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
December 4, 2024 • 8 mins
From retail to fast food to nursing, one-day strikes have been a growing trend over the last decade.
But what makes one-day strikes more or less effective than longer strikes? Do they achieve the same goals?
On today's show, what do short strikes say about union power in the US and what can you accomplish with only 24 hours on the picket line.
Related Episodes:
What the data reveal about U.S. labor ...
But what makes one-day strikes more or less effective than longer strikes? Do they achieve the same goals?
On today's show, what do short strikes say about union power in the US and what can you accomplish with only 24 hours on the picket line.
Related Episodes:
What the data reveal about U.S. labor ...
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December 3, 2024 • 10 mins
Boeing continues to struggle. Safety concerns, a door blowing off mid-flight, a labor strike, impending layoffs ... and that's just the past year.
What's gone wrong at Boeing? For many observers, the mistake was shifting focus from engineering to financial engineering.
Today on the show we explain what financial engineering is and why this cultural change at Boeing may have led to the company's current problems.<...
What's gone wrong at Boeing? For many observers, the mistake was shifting focus from engineering to financial engineering.
Today on the show we explain what financial engineering is and why this cultural change at Boeing may have led to the company's current problems.<...
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December 2, 2024 • 9 mins
President-elect Donald Trump made a lot of economic promises on the campaign trail, but none as sweeping as his plan to enact tariffs. Trump believes taxing imports from other countries will help reduce the U.S. trade deficit and raise money for things like tax cuts. Today on the show, how might these tariffs work and will they work? Or is everything about to get more expensive?
Find more of Kyla Scanlon's work on YouTube...
Find more of Kyla Scanlon's work on YouTube...
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November 27, 2024 • 9 mins
Many were waiting longer than expected to hear Donald Trump name his nominee for Treasury Secretary, the person in charge of pursuing his economic agenda. Now, we have an answer: hedge fund manager Scott Bessent. Today on the show, what are the actual implications of what a Treasury Secretary does on you and me? And how does the Treasury Department affect regular Americans?
Related episodes:
The IRS wants to do your ta...
Related episodes:
The IRS wants to do your ta...
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November 26, 2024 • 10 mins
Across the U.S., millions of people are feeling the burden of high housing costs. During his campaign, president-elect Donald Trump promised to do something about that. But what exactly is that something? Today on the show, NPR's business correspondent, Laurel Wamsley, explains Trump's ideas for the housing market. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus...
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November 25, 2024 • 8 mins
Housing affordability is a top concern for Americans and a hot political topic. Estimates for the number of needed homes stretch into the millions, but how is this actually counted? Today on the show, we explain the tricky business of quantifying the US housing shortage.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop El...
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop El...
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November 22, 2024 • 9 mins
We are back with a pricey Indicators of the Week. Today, we're digging into why it's so hard to get price information from funeral providers, how much a single banana could possibly cost, and just how much richer Elon Musk has become since Donald Trump's election win.
Related episodes:
Why is everyone talking about Musk's money? (Apple / Spotify)
Artists vs. AI (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes o...
Related episodes:
Why is everyone talking about Musk's money? (Apple / Spotify)
Artists vs. AI (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes o...
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November 21, 2024 • 8 mins
As Wall Street investors divine what a second Trump administration might mean for markets, there's talk of a new gang in town: the bond vigilantes. On today's show, where they came from, what they want, and how to tell when they're about to spring into action.
Related episodes:
Trying to solve the mystery of big bond yields
What the 'bonkers' bond market means for you
For sponsor-free episodes of The In...
Related episodes:
Trying to solve the mystery of big bond yields
What the 'bonkers' bond market means for you
For sponsor-free episodes of The In...
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November 20, 2024 • 9 mins
There's been a lot of research showing how third spaces — a place that isn't the home nor the workplace — have brought communities together, even catalyzed revolutions. New research shows that coffee shops in particular could be key to sparking new businesses, too.
Today on the show, caffeine-fueled entrepreneurship. We go back a few decades for the story of how Magic Johnson partnered to build Starbucks cafes in Black and...
Today on the show, caffeine-fueled entrepreneurship. We go back a few decades for the story of how Magic Johnson partnered to build Starbucks cafes in Black and...
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November 19, 2024 • 9 mins
Events like the recent dock worker's strike and hurricanes sparked panic buying among American shoppers. Today, a logistics expert helps us craft a shopper's guide for how to navigate a supply chain crisis.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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November 18, 2024 • 9 mins
There is a LOT of economic news happening at the moment (it all happens, so very much of it, all the time), so we wanted to give you an idea of what we here at The Indicator are keeping tabs on.
