Marketplace Morning Report

2026 has its first new tariff threat

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump said on social media that he is imposing a 25% tariff on goods from countries “doing business” with Iran in response to Ira...

AI deepfakes could lead to fines and country-wide bans

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: There's mounting pressure on Grok — the AI chatbot that's part of Elon Musk's social media platform, X — over the gen...

The politicization of monetary policy

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump’s growing frustration with the Federal Reserve’s commitment to political independence reached fever pitch over the weekend when Fe...

Fed investigation is politically motivated, Powell says

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Officially, the Federal Reserve is being investigated by the Justice Department over office building renovations. But in a video statement Sunday, Fed...

AI and the entry-level job market

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Recent college graduates say they’re struggling to find entry-level positions. How much of the job market squeeze can be...

The worst year for job creation since 2020

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

According to the just-released December jobs report, only 50,000 people were hired last month, fewer than expected. Overall, the month capped off the ...

In Altadena, attempting to rebuild for resilience

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Altadena residents eager to build more fire-resistant new homes run up against obstacles of expense, labor, availability of materials, and of course, ...

Iran's government cuts internet access

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The Iranian government has shut down internet access in response to ongoing protests, with demonstrators calling for the r...

The surveillance state comes for grocery stores

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Supermarket chain Wegmans has made headlines this week for their use of surveillance technology on customers. But they’re far from the only retailer...

After LA fires, struggles for the homes still standing

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The homes still left standing after last year’s Eaton Fire face their own set of questions and challenges. What types of structures stand up better ...

A bumpy ride ahead for bond markets

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: After a rocky 2025, many analysts expect a similarly unsettled 2026. Plus, a new study indicates faster weight gain after ...

Post-fire, families weigh staying or leaving

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The estimated value of the homes wiped out by the Eaton and Palisades fires one year ago? $27 billion. On a single street in Altadena, 15 houses were ...

Recovery remains slow for Eaton Fire survivors

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A survey released in the fall finds that most people displaced by the Southern California wildfires a year ago are still living in temporary housing. ...

Thousands stranded amid flight cancellations in Amsterdam

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: One of Europe's busiest airports has canceled more than 700 flights today as a disruption caused by snow and ice enters a ...

Finding a contractor one year after California's wildfires

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dustin Kunkel is a father of two, works in the solar panel business, and is a neighbor of "Marketplace Morning Report" host David Brancaccio. Kunkel l...

"It felt happy. Then, 24 hours, it was gone.”

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we have the story of one burned block: that of "Marketplace Morning Report" host David Brancaccio. Last year's wildfires in California were the...

Venezuela's interim president sworn in

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Delcy Rodríguez, who had served as vice president under President Nicolas Maduro, has promised stability amid economic un...

What would it take to boost Venezuelan oil production?

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Investors see some oil companies as big winners with the U.S. forcing a change of leadership in Venezuela. This morning, we'll hear how U.S. oil compa...

How markets are responding to Venezuela

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Oil markets and financial markets seem to be shrugging off the major geopolitical story out of the weekend: the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Ni...

Venezuela wakes up to continued uncertainty

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The U.S. stunned the world with the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend. Donald Trump has sai...

Warren Buffett steps down, ending an era at Berkshire

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Greg Abel has officially taken the reins at Berkshire Hathaway, stepping into the role long held by the titan of value investing, Warren Buffett. We l...

Amid wide healthcare cuts, a bright spot for rural hospitals

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Healthcare costs are climbing for many Americans as enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits roll back, raising premiums for middle-income households ...

Protests continue in Iran over economic policies

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Iranian authorities say at least seven people were killed in protests on Thursday, the fifth day of demonstrations against...

Gas prices are lower, but will that stick around in 2026?

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gas prices hit their lowest level for a December since 2020, according to AAA, thanks largely to a global oil glut that pushed crude prices down about...

