A sluggish spin cycle
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The shutdown has delayed October's durable goods report. But fear not! Michigan-based appliance manu...
Not everyone’s stretching the dollar the same way
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumers everywhere are trying to stretch their dollars to compensate for economic uncertainty and ...
The national debt hit $38 trillion, and yes, you should care
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. national debt hit a new record this week: $38 trillion. As we head toward the fifth week of...
Why is Trump throwing money at the Argentine peso?
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. just agreed to spend $20 billion on a currency exchange with Argentina. The hope? To put a ...
What are corporate outlooks without federal data?
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tons of major companies are reporting quarterly earnings and outlooks this week. But with federal da...
How's that BLS data coming along?
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our picture of the U.S. economy grows fuzzier each day the government shutdown continues. The Bureau...
Regional banks are doing alright, actually
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two midsize U.S. lenders claimed they were victims of loan fraud this week, sending bank stocks into...
CEO confidence sinks
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CEO confidence fell in the latest quarter of 2025. Executives surveyed by The Conference Board voice...
Time for another supply chain slowdown
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. retail and supply chain sectors are slowing down — September’s Logistics Managers’ In...
Big banks' boom time
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amid all the anxiety, uncertainty and flip-flopping in this economy, one sector is doing tremendousl...
Trump's tariffs take a toll
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In another wave of tariff news, Trump announced a 100% tariff on Chinese goods that will take effect...
The deal with "back door" betting
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna put a wager on, well, just about anything? Try a prediction market. Competing industry giants ...
Greenback gains
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The value of the U.S. dollar has been on the rise after months of decline. Political turmoil abroad ...
Our economic future is a black box
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Know how the government shutdown put the kibosh on federal data distribution, like last week’s can...
Filling the federal data void
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The federal government shutdown drags on this week, leaving a labor data vacuum. Private firms are h...
Are AI financing loops efficient or alarming?
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OpenAI announced it will invest big time in chipmaker AMD, potentially in exchange for a stake in th...
The 'K' in 'K-shaped economy' stands for 'kitchen'
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The gap between how high-income and low-income Americans are faring in this economy is growing. One ...
On track for a layoffs record
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. is on track for the largest number of announced layoffs since 2020. Yay us! (Kidding.) We c...
The data dogs are howling
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The government shutdown means crucial jobs data will likely be postponed, right as the Fed weighs it...
The "stuck economy," tariffs and Wall Street
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
While the stock market appears unconcerned about potential red flags in this economy, the bond marke...
The housing market is "locked in"
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pending home sales rose in August, boosted by a slight drop in mortgage rates. Overall, though, the ...
Consumer spending outpaced income — again
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In August, Americans spent more than they made for the third month in a row. Thanks to tariff-induce...
A quick GDP refresher
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Turns out the economy grew faster than we initially thought in the second quarter of 2025. Between a...
What's with the streaming price hikes?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Disney’s streaming platforms — Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN — will see price hikes come October 21....
Rate cut? So what?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Newly appointed Fed governor Stephen Miran has argued the federal funds rate should be a full two p...
Who's got the pricing power?
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Economic data reports tell us two things are true: Inflation seems here to stay, and consumers haven...
Google raises the stakes of the AI race
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Google announced it will integrate Gemini, its AI assistant, into the Chrome web browser. That will ...
The job market's bizarre balancing act
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The number of new hires in August was about equal to the number of Americans who lost or quit their ...
Hey, big spender!
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The top 10% of earners in the U.S. accounted for nearly 50% of spending in the second quarter — ...
The cost of GOP cuts to coal royalties
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wyoming made billions from coal mining over the last 50 years, funding the government, schools, road...
The slow death of remote-only jobs
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been five-and-a-half years since lots of workers retreated to home offices at the height of t...
Small firms cross their fingers for a rate cut
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Russell 2000, a stock index of smaller companies or “small caps,” has fallen behind the S&am...
As the job market slows, inflation speeds up
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The labor market has been cooling for a bit, and in some sectors is virtually frozen. That could pus...
Why have some prices stayed put?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumer prices have been overall slow to reflect the Trump administration’s new tariffs. So we ca...
