Marketplace

Consumer mood sours

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On the whole, consumers are feeling 20% worse about the economy than they were a year ago, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consume...

There are more unemployed people than job openings right now

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The latest JOLTS report is bleaker than expected. There were 6.5 million job openings across the U.S. economy in December, down nearly 400,000 from th...

Cargo theft ramps up

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

“Retail theft” often conjures Hollywood-esque heist scenes or sleight of hand at self-checkout. But 2025 was likely the biggest year on record for...

Heavy on celebrity, light on social commentary

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's a big week for major televised events: The Winter Olympics kick off Wednesday and Super Bowl Sunday is nigh. Brands used to save their biggest, s...

Why higher productivity doesn't equal wage growth

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Productivity — the rate at which companies make what they make, or do what they do — has been a reliably bright spot in this economy. But wage gro...

How small businesses navigated the ICE strike

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Activists called for a nationwide shutdown of economic activity Friday, Jan. 30, following another killing by immigration officials. But in this unfor...

Energy bill burdens grow

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Electricity prices have increased by approximately 40% since 2021, far outpacing inflation. Despite AI data centers making headlines as energy-sucker...

Does the EU even want a strong euro?

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We keep hearing how the U.S. dollar has been “weakening.” Put another way, the euro is getting stronger: It hit $1.20 earlier this week. But the l...

Let's tour the growing AI economy

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence companies raised enormous amounts of money in 2025, and made major investments in development and infrastructure. What’s nex...

As AI expands, Americans have doubts

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence is one of a handful of industries propelling this economy forward. But as the sector explodes, not everyone is on board. Ameri...

Your car company also wants to be your bank

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The FDIC has approved proposals by GM and Ford to launch their own banking units. That means the automakers will be able to provide their own auto loa...

Here's what kept GDP climbing last summer

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Revised GDP data for this past summer shows the U.S. economy grew faster than we initially thought. A few key parts of the private services sector pro...

The EU owns $8 trillion in Treasurys

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The EU owns $8 trillion in Treasurys. Sure, Eurozone governments probably won’t use ‘em as leverage in the Trump-Greenland situation — and even ...

The global trade status quo is shifting. Will the U.S. be left out?

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After decades of globalization, the U.S. may be paying a political price: International leaders are forging new trade agreements independent of Americ...

U.S.-EU relationship status: It's complicated

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has announced new tariffs on European Union countries, aimed at forcing a deal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. But the EU could res...

Skilled labor scarcity

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An AI-driven construction boom is coming, some hope. But to build all that infrastructure, the U.S. is going to need a lot more construction workers, ...

Trump's latest plan to lower mortgage rates

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump recently ordered government-backed mortgage companies (that’s Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) to buy up $200 billion in mortgage-backed ...

Finding work as a young person? In this economy?

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The unemployment rate in December among people aged 20 to 24 was 8.2%. That’s up nearly a full percentage point from 2024, and much higher than t...

It's not just you — food prices rose 2.4% last year

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of food consumed at home was up 0.7% month-over-month in December, and 2.4% year-over-year. Go back five years, and grocery prices are up 25%...

The Fed under attack

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell, a move Powell has since called "an unprecedent...

The weak spot in this job market

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The rate of jobless Americans who’ve been out of work for over 27 weeks — also known as “long-term unemployed” — hit 26% in December, accord...

Productivity climbs — without hiring to match

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Labor economists will tell ya, productivity growth leads to more hiring. The idea is, once a company is operating more efficiently, they’ll try expa...

Labor market anxieties grow

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The job market has been steadily losing steam and workers have noticed. Though the unemployment rate remains fairly low, some groups are experiencing ...

Corporations expected to take on record debt in 2026

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This year, amid ongoing economic uncertainty, corporations are expected to refinance old debt, invest in artificial intelligence, and prep for mergers...

Markets shrug off U.S. capture of Maduro

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Disruptive geopolitical events often push investors to jump into bonds or sell off stocks temporarily. But when the U.S. military captured Venezuelan ...

States tighten SNAP rules in 2026

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

By the end of the year, at least 18 states will restrict the use of SNAP benefits to purchase “non-nutritious” food and drinks. But the definition...

The year in charitable giving

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The winter holiday season is a key time for nonprofit fundraising — an estimated 30% of annual giving happens in December. But in 2025, highly publi...

