Marketplace

The Medicaid budget just lost about $1 trillion. Eleven million more Americans will go uninsured, the CBO estimates, and those who remain Medicaid-eligible may lose coverage for "optional" services. That could include in-home health care recipients, like 9-year-old Noah. In this episode, we talk with his mom, who lobbied Congress to vote against the bill. Plus: An environmentalist makes a case for solar power, and why the ...

When companies release earnings reports, they often predict where they’re headed next, profit-wise. Lately, thanks to all that pesky economic uncertainty, some firms have altered their forecasts or opted out altogether. In this episode, why some guidance is better than no guidance. Plus: OPEC foresees oil demand growth through 2050, protein is the latest food fad, and an environmental organizer takes us on a mini “toxic” t...

The June jobs report gave a sunny picture of the labor market. But if you’re, say, looking for a job right now, you may see things a bit differently. What gives? In this episode, we break down the pros and cons of backward-looking data, and search elsewhere for answers about the current employment situation. Plus: Entrepreneurship chugs along in this uncertain economy, rents finally seem to hold steady, and U.S. copper pri...

A tax credit for electric vehicles was killed under the latest GOP tax and spending bill. It's a credit that has existed in some form for nearly 20 years. In this episode, how the tax break supported EV innovation and what might change when it ends in September. Plus: Big retailers eye vertical integration as a salve to supply chain and tariff drama, Canada’s first liquefied natural gas ship sails to Asia, and some employe...

Trump officials signaled tariffs will be once again postponed, possibly to August 1. But as the White House nails down details, some businesses are suffering while they wait. In this episode, retailers explain why ongoing trade negotiations have put a damper on profits. Plus: Consumers could pull back spending if tariff-related worries persist, employment data shows it’s getting harder to find a job, and we check in with A...

Some conservatives think states should take over management of federal land. But often, states lack adequate resources, or use land for revenue rather than recreation or conservation. This Independence Day, we visit state trust land in Wyoming to learn more about state versus federal management issue. Plus: Homeownership is a tough bargain if you travel for work and data shows the manufacturing sector has contracted since ...

On California farms, ICE raid fears persist — at least half of the state’s crop workers are undocumented. As a result, the farms that grow three-quarters of U.S. fruits and nuts are experiencing worker shortages as harvests begin. In this episode, Trump's immigration policy clashes with the realities of labor-intensive farm work. Plus, growth on the June jobs report may be overstated, lower tariffs are still tariffs, and w...

Consumer spending sputtered in May, likely thanks to tariffs and related uncertainty. Not only does that give us a clue as to where GDP is headed, it could also help us predict the labor market's next move. Later in this episode: Slowed hiring could have a silver lining (depending on your perspective), the U.S. dollar is down 10% so far this year, and we visit a pop-up brewery focused on racial equity.

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The Senate just narrowly passed the latest version of the GOP tax and spending bill, and the House will vote on it tomorrow. Nonpartisan experts at the Congressional Budget Office say the bill will add more than $3 trillion to the national debt, which is already a whopping $36.2 trillion. In this episode, a few economic historians tell us how we got here. Plus: Construction spending falls again, Home Depot goes after large...

Several regional Fed offices reported soft or stagnant manufacturing activity this spring. Tariffs, immigration policy and other uncertainties are driving pullbacks across the sector. In this episode, we take a cross-country trip to learn more. Plus: Farms struggle to staff up for harvest season as ICE raid fears persist, young college grads struggle to find work and Zillow changes its listing policy for homes that were al...

It's been a big week for economic data, with key reports on GDP, PCE, retail sales and consumer sentiment numbers. Bloomberg's Kate Davidson and the Wall Street Journal's Greg Ip join “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal to discuss the data, what's happening with inflation and how much tariffs are feeding into prices. Also on the show: Disposable income dipped in May. What does this slowdown in income growth mean for the broader...

Continuing unemployment claims just hit nearly two million — the highest number since November 2021. There’s not much hiring right now and workers with jobs aren’t going anywhere. In this static labor market, what’s an unemployed person to do? Also in this episode: Car sales slow after a pre-tariff boom, a new report shows Americans are socializing less, and a town in Oregon is still rebuilding five years after a major fir...

Just two weeks out from the Trump administration’s tariff pause deadline, no one is quite sure what to expect. In this episode, experts weigh in on what sort of deals the U.S. is likely to make and how businesses are preparing in the meantime. Plus: “Value seeking” consumers want the most bang for their buck, economic uncertainty puts the brakes on RV sales, and Indigenous jewelry makers struggle as silver prices rise.

The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped in June. That’s after a brief reprive in May from a monthslong downward slide. Uncertainty surrounding the job market, tariffs, that GOP tax bill, trouble in the Middle East — what’s not to be glum about? In this episode, we explain what could shift the mood. Plus: Soon-to-be college grads in China prepare for an unwelcoming job market, oil shipping prices grow even ...

After launching air strikes on Iranian unclear facilities over the weekend, President Trump posted to Truth Social, demanding that U.S. oil firms “drill, baby, drill.” Although ongoing conflict in the Middle East could balloon oil prices, it’s unlikely that domestic producers are racing to ramp up production just yet. Also in this episode: Renting may be more appealing than buying right now, Treasury auctions see stability...

In the “tariffs the Trump administration has announced and actually put into long-term effect” category? A 25% tax on some automotive parts. In this episode, we visit an auto repair shop in Vermont where unexpected price increases are affecting business. Plus: Cities invest in revitalized waterways as recreational moneymakers and the Philly Fed reports manufacturing employment slumped in the region.

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This spring, just 28% of U.S. homes sold above asking price, according to Redfin. That’s the lowest spring rate since 2020. The trend toward selling at or below asking price is good news for buyers. In this episode, why buyer competition — in some places — has thinned out. Plus: Federal cuts threaten childcare centers for government workers, Oklahoma teens learn about gambling risks in the classroom and we explain the diff...

The Fed kept interest rates as-is today, and Chair Powell said policymakers are “well-positioned to wait” before making another move. But what if oil price shock, propelled by roiling conflict in the Middle East, forces his hand? In this episode, we break open the Fed oil crisis playbook — but we hope Powell won’t need it. Plus, projections show the GOP tax bill will cost more than it makes, AI productivity won't boost hum...

This is a busy time for food banks — without school breakfast and lunch programs, more families lean on them. But between millions of dollars slashed from the USDA budget and heightened deportation fears, it’s a tougher-than-usual summer. In this episode, we visit Texas food banks with a simple goal: keep kids from going hungry. Plus, Trump wants to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the cost of basic baby items is up 2...