Today on the show, we look ahead to: countries coughing up money for climate change at COP29, how confident are home builders feeling right now, and ... is US manufacturing REALLY in decline?
Related Episodes:
A count...
Today on the show, we look ahead to: countries coughing up money for climate change at COP29, how confident are home builders feeling right now, and ... is US manufacturing REALLY in decline?
Related Episodes:
A count...
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November 17, 2024 • 15 mins
Today, we're sharing an episode of a podcast that we've enjoyed, and think you will, too! It's called The Economics of Everyday Things. It's made by the Freakonomics Radio Network and on each of its episodes, host Zachary Crockett uncovers the hidden stories behind ordinary things! Stock photos, girl scout cookies, and cashmere sweaters, you name it.
In this episode, you're about to hear Zachary crack the lid open on ... ...
In this episode, you're about to hear Zachary crack the lid open on ... ...
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November 15, 2024 • 9 mins
On Indicators of the Week, we cover our favorite numbers in the news. On this week's edition we cover Netflix's foray into live sports, the possible psychology behind the post-election cryptocurrency rally, and a struggling DNA company's fight for survival.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop Electric. Find ...
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Music by Drop Electric. Find ...
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November 14, 2024 • 9 mins
Nuclear energy hasn't been a growing industry in decades. But now, it seems to be making a comeback. This week, the Biden administration announced a goal to triple nuclear energy capacity in the US by 2050. And over the past few months, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have all made deals to use nuclear energy to power their artificial intelligence appetites. Today on the show, could nuclear energy work differently this time?
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November 13, 2024 • 9 mins
Major flooding events are increasingly common across the U.S., but homeowners looking for flood insurance will find few choices. The main providers of flood insurance is the U.S. government through the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP. But even though the NFIP is one of the only flood insurance games in town, it's drowning in debt. On today's episode, the NFIP's struggle to stay afloat.
Related listening:
Haz...
Related listening:
Haz...
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November 12, 2024 • 9 mins
In a first-best world, we'd all save enough money and there'd be no scammers. In a second-best world, we'd all know how to protect ourselves.
That's what Sheila Bair thought, too. As former chair of the FDIC, she noticed many kids and adults weren't quite getting the education they needed. So, she decided to do something about it.
Today on the show: What Sheila Bair has learned about American capitalism as one of...
That's what Sheila Bair thought, too. As former chair of the FDIC, she noticed many kids and adults weren't quite getting the education they needed. So, she decided to do something about it.
Today on the show: What Sheila Bair has learned about American capitalism as one of...
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November 11, 2024 • 9 mins
The federal government has been tracking the weather for more than 150 years. Yet over the last few decades, the rise of the Internet and big tech have made weather forecasting a more crowded space. Today on the show: the value of an accurate forecast and the debate over who should control the data.
Related stories:
Hazard maps: The curse of knowledge (Apple / Spotify)
Should we invest more in weather forecasting? ...
Related stories:
Hazard maps: The curse of knowledge (Apple / Spotify)
Should we invest more in weather forecasting? ...
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November 8, 2024 • 8 mins
It's ... Indicators of the Week! It's that time of week when we look at the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.
On today's episode: Election aftermath. Stocks jump, the temperamental Mexican peso, and which states are raising minimum wage.
Related Episodes:
Should We Raise The Minimum Wage?
America's economy is the envy of the world. Will it stay that way?
Learn more about sponsor mess...
On today's episode: Election aftermath. Stocks jump, the temperamental Mexican peso, and which states are raising minimum wage.
Related Episodes:
Should We Raise The Minimum Wage?
America's economy is the envy of the world. Will it stay that way?
Learn more about sponsor mess...
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November 7, 2024 • 9 mins
This week, a powerful hurricane hit Cuba, causing nationwide electricity outages — right after a string of power failures that have plagued the country in recent months. These power outages are a low point for a country that has struggled economically for years and is experiencing mass emigration.
Today on the show, we explain why Cuba is struggling to keep the lights on and investigate the root causes of the Caribbean na...
Today on the show, we explain why Cuba is struggling to keep the lights on and investigate the root causes of the Caribbean na...
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November 6, 2024 • 9 mins
Donald Trump's victory in this year's election had a lot to do with how many Americans feel about the US economy (surprise: not good). But Simon Rabinovitch, US Economics Editor for The Economist, argues that, despite the turmoil of the past few years, America's economy remains the envy of the world. Today on the show, Simon explains why that is, but also why he believes a Trump presidency puts America's 'economic exceptionalism' a...
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