Stocks have been hammered, and many investors are fleeing to cash or stock alternatives like bonds and gold. Even now, the Oracle of Omaha says that’s the wrong move. History agrees.

In past downturns it was easy to see which jobs were on shaky ground — Web designers during the dot-com bust, for instance, or contractors in a housing slump. But amid the credit meltdown, the pain — and the pink slips — will be widespread.

Lenders have gotten pickier, like they were decades ago. You’ll need to learn the new ground rules if you hope to get a mortgage, a car loan or even a credit card.

Think paralysis in the credit markets hurts only big investors? Wait ’til this deadlock costs even more jobs and keeps you from tapping your mutual funds.

Confirming what you might’ve always suspected, a new study shows that those with high incomes are more likely to underreport what they make.

Recent government interventions have been a big move away from the free market that has fueled the United States’ economic power.

The Dow plunges on weak earnings and worries that US economic woes are spreading around the world. Amazon.com results disappoint, but Amgen makes the Street happy. Oil falls below $67 a barrel, and commodity stocks overall get slammed.

Want to know how bad a country’s economic downturn will be? Add up the number of outlets serving grande lattes.

How about some dental work in exchange for a brake job? A sagging economy translates into more online swaps of goods and services.

Properly insulating a house can cut your bills in the long run. In the short run, it’s expensive, so weigh your options and your budget before proceeding.