The Indicator from Planet Money
A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening today. It's a quick hit of insight into work, business, the economy, and everything else. Listen weekday afternoons. Try Planet Money+! a new way to support the show you love, get a sponsor-free feed of the podcast, *and* get access to bonus content. You'll also get access to The Indicator and Planet Money Summer School, both without interruptions. sign up at plus.npr.org/planetmoney
Episodes
January 17, 2025 • 9 mins
It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating numbers from the news.
On today's episode, we examine three measures the Biden administration is squeezing in before the clock runs out. Those include student loan cancellations, a lawsuit against Capital One, and the banishment of a sweet, sweet artificial dye.
Related Episodes:
How a consumer watchdog's power became a liability...
On today's episode, we examine three measures the Biden administration is squeezing in before the clock runs out. Those include student loan cancellations, a lawsuit against Capital One, and the banishment of a sweet, sweet artificial dye.
Related Episodes:
How a consumer watchdog's power became a liability...
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January 16, 2025 • 8 mins
The Southern California wildfires are devastating large swathes of Los Angeles, destroying homes and businesses and displacing thousands. In the state's strained insurance system, homeowners who can't get fire coverage from traditional insurers are left with just one option—the FAIR Plan.
Today on the show, we explain how the FAIR Plan works and the existential problems it now faces as the wildfires put new pressure on Ca...
Today on the show, we explain how the FAIR Plan works and the existential problems it now faces as the wildfires put new pressure on Ca...
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January 15, 2025 • 8 mins
Lithium is one of the hot commodities of the 21st century: needed for electric vehicles, semiconductors needed for AI, and grid-scale batteries. While the U.S. was once a pioneer in lithium production, it's fallen off — with others, including China, taking the reins. On our third and final episode of our grid battery series, we look at the race to produce the key ingredient in most of these batteries.
Related episodes:
...
Related episodes:
...
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January 14, 2025 • 8 mins
If you want to build a grid-scale battery project in Texas, be prepared to ride the free-market rodeo. On our second episode of this week's battery series, we visit the state that has the second-most battery storage capacity to understand whether large-scale batteries can help prevent blackouts.
Related episodes:
How batteries are already changing the grid (Apple / Spotify)
Texas' new power grid problem (Apple / ...
Related episodes:
How batteries are already changing the grid (Apple / Spotify)
Texas' new power grid problem (Apple / ...
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January 13, 2025 • 9 mins
Renewable energy, when it comes to solar and wind power, has always had a caveat: it can only run when the wind blows or the sun shines. The idea of a battery was floated around to make renewables available 24/7. For years, it existed as an expensive, little-used technology. And then in 2021, it took off.
In California, there is now enough grid-scale battery storage to power millions of homes, at least for a few hours, a...
In California, there is now enough grid-scale battery storage to power millions of homes, at least for a few hours, a...
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January 10, 2025 • 9 mins
It's the first Jobs Friday of the new year, and there's good news!
The unemployment rate ticked down slightly to 4.1%, and the economy added 256,000 jobs. So, for the last month of 2024, the jobs market finished pretty strong.
Today on the show, we look at the indicators from this month's jobs report that give us a snapshot of where our economy's headed. We look at how men are potentially reversing a decades-long...
The unemployment rate ticked down slightly to 4.1%, and the economy added 256,000 jobs. So, for the last month of 2024, the jobs market finished pretty strong.
Today on the show, we look at the indicators from this month's jobs report that give us a snapshot of where our economy's headed. We look at how men are potentially reversing a decades-long...
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January 8, 2025 • 9 mins
The online financial website Investopedia compiles an annual list of the top ten financial terms that drew the most interest from their audience. The 2024 list covers familiar concepts like inflation and tariffs, as well as more niche terms like moneyline bets and stock splits. Today, we visit the highlights of 2024 in economic terms.
The 2024 Investopedia Terms of the Year
Related episodes:
The Indicator's be...
The 2024 Investopedia Terms of the Year
Related episodes:
The Indicator's be...
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January 7, 2025 • 7 mins
Last night, after years on cable, WWE's flagship show, Monday Night Raw, made its debut on Netflix. It's another example of live sports programming making the move to streaming as more people abandon cable television.
Today on the show, we talk to a TV analyst about what Netflix's increasing investments in live sports means for the war between streamers and cable companies.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indica...
Today on the show, we talk to a TV analyst about what Netflix's increasing investments in live sports means for the war between streamers and cable companies.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indica...
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January 6, 2025 • 8 mins
There's a rural area in Arizona with massive groundwater basins underneath the earth. Water should be plentiful there, but wells are running dry. Today on the show, what's behind the water issues in rural Arizona?
Related episodes:
Why Midwest crop farmers are having a logistics problem (Apple / Spotify)
Why the US government is buying more apples than ever (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of T...
Related episodes:
Why Midwest crop farmers are having a logistics problem (Apple / Spotify)
Why the US government is buying more apples than ever (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of T...
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January 3, 2025 • 9 mins
On this edition of Indicators of the Week, we discuss the economic legacy of former President, Jimmy Carter. Today on the show, we detail some of his top accomplishments from empowering the Federal Reserve's aggressive approach to inflation, deregulation of major industries and his push for cost saving energy measures that we still feel to this day.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to...