The BLS has a $700 million budget. What's its ROI?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Budget cuts may be in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' future. But the data collected by the BLS is c...
The price of limiting trade with China
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
China's exports to the U.S. are down a third year over year. That’s a significant drop, reflective...
Jobs report warning signs
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paltry job creation was the headline item in the latest jobs report. But dig a little deeper, and wa...
What about the regional Feds? What do they do?
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has gotten a lot of attention lately — President Trump is a...
Slo-mo jobs growth
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Job growth has slowed this summer as employers ride out President Trump's economic shakeups. Thanks ...
Short-term corporate borrowing climbs
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Commercial paper” is a type of short-term debt that’s paid off much faster than a typical cor...
No, private data can't replace the BLS
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the Trump administration strips away federal data collection agencies' funding and pressures stat...
Sticky inflation, Fed drama and the rise of 'cute' debt
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Core inflation rose to 2.9% in July, according to the latest PCE data — the Fed's preferred inflat...
What's really going on in the Trump economy?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter of the year, with GDP revised up to...
The relationship between consumer mood and spending? It's complicated
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Tuesday, the Conference Board reported a slight drop in consumer confidence, driven by worries ab...
Can the president remove a Fed governor?
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Late Monday, President Trump announced plans to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of G...
For every action, something can go sideways
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump's recent deal with Intel gives the U.S. government a 10% ownership stake in the comp...
Special Coverage from "Marketplace": The Real Costs
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These are tumultuous times in the economy. There is inflation, a weakening job market, and uncertain...
Chili's is back (baby back, baby back)
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brinker International, which owns casual dining chain Chili’s, just beat 50-year sales and revenue...
WWJPD?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rising unemployment claims will be on Fed Chair Jay Powell's mind when he addresses the Jackson Hole...
Consumers embrace their inner Maxxinista
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A consumer vibes indicator, in the form of two Q2 earnings reports: TJX (which owns TJ Maxx, HomeGoo...
Flat pay raises are a sign o' the times
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this uncertain economy, employers want to save where they can. That’s likely why Starbucks just...
As many shoppers scrimp and stress, the wealthiest splurge
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New context for the strong-consumer-spending-and-falling-consumer-sentiment combo: According to a Bo...
Concerned consumers keep on spending
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recent data show moderate retail sales growth in July — a positive sign for our economy? On the fl...
Producers feel the pinch
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this week, the July CPI report showed consumer prices remained steady, despite tariff noise....
"Hacks" creators on collaboration, S5, and the state of comedy
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
HBO Max’s “Hacks” often tackles the push and pull between art and profit in the entertainment ...
Across regions and sectors, inflation zigs and zags
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever read past the top line of the consumer price index? That 2.7% inflation rate varies a lot by me...
Tariffs muddy the future of the global oil market
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If President Donald Trump’s tariffs stymie the U.S. economy — which would, in turn, slow the glo...
In health care sector, dread over worker deportations
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. health care sector will lose crucial long-term care providers if the Trump administration s...
Hear that? It's productivity number noise
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
American worker productivity grew a modest 2.4% in the second quarter of the year. Good news, right?...
Should we fret over rising household debt?
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest household debt report from the New York Federal Reserve is in. Delinquencies are on the r...
The oil-natural gas conundrum
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. oil and natural gas industry is at a crossroads. As oil demand appears poised to plateau, n...
Take it with a grain of salt
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As President Donald Trump puts political pressure on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, experts worry B...
Trump's jobs report retaliation "raises alarm bells"
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s July jobs report came in far below expectations. May and June’s ...
Anomaly or omen?
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Employers announced around 62,000 job cuts in July, according to a report from Challenger, Gray &...
Let's take a hard look at that GDP growth
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. GDP grew at a healthy clip in the second quarter of 2025. But a mathematical equation can’t c...
Consumers are still stressed about the job market
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumer confidence ticked up in June, according to The Conference Board. At the same time, confiden...
How are lenders and borrowers feeling?
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since it’s unlikely the Fed will make any interest rate moves at this week’s meeting, it’s saf...
