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Inflation remained in check last month as consumer prices rose at the same pace as in five of the past six months. As NPR's Jack Speer reports, core prices rose just two-tenths of a percent last month, when food and energy prices are NOT taken into account. Even though gas prices escalated sharply in June, many economists see inflation remaining tame and believe the Federal Reserve is successfully engineering a "soft landing" for the booming economy.

NPR's Scott Horsley reports on a commercial database that keeps track of millions of Americans who have bounced checks. More than 85-thousand bank branches subscribe to the database, called Chexsystem, and use it to screen potential customers. But critics say a single bad check can place someone's name on the database, and once listed, it's unlikely they'll be able to open an account for up to five years.

NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports on a Massachusetts-based internet startup that plans to take the idea behind frequent flyer programs and apply it to an entirely new area: college savings. UPROMISE says it is signing up credit card companies, grocery chains, car companies and will take the rebates these companies offer and put them in a college savings investment account. Financial advisors are skeptical that such programs are a good idea for most people.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) calls for an investigation of SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt's handling of the appointment of ex-FBI and CIA chief William Webster to head a new accounting oversight agency. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Commentator Morton Dean is puzzled that voters did not hold members of Congress and President Bush accountable for the security lapses that resulted in the September 11th terrorist attacks. Dean says he's surprised that the attacks were not raised as an issue in the election campaign.

Harvey Pitt resigns as chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission. Pitt had a stormy 15-month tenure as SEC chief and was recently under fire for his handling of the appointment of William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Harvey Pitt resigns as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pitt had a stormy 15-month tenure as SEC chief and was recently under fire for his handling of the appointment of William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli.

Six University of Maryland students admit they got extra help on an accounting exam by surreptitious use of cell phones. (At least they weren't driving.) Also, a Norwegian lawmaker apologizes for playing a war game on a pocket computer at a most inappropriate time.

NPR's David Welna reports on President Bush's newly revealed Social Security Commission. The panel is supposed to develop a Social Security reform plan by next fall. Democrats on Capitol Hill were unenthusiastic about the announcement, claiming Bush stacked the deck against them by loading the commission with members who all favor personal retirement accounts.

President Bush's plan to allow private accounts for Social Security may send a lot of business to Wall Street; but lobbyists for reform say the returns for financial firms are not necessarily so great. NPR's Peter Overby reports.