Marketplace Morning Report

Who needs a financial advisor when you have AI?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jittery investors continue to punish stocks of companies that may (or may not) face major disruption from artificial intelligence. Last week, it was s...

Russia bans WhatsApp

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Russia has ordered a block on WhatsApp, the Kremlin confirmed. The app has more than 100 million users in Russia, who have...

Texas' energy grid, 5 years after Winter Storm Uri

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Five years ago, Winter Storm Uri took out the lights across the Lone Star State. Hundreds of people died, millions of Texans were left without heat, a...

What it takes to build a home that lasts

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. is facing a housing affordability crisis — one that's been exacerbated by natural disasters like Hurricane Helene in 2024 and last year in ...

Flights suspended as Cuba faces fuel crisis

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Cuba's tourism industry suffered a major blow after dozens of flights were cancelled because of a lack of aviation fuel; A...

A closer eye on employment costs

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of employing people didn't go up as much as predicted. At one level, that's too bad since who doesn't want a bigger raise? But if you're worr...

The EPA's major climate policy rollback

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency will roll back its "endangerment finding" determination, which had been at the core of its re...

A bridge at the center of trade tensions

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: President Trump says he'll prevent a multibillion-dollar bridge linking Canada and the United States from opening unless C...

2026: the year of partial government shutdowns

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We just had a partial government shutdown, and now we're edging closer to another. It would involve just one federal agency — the Department of Hom...

Thank you for (permission for) the music

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Twice now, figure skaters at the Winter Olympics were told the music they wanted to skate to — and had been practicing to — could not be used. Sp...

Tokyo's stocks soar after a landslide at the polls

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Japanese stocks jumped to record levels after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide win in a snap general election a...

What you need to know about TrumpRx

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has launched the new TrumpRx website, where people can shop for prescription drugs at discounted rates. The site, a hub that ...

AI comes for software companies

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Software companies are in trouble. Or at least their stocks are. Salesforce is down 25%, and Intuit is down 31%, after startup Anthropic released a ne...

Japan prepares to go to the polls

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Japanese voters will give their verdict on the government of Sanae Takaichi this weekend after Japan's first female prime ...

Raised voices at a hearing starring the treasury secretary

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be on Capitol Hill again today for another grilling. He’s scheduled to appear before the Senate Banking Commit...

The continuing struggles of the news biz

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

News Corp — the parent company of The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch, and Fox News — announces quarterly profits today. Meanwhile, The...

Care for a little treat?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Little luxuries can become routine during tougher economic times. The newest iteration of the “lipstick effect,” the p...

A change to small business loans for immigrants

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Small Business Administration will no longer allow green card holders to apply for SBA loans. The new policy was announced on Monday and takes eff...

Even an econ degree does not insulate you from AI

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is a degree in economics, long considered a path to stable employment, even worth it in the age of AI? Recent research suggests entry-level economics ...

A Novo Nordisk stock tumble

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Shares in the Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk tumbled 17% on Wednesday after the weight-loss drug pioneer warned ...

WWKD?

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Of course, we mean "What would Kevin do?" — Kevin Warsh, that is, President Donald Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair. And it's a question ...

What's behind all the layoffs?

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Layoff announcements have been coming fast and furious: 16,000 at Amazon; up to 30,000 at UPS; more at Dow Chemical, Pinterest, T-Mobile, and more. Th...

The devil's in the details of the U.S.-India trade deal

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: President Donald Trump announced tariff cuts on goods imported from India and said that, in return, India promised not to ...

A commodities correction

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The precious metals market has been on a tear, but experienced a severe correction last week. Part of it has to do with the nomination of Kevin Warsh ...

The impact of restricting SNAP benefits

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In January, five states enacted laws restricting people who receive food aid from buying sugary beverages and snacks. About a dozen more will follow s...

What's behind gold's plunge?

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: After a historic rally, gold has seen its biggest drop in more than a decade. Silver is also down after sharp swings in As...

Who is Trump's Fed chair pick?

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This morning, President Donald Trump revealed his choice to lead the Federal Reserve: It's Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor and more recent Fed crit...

How schools teach about capitalism is changing

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An increasing number of states in the U.S. not only require high schools to teach financial literacy but also require them to incorporate the fundamen...

The fight over the Panama Canal rages on

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Panama’s Supreme Court has annulled a contract allowing for a Hong Kong company to operate two ports on the major shippi...

What you need to know about those 'Trump Accounts'

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration held a summit yesterday, all about Trump Accounts — those are investment accounts for babies born during his term. The gove...

The costs of banning gender-affirming care

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at ending gender-affirming care for transgender children and teenagers under 19. Sin...

Trade talks underway between the U.K. and China

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is the latest political leader to visit China for trade talks. Chinese President Xi Jinpi...

The messy, tricky, hairy task of economic forecasting

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been deluged with the annual economic and market forecasts that traditionally mark the turn of a new year. Is it worth paying attention to the...