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to...
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January 2, 2025 • 8 mins
People with American stocks in their portfolio are likely very happy right now. U.S. stocks were on a tear in 2024. But to some investors, that's a reason to look a longer look at their portfolio. Today on the show, one investor makes the case for the only free lunch in finance: diversification.
Related episodes:
Invest like a Congress member (Apple / Spotify)
Rethinking what counts in investing (Apple / Spotify) <...
Related episodes:
Invest like a Congress member (Apple / Spotify)
Rethinking what counts in investing (Apple / Spotify) <...
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December 31, 2024 • 10 mins
Even before the Dune: Part 2 popcorn bucket went viral this year, movie theaters have been trying all types of ways to lure customers back. There's reclining seats, expanded menu options, and even more merchandise. Today on the show, we track the rise of the popcorn bucket and its afterlife on eBay.
This piece originally aired on July 23, 2024.
Related episodes:
Coyote vs. Warner Brothers Discovery (Apple / S...
This piece originally aired on July 23, 2024.
Related episodes:
Coyote vs. Warner Brothers Discovery (Apple / S...
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December 30, 2024 • 9 mins
There are some new funds that track stock trading by members of Congress and their family. So we thought, why don't we get in on that?
Today on the show, we crack open the Planet Money Investment Jar to learn more about how our political leaders play the market, investing in funds tracking Democratic and Republican stock trades.
Whether Congressional stock trading should be limited is a hotly debated matter. So ...
Today on the show, we crack open the Planet Money Investment Jar to learn more about how our political leaders play the market, investing in funds tracking Democratic and Republican stock trades.
Whether Congressional stock trading should be limited is a hotly debated matter. So ...
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December 27, 2024 • 9 mins
If you need some reading glasses in the United States, you don't have to break the bank to pick some up. That's important for older folks who need a little extra magnification. But in some parts of the world, people who need readers don't have that privilege. Today on the show, we'll find out why that is and learn the economic solution to the reading glasses shortage.
This piece originally aired October 9, 2024.
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This piece originally aired October 9, 2024.
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December 26, 2024 • 9 mins
Gaming provides entertainment and community for billions of people worldwide. However, video games haven't always been accessible to those with disabilities. But this is changing. Today we explain how accessibility has become an increasingly important priority for game developers and how advocates pushed them to this point.
This piece originally aired April 23, 2024.
Related episodes:
Forever games: the econom...
This piece originally aired April 23, 2024.
Related episodes:
Forever games: the econom...
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December 24, 2024 • 10 mins
Happy Holidays from The Indicator! For the next week, we're running some of our favorite shows from this year. On today's show, we fire up the gas logs and pour a mug of cocoa to discuss the made-for-TV rom-com machine, and how television executives learned to mass produce seasonal romance.
This piece originally aired October 21, 2024.
Related episodes:
Love Week series page
TV holiday rom coms and the a...
This piece originally aired October 21, 2024.
Related episodes:
Love Week series page
TV holiday rom coms and the a...
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December 23, 2024 • 10 mins
2024 is over (phew!). We had weird consumer sentiment vibes, Bitcoin went to the moon, and the economy might have achieved a soft landing. And that's just a few 2024 indicators!
As we enter 2025, what indicators should we keep an eye on? Planet Money co-hosts Kenny Malone and Jeff Guo look ahead with Adrian Ma for Indicators of the Year ... Ahead!
Related Episodes:
Econ Battle Zone: Disinflation Confrontatio...
As we enter 2025, what indicators should we keep an eye on? Planet Money co-hosts Kenny Malone and Jeff Guo look ahead with Adrian Ma for Indicators of the Year ... Ahead!
Related Episodes:
Econ Battle Zone: Disinflation Confrontatio...
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December 20, 2024 • 9 mins
2024 was a wild year for the U.S. economy: The economy did well in terms of inflation and unemployment, but vibes ruled the roost. (Mostly didn't feel great!) Additionally, Bitcoin went to the moon and some wacky stuff was happening with unemployment and job opening rates, showing that we might have achieved an economic soft landing.
So ... which of these economic stories defined the year?
Our hosts from Planet M...
So ... which of these economic stories defined the year?
Our hosts from Planet M...
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December 19, 2024 • 9 mins
The "silver tsunami" of aging Americans is often seen as a potential way to alleviate the country's housing affordability woes. However, the data suggests that an influx of empty-nester homes coming on the market won't have much of an impact on the problem—because of a geographical mismatch.
Today on the show, we speak to an economist who's looked into the silver tsunami's impact on the housing market and thinks this theo...
Today on the show, we speak to an economist who's looked into the silver tsunami's impact on the housing market and thinks this theo...
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December 18, 2024 • 8 mins
President-elect Donald Trump has called for a weaker dollar given it would be good for American exporters. But tariffs, a staple of his economic policy, would actually strengthen the dollar. Today on the show, we explain tariffs and currencies by following one bag manufacturer from New Jersey.
Related episodes:
How Trump's tariffs plan might work (Apple / Spotify)
Worst. Tariffs. Ever. (update) (Apple / Spotify)
Related episodes:
How Trump's tariffs plan might work (Apple / Spotify)
Worst. Tariffs. Ever. (update) (Apple / Spotify)
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