Marketplace

The White House has proposed new tariffs on 60 countries that allegedly aren’t doing enough to ban forced labor. Domestic businesses, already burned from last year’s trade war, are bracing for more hurt. In this episode, companies weigh early orders against rising costs. Plus: Recent positive inflation data could convince the Fed to hold interest rates steady, Kroger buys Giant Eagle in ongoing effort to unseat Walmart ...

Though the latest inflation reports show price growth cooled a bit in June, U.S. inflation remains higher than its peer nations, which include the U.K., Canada, France, and Japan. President Trump’s tariffs are partially to blame. But so is hefty capital expenditure by AI giants. Can anything counterbalance all that spending? After that: Kai explains the utility of Beige Book “soft” data, IBM posts mediocre earning...

We got a better-than-expected June CPI report: Inflation slowed in both the goods and services sectors. But it’s hard to say whether that trend will continue and how it might affect the Fed’s next inflation rate decision. Also in this episode, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh testifies before Congress, so we break down his approach to central bank communication and the Humphrey-Hawkins Act. Plus, an egg price-fixing scheme, the ho...

Five major banks report earnings Tuesday morning, and analysts expect them to be rosy. Despite a volatile energy market and uncertain geopolitical climate, U.S. banks are turning strong profits. They’ve got AI investment and a booming stock market to thank. Plus, the inflation beat: Steep producer inflation could soon show up in consumer prices, economists aren’t sure how long overall inflation will stick around, and we...

Energy prices are up, and we’ve got a war to thank. Two wars, actually. While all eyes have been on Trump’s on-again, off-again conflict with Iran, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil refineries — and the effects are rippling through the global energy market. Also in this episode: Data centers ease electricity bills in some places (for now), travelers turn to buses as airfares rise, and Kai discusses the ...

Inflation that resulted from the U.S. war with Iran had just begun to cool when President Trump called off a shaky ceasefire. Now, as the world turns their attention back to conflict in the Middle East, economists turn their attention to the Federal Reserve. Will the central bank act to tamp down a second round of inflation? Also in this episode, PepsiCo sees tempered sales in North America, women in finance pivot to social media i...

President Trump called off the a ceasefire with Iran Wednesday morning, sending the U.S. back into a military conflict — and sending oil prices back up after weeks of steady cooling. In this episode, Kai calls up economist Robin Brooks at Brookings to explain how a reignited war will affect global oil markets and prices at the pump. Plus: Retailers stock up early for the 2026 holiday season, businesses surpass homes’ en...

Samsung just reported a whopping 1,800% profit increase for the second quarter of this year. But its stock price fell nearly 7% in response to the news. What gives? In short, high expectations got in the way of actual growth. Also in this episode: Baby boomers begin to transfer family businesses to the next generation, buy now, pay later giant Klarna applies for a U.S. banking license, and the telehealth boom is more than super-fas...

U.S. families expect to spend more than $900 on back-to-school shopping this year, according to one PwC survey. Big box retailers have taken advantage of anxiety about higher costs by pushing school supplies earlier than ever. In this episode, how consumer mood correlates to consumer spending. Plus: Holiday weekend heat strains electric grids, Boeing and Airbus aircraft demand persists, and algae can make or break Great Lakes summe...

Careers in the trades — a path that’s largely more AI-proof, less expensive, and more dependable — are attracting more attention. We visit Hope Renovations, a program in North Carolina focused on getting more women and non-binary people into the trades. Also, we look at a decline in the labor force participation rate, country stores in New England, and a tailoring business in Utah.

Every story has an economic a...

The Labor Department’s June jobs report came in with just 57,000 new jobs added. Economists expected double that, and while the unemployment rate ticked down, we consider why job growth may be middling. Also in this episode, we look at stagnant wage growth, a start-up that’s looking to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the “lump of labor” fallacy, Saudi Aramco’s World Cup sponsorship, and a social worker ...

It’s unclear what Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will do regarding interest rates, but would a “Fed put” actually help promote stability in financial markets? Also in this episode, we look at why fewer teens are getting paid jobs, a decline in single-family homebuilding, prediction markets for natural disasters, traffic expanding way beyond rush hour, and the booming cowboy boot market.

Every story has an ec...

Fresh data on consumer confidence shows a lot of mixed signals — Americans are feeling better about the economy and where inflation is headed, but worse about job prospects and family finances. Also in this episode, we look at the widening gender wage gap, a small business owner dealing with tariffs, how remote work is giving families more options, and growing natural gas infrastructure.

Every story has an economic angle. ...

The Supreme Court’s ruling Monday expanded presidential power over agencies that would traditionally be viewed as independent, with the Federal Reserve as an exception. What does that mean going forward? Also in this episode, we look at rising transportation costs, infrastructure projects, Comcast’s spinoff of NBCUniversal, and the business of estate sales in Los Angeles.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some ...

Economists are forecasting that AI is likely to cause prices to rise over the course of the next year. On Thursday, both Microsoft and Apple said they’re raising prices some of their flagship products thanks to skyrocketing memory and storage costs. But AI could end up making a whole lot of things cheaper — eventually. Also in this episode: how one union negotiated huge savings on healthcare prices, a look at the garage...

Inflation was up 4.1% in May, according to the BEA’s personal consumption expenditures index. We know hot energy prices, resulting from the war in Iran, were part of that spike. But cut out energy and food, and inflation still hit a three-year high, at 3.4%. So what else is driving the increase? Also in this episode: Q1 GDP is revised up, Wyoming navigates the consequences of property tax cuts, and Great Lakes cargo ships mak...

When the U.S. launched a war against Iran, some Wall Street traders bet the ensuing energy shortages would push inflation up. Now that a ceasefire has brought down gas prices, the narrative has shifted: What if cheaper gas fires up the economy too much? In this episode, the markets are betting on inflation, whichever way you slice it. Plus: Prospective buyers struggle to secure mortgages on homes worth less than $100,000, local get...

A typical starter home in nearly 250 U.S. cities is now worth $1 million or more, according to Zillow. Is that even a starter home anymore? In this episode, how rapid housing inflation has changed the game for first-time homebuyers and why more Americans are opting for a starter home in the suburbs. Plus: Manufacturing data reflects strong sector growth, U.S. trading partners bear the economic brunt of Trump’s war with Iran, ...

The last time Austan Goolsbee voted in an FOMC meeting, he was one of two policymakers opposed to cutting interest rates. Six months later, he doesn’t regret that dissent. In this episode, Kai catches up with the Chicago Fed president to discuss the central bank’s communication style, persistent inflation concerns, and former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan’s legacy. Plus: Beef prices are likely to keep climbing this yea...