AI and 'surveillance' pricing
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dynamic or 'surveillance' pricing is a relatively common practice. But what's changed is the sheer v...
The dangers of fiscal dominance
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump wants lower interest rates now, but what could that mean for the economy? "Marketpla...
A new trade deal with Japan
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Under the new agreement, American consumers will now face a 15% tax on Japanese imports — a major ...
What's at stake if the Federal Reserve loses its independence?
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal speaks with Greg Ip at the Wall Street Journal about growing threats ...
Looking for economic clues in corporate America
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We like to say it a lot here at Marketplace: the stock market is not the economy. But it can help te...
Will August bring a wave of trade deals or a hike in tariffs?
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re starting to see the first real evidence of President Trump’s tariffs showing up in consume...
How immigration can bolster an aging workforce
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a nation’s workforce grows older, innovation and delayed retirement can keep economic gears tur...
Can robots help us care for an aging population?
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The number of people 85 years and older is expected to double in the U.K. over the next couple of de...
Want to understand our aging workforce? Look to the U.K.
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
By 2050, around a quarter of people in the U.K. will be 65 or older — about ten years before the U...
Who pays for tariffs?
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Up and down the supply chain, companies are facing a dilemma: Should they absorb tariff surcharges a...
The GOP slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid's budget. What now?
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Medicaid budget just lost about $1 trillion. Eleven million more Americans will go uninsured, th...
Reliable earnings outlooks? In this economy?
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When companies release earnings reports, they often predict where they’re headed next, profit-wise...
Let's get a grip on the labor market
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The June jobs report gave a sunny picture of the labor market. But if you’re, say, looking for a j...
RIP to the EV tax credit
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A tax credit for electric vehicles was killed under the latest GOP tax and spending bill. It's a cre...
The consequences of tariff uncertainty
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trump officials signaled tariffs will be once again postponed, possibly to August 1. But as the Whit...
What happens when states manage public land?
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some conservatives think states should take over management of federal land. But often, states lack ...
Fear of ICE raids keeps California farm workers on edge
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On California farms, ICE raid fears persist — at least half of the state’s crop workers are undo...
Reading the labor market tea leaves
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumer spending sputtered in May, likely thanks to tariffs and related uncertainty. Not only does ...
Time for a national debt history lesson
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Senate just narrowly passed the latest version of the GOP tax and spending bill, and the House w...
An American manufacturing road trip
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Several regional Fed offices reported soft or stagnant manufacturing activity this spring. Tariffs, ...
All eyes on the inflation data
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a big week for economic data, with key reports on GDP, PCE, retail sales and consumer sent...
Finding work is tough in a stalled labor market
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing unemployment claims just hit nearly two million — the highest number since November 202...
Prepping for all possibilities
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just two weeks out from the Trump administration’s tariff pause deadline, no one is quite sure wha...
Consumers couldn't turn frowns upside-down for long
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped in June. That’s after a brief reprive i...
Despite Iran conflict, U.S. oil production is unlikely to budge
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After launching air strikes on Iranian unclear facilities over the weekend, President Trump posted t...
Auto repair shops struggle under Trump's tariffs
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the “tariffs the Trump administration has announced and actually put into long-term effect” c...
Home sales grow less competitive
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This spring, just 28% of U.S. homes sold above asking price, according to Redfin. That’s the lowes...
Break glass in case of oil price shock
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Fed kept interest rates as-is today, and Chair Powell said policymakers are “well-positioned t...
Food banks tackle summer break hunger
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a busy time for food banks — without school breakfast and lunch programs, more families le...
The Fed's got an interest rate decision to make
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Federal Open Market Committee meets later this week, and it’s pretty likely they’ll examine ...
Shipping costs are up. Thank Trump's seesawing trade policy.
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When President Trump slapped sky-high tariffs on goods from China, exporters rerouted ships elsewher...
No, the Fed should not stop paying interest on reserves
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might’ve missed it amid all the Congressional budget hoopla, but Senator Ted Cruz recently flo...
Tariff-driven price bloat hasn't arrived just yet
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prices rose 0.1% in May, according to the latest consumer price index — that’s less than some an...