Workers in 19 states to get minimum wage bump in new year

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Minimum wages are rising in 19 states today, giving millions of workers a pay bump as the new year begins. We break down where wages are increasing an...

How will the global economy fare in 2026?

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The past 12 months have brought lots of turbulence to global economies, from fast-changing U.S. tariff policies to the rap...

Skyrocketing health insurance premiums for millions after today

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Enhanced subsidies for health insurance policies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges are set to expire at the end of today. That means skyrocketing p...

An unwelcome surprise for some student loan borrowers

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

People who are in default on their federal student loans could start seeing their wages garnished in the new year. Next week, the Department of Educat...

A gig worker strike threatens New Year's Eve deliveries in India

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Tens of thousands of app-based delivery workers in India are holding a day-long strike that is likely to impact food deliv...

A housing roundup and lookahead

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This morning, we're recapping the 2025 housing market, which was — in a word — sluggish. Even though mortgage rates have come down, affordability...

US humanitarian aid — with an asterisk

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is pledging $2 billion in humanitarian aid to the United Nations. The official State Department announcement of the U.N. dona...

Frustrations over state of Iran’s economy

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Annual inflation in Iran is running at more than 40%, and business owners are angry at the rapid devaluation of the nation...

The new "Be Kind, Rewind"

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Move over “Be Kind, Rewind.” The new slogan is “Take a Movie, Leave a Movie.” That’s right. A Blockbuster nostalgia trip could be coming to ...

"Uncertainty" marked this year's economy. What about 2026?

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You might have heard the word "uncertainty" muttered more than a few times over the last 12 months. Today, we're chatting with an economist brave enou...

The data breach that hit two-thirds of a country

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The South Korean e-commerce company Coupang has announced a compensation deal worth $1.18 billion for customers after a ma...

The end of 'de minimis' exemption, four months on

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The "de minimis" tax exemption on packages under $800 shipped to the U.S. came to an end in August. It's a move that's boosted business for logistics ...

Rise of the return fee

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Now that Christmas presents are unwrapped, many of you — you know who you are — will head to stores to return gifts and get what you actually want...

The year tariffs upended global trade

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: There's one word that's dominated the headlines this year: tariffs. Countries around the world have been grappling with th...

A Christmas present for drivers

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gas prices are at the lowest level since 2021, according to AAA, as millions of Americans are traveling for the holidays. The average price of gas has...

Why not just takeout for your holiday meal?

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

That's been the case for Thomas and Mariah Pisha-Duffly, a Portland foodie power couple with multiple James Beard Award nominations under their belt. ...

The Chinese city powering Christmas

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Have you ever wondered where your festive Christmas lights, ornaments, and toys all come from? Well, there's a good chance...

Maybe going into the office isn't so bad?

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

2025 has been the year of getting dragged back to the office for plenty of workers — some part-time, but many full-time in the case of big finance ...

The Trump administration can't withhold disaster relief

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Homeland Security funding to 12 states and the District of Columbia. The administratio...

China puts the brakes on driverless taxis

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Plans to mass-produce and sell self-driving vehicles in China have been delayed after news spread of a crash involving one...

Disney and OpenAI and short videos, oh my!

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A little over a week ago, Disney became the first major media company to strike a content licensing deal with Sora, OpenAI's short-form video platform...

A new era for weight-loss drugs

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

GLP-1 weight-loss drug injections have slimmed many waistlines and wallets. U.S. regulators have now approved a much less expensive alternative; Novo ...

Amazon blocks North Korean IT applicants

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Tech giant Amazon says it's blocked more than 1,800 North Koreans from trying to join the company in the past two years. A...

Financial data clashes and what it means for Zelle, Venmo, and more

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule designed to give consumers greater control over their financial data is now in limbo under the second Trum...

The K-shaped cost of holiday travel

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The holiday travel period is upon us. AAA expects 122 million people will drive or fly somewhere to celebrate. Now, we have some good news and some ba...