Could a shutdown over ICE be in the cards?

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There's a chance that the federal government will shut down late this week over reform and funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which also...

Beware the AI boom, says Cisco boss

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: One of the world’s leading technology bosses has warned there could be “carnage" if a bubble in AI share prices bursts...

Will Trump's proposals improve housing affordability?

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump is rolling out plans to make housing more affordable. He's ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortg...

Farmers feel the big freeze

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Freezing temperatures and ice over the past weekend have impacted agricultural industries across the U.S. This morning, we'll learn about its effects ...

Unpacking the "mother of all deals"

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: India and the European Union have agreed to a major trade deal after nearly two decades of on-and-off negotiations. The wi...

Digging in to defense spending

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The second deadly shooting in Minnesota by immigration agents has some Democrats in Washington renewing calls for reform to the Department of Homeland...

ICE's presence hits small businesses in Minnesota

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Following yet another deadly shooting by ICE agents in Minnesota, more than 60 CEOs there have now signed a letter calling on federal, state, and loca...

Europe bets big on wind

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: A group of European countries has signed a clean energy pact, committing to build an offshore wind power grid in the North...

TikTok is here to stay

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok says it has formed a joint venture for U.S. operations with majority American ownership. The deal is intended to address national security conc...

Economic power as a cudgel

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Usually a relatively quiet affair, this year’s World Economic Forum made headlines as President Donald Trump walked in with threatening language ove...

The oil sanctions leaving sailors adrift

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Sanctions on the export of Russian oil have left many ships stuck at sea, unable to unload their cargoes. Today, we speak ...

How would a credit card interest rate cap even work?

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump acknowledged yesterday that he'll need help from Congress to cap credit card interest at 10%. He also talked about this at the ...

What's next for Cuba after Venezuela?

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Following the president's intervention in Venezuela, the Trump administration is escalating threats against several sovereign nations. Now, Cuba is se...

Stocks rally in Europe as relations thaw in Davos

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: The world has been reacting to President Donald Trump's announcement of a vague framework agreement over the future of Gre...

Trump, Davos, and markets

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump spoke in front of international leaders in Davos, Switzerland. There, he touted his use of tariffs to disrupt the...

Worlds apart on generative AI use

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

People around the world are using AI more than Americans, a new poll finds. About 40% of adults in the U.S. told pollsters that they used generative A...

Will Elon Musk buy Europe's biggest budget airline?

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Tech billionaire Elon Musk has picked a fight with Michael O'Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair; after O'Leary said Rya...

Trump is ready for Davos. Is Davos ready for Trump?

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today is the second day of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. It's a meeting that attracts some of the world's most powerful peop...

Fed independence goes before the Supreme Court

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow in the case around President Donald Trump's bid to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over mo...

Trump's Greenland ambitions dominate Davos

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: It's day two of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where President Donald Trump's goal of acquiring Gr...

Sometimes a little lipstick goes a long way

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's called the "lipstick effect." Consumers sometimes splurge on small luxuries — like cosmetics, accessories, and more — as a sort of rebellio...

The economic fight over Greenland

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump has made it very clear that he wants to purchase Greenland, although he hasn't ruled out the use of military force. Now, he's t...

Putting China's economic figures in context

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: New data shows that China's economy grew by 5% last year. While positive, it’s not anywhere near the stellar growth figu...

Paying more at national parks

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

International visitors to 11 U.S. national parks, including Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, and Sequoia, now have to pay more to get in — as in, up to...

Corporate leaders in Minnesota stay silent amid ICE raids. Why?

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Minnesota is home to more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, including 3M, Target, Best Buy, and General Mills. But in a wave of wake immigration arr...

Can Canada and China repair their relationship?

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have announced a "new strategic partnership" at a meetin...

Potential signs of a friendlier housing market

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

2025 was a tough year for homebuyers. Two things happened over the last three months of the year that helped people trying to buy a home: Housing pric...

What happened to Saks?

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Saks Global — the luxury retail conglomerate that owns brands like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman — filed for Chapter 11 b...

Will the focus on Greenland attract international investors?

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: Despite Wednesday’s inconclusive talks between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland, investors are starting to examine how G...

Fact-checking Trump's economic record

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump traveled to Michigan yesterday to tout the economy's performance during his second administration. He spoke at the Detroit Econ...

Microsoft agrees to foot AI data center costs

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The data centers needed to power AI are controversial in many communities. People worry about that extra demand driving up their electricity bills, wh...

In the face of a trade war, China defies the odds

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the BBC World Service: China has announced record export numbers and the largest trade surplus in global history: $1.2 trillion. Despite the impa...

Inflation is stubbornly steady

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the final consumer price index reading for 2025 this morning. Spoiler alert: Inflation is still too high. Pric...

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...