federal Open Market Committee begins its meetings next week. Tonight, is the first Tea Party debate, which GOP presidential hopefuls Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are expected to attend. And Anthony Weiner's old Congressional seat in New York's ninth district is up for grabs in a special election tomorrow.

President Obama's address last night was seen by many as a crucial political moment — a chance for him to reinvigorate support for his strategy on the economy and job creation. Obama's approval rating has been at an all-time low, so the stakes were high. He needed to reach the electorate and instill confidence in voters. How well did he do? This is the question we’re discussing with constituents from around the country.

It's Monday, so we're discussing news ahead for the week. Next Sunday will be ten years since the 9/11 attacks. This will be a week of reflection — not just for Americans but for everyone around the world. As we remember 9/11, many Americans are still without jobs and struggling to make ends meet. Charlie Herman, business and economics editor for WNYC and The Takeaway, says not to expect anything game-changing from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech this Thursday in Minnesota on the economic outlook. His speech will be followed by President Barack Obama's jobs speech. And across the Atlantic, Dominique Strauss-Kahn returned to France over the weekend, and the hunt for Col. Muammar Gadhafi continues in Libya.

How closely tied are the financial markets to the economy at large? In reaction to the country’s credit rating downgrade on Friday the markets had their worst day since the 2008 financial crisis yesterday as the Dow Jones dropped about 635 points and the Nasdaq was down 175. But do these numbers affect our country’s ability to create jobs? Do they have any meaningful relationship to consumer confidence, the arguable engine of our economy?

The Dow Industrial Average opened down 226 points, or two percent, as U.S. markets reacted to the unprecedented downgrade of the federal government's credit rating by Standard and Poor's. S&P's decision has drawn sharp rebuke from the Obama administration. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said S&P showed "terrible judgement." Stocks in Asia and Europe fell despite an announcement from the European Central Bank that it would buy Spanish and Italian debt to keep the debt crisis from spreading.

Credit ratings agency Standard and Poor's downgraded the U.S.'s credit rating for the first time in history on Friday, causing jaws to drop across the country, and raising the blood-pressures of leaders worldwide as many held emergency meetings to fend off any backlash this news might create. President Obama will be preparing this week for his upcoming bus tour to reconnect with voters in the Midwest. Meanwhile, News Corp. will release their fourth quarter results on Wednesday, the PGA Championship kicks off on Thursday, and Dennis Rodman will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.