Jim Beam freezes production at its main Kentucky distillery

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: One of the most famous names in American whiskey, Jim Beam, says it will halt production at its main facility in Kentucky ...

Power and politics in the Warner Bros. deal

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a major Hollywood drama: Despite striking a deal with Netflix, the high-stakes bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery shows no sign of cooling of...

Data centers and your electric bill

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Electricity prices are up 6.9% year over year — much higher than overall inflation — and costs are expected to go up even more in the future. So...

TikTok set to sell US assets

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The Chinese owners of TikTok have signed a deal to sell the company's ‌U.S. assets to a joint venture led by American in...

The president shares his thoughts on the economy

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In his 19-minute address to the nation last night, President Donald Trump argued that he inherited a mess from former President Biden; the president c...

What will the job market hold in 2026?

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the year draws to a close, it's clear that the post-COVID hiring bonanza has ended, and job-hunting has gotten trickier. Experts are predicting nex...

European farmers take to the streets

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The European Union says it's close to agreeing a trade deal with the South American economic bloc Mercosur, which represen...

How are your wages comparing to inflation?

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We get a firehose of economic data this week. As these numbers come in, one thing is becoming clearer: Wage gains are stalling, and inflation has been...

The life of a Christmas tree seller

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's an annual tradition in New York City: Each December, pedestrians fight for walking room on sidewalks populated by lush firs and frasers. Staffed ...

Backlash prompts slashed World Cup ticket prices

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: FIFA has said it will release $60 seats for next year's World Cup, following complaints from fans over high prices. After ...

The rise of cash-only care

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of health insurance is becoming increasingly unaffordable. With many Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies set to expire, coverage is abo...

The November jobs report, finally

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How many jobs did the U.S. economy gain or lose last month? We'll find out later this morning. The numbers are about a week late, as the folks at the ...

Volkswagen closes a plant in Germany for the first time

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Volkswagen has been making cars in Germany for 88 years. In all that time, it's never closed a manufacturing plant in its ...

China's economy hits a rough patch

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s more evidence that China’s economy is stalling. Beijing released a batch of government data today that was not encouraging. Chinese consum...

A defense bill about more than just defense

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the Senate is set to take up the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act. The House passed it last week. It is more than 3,000 page...

Air pollution in Delhi is hitting consumers, businesses

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: "It's like I'm standing inside a cloud of dust and smoke," says BBC correspondent Devina Gupta of air quality in India's c...

Getting into the deregulation business

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration is reconfiguring a government watchdog that grew out of the Great Recession. The Financial Stability Oversight Council watche...

What the vibe of your office holiday party says your workplace

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and with that, the obligatory office holiday party. Thing is, some choices around holiday parties can t...

Reddit fights Australia's social media ban

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Reddit has filed a lawsuit calling for Australia's social media ban for children under 16 to be declared invalid. The text...

When the job market is a "complicated, unusual, difficult situation"

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Federal Reserve decided to cut interest rates again at its meeting this week, partly because Fed officials think the labor market is weaker than i...

ICE raids harken back to COVID-era hardship

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the economic circumstances of many, creating demand for direct aid, interrupting consumer spending, and altering the nat...

Mexico raises tariffs on imports from Asia

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Mexico’s parliament has voted in favor of a bill imposing tariffs of between 5% and 50% on more than 1,400 products from...

On Instacart: same store, same item, different price

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dynamic pricing is here. Several consumer groups designed a shopping experiment with hundreds of volunteers who shopped on Instacart for the same prod...

Beware of shady refinance offers

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, the Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates by a quarter point. While there's no guarantee of it, the move could translate to lower...

Amazon announces mega investment in India

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Amazon has announced plans to double its investment in India by 2030 — to the tune of around $35 billion — with a foc...

Everyone wants a piece of Warner Bros.

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're walking you through the Hollywood drama currently unfolding over Warner Bros. Discovery. The studio's board has already approved an acqui...

