Marketplace

Turns out the economy grew faster than we initially thought in the second quarter of 2025. Between a slowing job market and uncertain trade policies, an upward revision to GDP came as a bit of a surprise. In this episode, a quick lesson on how GDP is calculated and why consumer spending drove the acceleration. Plus: Hiring-related text scams get more believable, the housing market stays stuck, and companies ramp up spendin...

Disney’s streaming platforms — Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN — will see price hikes come October 21. They aren’t alone. As the streaming wars escalate, companies have switched focus to profit over customer volume, while consumers whittle down their subscriptions. Also in this episode: A soybean farmer faces trade war realities, manufacturers pour cash into new equipment, and Warren Littlefield, producer of “Fargo," “The Handmaid...

Newly appointed Fed governor Stephen Miran has argued the federal funds rate should be a full two percentage points lower than its current level. A major cut like that could lower bond yields and reduce borrowing costs, spurring spending. But longer-term, inflation would likely balloon. After that: Auto dealers face new obstacles as EV tax credits end, a traveling nurse navigates frequent moves, and U.S. economic growth is...

Economic data reports tell us two things are true: Inflation seems here to stay, and consumers haven’t let up on spending. It’s the perfect storm for businesses to wield the power to raise prices without losing customers. What could tip the scale in the other direction? Also in this episode: GOP-led changes to the H-1B visa program could hurt U.S. businesses long-term, home sellers are cautious as supply dwindles, and the ...

Google announced it will integrate Gemini, its AI assistant, into the Chrome web browser. That will transform Chrome — the most used search engine — into an “agentic” browser. More on what that means for your data privacy and the race to advance AI tech, in this episode. Plus: Independent craft stores aim to fill the void left by Jo-Ann Fabrics, and how feeding the 82% of Alaskan communities that don’t have road access is ...

The number of new hires in August was about equal to the number of Americans who lost or quit their jobs in the same month. That means they sorta just .... cancel each other out. In this episode, what’s causing this strange stagnation? Plus: Bank of America and Amazon are raising their minimum pay, the U.S.-China trade war has soy and sorghum farmers worried, and a Seattle mall caters to and celebrates plus-size shoppers.

The top 10% of earners in the U.S. accounted for nearly 50% of spending in the second quarter — the highest share since Moody's Analytics began collecting the data in 1989. That's important context, as consumer spending keeps climbing despite tariffs and a grim labor market. In this episode, what it all says about our economy. Plus: Homeowners rush to refinance as rates fall, hydropower escapes GOP cuts to clean energy, an...

Wyoming made billions from coal mining over the last 50 years, funding the government, schools, roads, parks. But President Trump’s major spending bill, passed in July, gives mining companies a break on royalty fees — leaving state budgets lean. In this episode, easing coal fees comes at a price. Plus: Non-store retail spending saw double-digit year-over-year growth, small businesses suffer as they wait for tariff clarity,...

It’s been five-and-a-half years since lots of workers retreated to home offices at the height of the pandemic. Now, about 35% of Americans work from home at least once a week. In this episode, why employers’ demands to "return to office" are growing. Plus: A sociologist expresses concern about AI’s long-term effects on the American labor market, import prices reflect an uptick in “undervaluation,” and President Trump wants...

The Russell 2000, a stock index of smaller companies or “small caps,” has fallen behind the S&P 500 over the past few years. A Fed rate cut, which may come as soon as next week, could change their luck. In this episode, why interest rates have an outsize effect on smaller companies. Plus: Homebuilding is harder under President Trump’s tariffs and immigration policies, brands lean into the power of scent, and we recap t...

The labor market has been cooling for a bit, and in some sectors is virtually frozen. That could push the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. But the Fed’s other mandate, besides maximum employment, is price stability. And inflation is picking up. What to do, what to do…. Later in this episode: Why are utilities costs up? Are restaurants hiring when no one else is? And, should retirement accounts have access to private ...

Consumer prices have been overall slow to reflect the Trump administration’s new tariffs. So we called up some retailers to understand why they haven’t raised their prices, even though their costs are higher. It turns out, bumping up prices isn’t as easy as pushing a button — and can come with consequences. Also in this episode: Bond yields tell us where the economy’s headed, volatile categories can have an outsize impact ...

Budget cuts may be in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' future. But the data collected by the BLS is critical for federal decision making. In this episode, we calculate if the $700 million investment is worthwhile. Plus: Firms that spend the most on AI slash tons of jobs, economic uncertainty drives up the price of gold, and mortgage rates fall — which is good for buyers but a bad sign for the overall economy.

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China's exports to the U.S. are down a third year over year. That’s a significant drop, reflective of President Trump’s punishing tariff agenda. Although China’s overall export growth has slowed, it still rose 4.5% in August — thanks, in part, to strategic redirection to new markets. In this episode, what the U.S. stands to lose by cutting off China as a trade partner. Plus: Luxury brands remain mostly insulated from econo...

Paltry job creation was the headline item in the latest jobs report. But dig a little deeper, and warning signs show up all over: long-term unemployment, Black unemployment and Hispanic unemployment all rose in August. In this episode, why those stats could be proverbial canaries in the coal mine of the broader labor market. Plus: Industrial warehouse demand is down and a shipworker shortage could thwart Trump’s goal of re...

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has gotten a lot of attention lately — President Trump is attempting to remove one member and has nominated another. But there’s more under the central bank umbrella than president-appointed officials. In this episode, we break down why regional Fed banks and Fed presidents matter. Plus: The latest Beige book shows an uptick in lending, shipping costs are down and an economist walks u...

Job growth has slowed this summer as employers ride out President Trump's economic shakeups. Thanks to uncertain tariffs, funding cuts, and the immigration crackdown, most companies aren’t eager to hire right now. Even the health care sector is showing some cracks. Also in this episode: The number of American homeowners fell for the first time in a decade, economists explain how the U.S. became the economic data gold stand...

“Commercial paper” is a type of short-term debt that’s paid off much faster than a typical corporate bond. It’s kinda like an afternoon snack — perhaps not great for you, but it’ll hold you over until dinner. In this episode, what it means that commercial paper bonds have been ramping up all year. Plus: Iconic millennial-focused brands pivot to Gen Z consumers, the BLS cares if you’ve got free time, and the Trump White Hou...

As the Trump administration strips away federal data collection agencies' funding and pressures statisticians to produce positive reports, we might wonder whether private data can fill in the gaps. Unfortunately, while statistics reported by the private sector have a place in our economic understanding, they're not necessarily comprehensive, transparent, or free. Also in this episode: EVs see record sales ahead of tax cred...