Walmart is moving (to the Nasdaq)

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Walmart is moving from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq market. It's the biggest company ever to make the switch. Thing is, Nasdaq has a cool...

Kids in Australia are about to lose social media access

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: A new law comes into force in Australia today, banning children under 16 from some of their favorite social media platform...

In case you forgot, this is a K-shaped economy

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First up on the show: Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, says the economy is doing well. After all, consumers are chugging along, and the stock marke...

Trump's ability to fire has its day in court

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments this morning in Trump v. Slaughter, a case that has broad implications for consumers and workers. The...

U.S. tariffs fail to dent China's trade surplus

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The latest economic data from China shows that while exports to the U.S. crashed over the past year, China's towering annu...

Spotify Wrapped, user data, and FOMO

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How wired into your brain are tech companies? Spotify offers us a clue. The streaming company runs its Spotify Wrapped marketing campaign every Decemb...

Could Netflix buy Warner Bros. Discovery?

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At the moment, it seems like it — according to Bloomberg, Warner Bros. Discovery is in exclusive talks with Netflix over a deal. Warner Bros. would...

India's biggest airline faces another day of delays and cancellations

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Major airports in India have descended into chaos after the airline IndiGo either canceled or delayed hundreds of flights ...

California wine grapes rot on the vine

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

These days, Americans are drinking less alcohol. While that may be a positive from a health perspective, it’s not great news for California grape gr...

Not REAL ID-compliant? Get ready to pay up.

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Transportation Security Administration announced earlier this week that passengers without a REAL ID or other acceptable documents (like a passpor...

Meta faces an investigation over AI in WhatsApp

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: European antitrust regulators have just launched an investigation into Meta over its rollout of artificial intelligence fe...

Making university research make money

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has been clear about its desire for deep federal funding cuts to university research. So, some institutions of higher learnin...

A fuel efficiency rollback

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump plans to announce weaker fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks at a White House event today. The move will likely rever...

Europeans pledge to cut out Russian gas

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: European politicians have reached a provisional agreement to phase out imports of Russian gas by 2027. Exports of oil and ...

A sign investors think the economy will remain strong

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Corporate bond spreads, extra compensation that corporate bonds pay out compared to government bonds, have been narrowing this year, which means inves...

Costco wants its tariff money back

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If Trump's tariffs are illegal, Costco wants a refund. The lawsuits that brought President Trump’s tariffs before the Supreme Court last month were ...

The U.K. agrees to pay more for American meds

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The U.K. government has hailed a deal with the United States to keep tariffs on U.K. pharmaceutical shipments into the U.S...

Private judges for hire

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On today's show, we're lifting the veil on a little-known profession in the legal field: private judges. These are judges that businesses or individua...

A spendy, splurgy Black Friday

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Despite wavering confidence, Adobe says consumer spending broke records on Black Friday, clocking in at more than $11 billion. Shoppers were enticed b...

Factory output in China falls yet again

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Factories in China have long been an engine of economic growth, so it's worrying for leaders in Beijing that a new survey ...

A scourge of "lawless, stateless" vessels

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

But for years now, Russia has gotten around some of these sanctions through its so-called "shadow fleet" — unidentified tankers sailing with no flag...

The hunt for deals begins. Ready, set, go!

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Black Friday still brings more shoppers into stores than any other day of the year. For many, it’s the official kick-off to the holiday shopping sea...

A pipeline to transport Albertan oil to Canada's Pacific Coast

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has struck a deal for a 700-mile pipeline carrying 1 million barrels of oil a day to C...

Teaching students to be ethical AI users

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's been almost three years since ChatGPT went live to the world, and it quickly became a helper or shortcut for students. (Ora tool to cheat.) Like...

It's been a rollercoaster for Six Flags

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can a new CEO help turn things around? It’s a rocky time for regional theme parks that aren’t major travel destinations, as they compete for visit...