What's next for the job market in 2026

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Total jobless claims fell last week, which is the second-lowest reading in the last two years. Experts, though, say it’s likely a seasonal blip — ...

Good news for prospective homebuyers

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Home price growth is cooling, new reports show. Though homeowners may be struggling to sell at asking price, it is good news for prospective buyers. E...

A glimmer of hope for the housing market

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The housing market is showing modest improvement, with pending home sales rising over 3% in November and prices growing just 1.2% year over year. Risi...

'Tis the season of holiday bonuses ... for some

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The number of workers recieving end-of-year bonuses is falling. Some of that has to do with shifting workplace norms and some is related to this tight...

The weather outside is frightful (so's the heating bill)

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The average cost of heating is expected to jump more than 9% this winter, according to projections from the National Energy Assistance Directors Assoc...

The job market won't start fresh in 2026

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The labor market has been tightening all year, and Americans have grown increasingly anxious about their ability to find new jobs. A bit of good news?...

U.S. GDP sees healthy growth

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From July through September, U.S. gross domestic product rose 4.3%, the highest in two years. At a time when many consumers are feeling economic press...

U.S. dollar down, gold hits all-time high

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gold surpassed $4,400-per-ounce for the first time Monday. Prices are up 60% in 2025. In the same year, the value of the U.S. dollar slipped 9%. What ...

The 2025 consumer sentiment rollercoaster

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Consumer sentiment really ran the gamut this year. But right now, Americans are feeling almost as bad about the economy as they were when inflation wa...

That CPI report got a Black Friday discount

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

November inflation data came in lower than expected, according to the latest CPI report. But we can’t compare it to the previous month, since the BL...

Unemployment hits four-year high

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. unemployment rate climbed to 4.6% in November, according to the latest BLS jobs report. There’s also data showing more Americans are reente...

Time to strike out on your own?

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

IRS filings for new business applications have been climbing the past few months — particularly in the retail sector. The last time we saw a spike l...

The stock market isn't the economy — but it's not nothing either

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While markets are mellowing a bit, three major stock indexes closed at record highs on Thursday. Reminder: The stock market is not the economy! But it...

Why the Fed is thinking about immigration

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s latest presser was all about the job market. Buried among the usual talking points, like hiring sentiment and the...

Fed rate cut diverges from global central bank strategy

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday by a quarter point. That’s pretty much what analysts expected. But in other parts of the wor...

The great decoupling

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When revenue grows, hiring grows — usually. But in November, retail sector job cuts were up nearly 140% year over year, according to outplacement fi...

What's in the long-awaited farmer relief package

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We now know some details about the Trump administration’s promised agricultural relief package. Central to the plan is billions in one-time payments...

Small businesses walk an affordability tightrope

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Small business owners know affordability is top-of-mind for their customers. But as margins grow narrower, keeping prices as-is isn’t always possibl...

What's next for the Fed?

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Changes are afoot at the Federal Reserve: President Donald Trump will name a new Fed chair in the coming year, and the central bank’s job could get ...

Small businesses pull back on hiring

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Small business owners’ economic moods remain mixed. But, as is so often the case, how folks feel is different from how they act. And hard data tells...

A Fed divided against itself

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Federal Reserve’s quantitative approach to monetary policy decisions means its governors tend to reach consensus. But in the past few meetings, ...

Too much oil, too little demand

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold oil production steady next quarter as global supply remains unusually high, driven by reco...

'Tis the season for credit card debt

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Holiday spending tends to drive up U.S. consumers’ credit card debt. In the past, most households were able to pay down that debt come the new year....

Holiday hiring doldrums

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Retailers don’t seem to be looking for many temp workers this holiday season. But it’s not the only sector that hires winter workers — event ven...

Predicting the Fed's every move

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Yields on government bonds can tell us how investors think the Federal Reserve will act. In this episode, we break down what falling yields on short-,...

Much ado about affordability

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“Affordability” — it’s a hot-button issue across the political spectrum. But how does one define or quantify a subjective idea? We called up a...

Are more Americans working multiple jobs?

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The delayed-by-the-shutdown September jobs report showed a stronger-than-expected monthly gain of 119,000 jobs, seasonally adjusted. But dig into the ...

Feeding the Family (bonus episode)

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For many people gathering around the table this holiday season, things feel a little different. Maybe it’s the cost of ingredients that’s on your ...

Off-price retailers shine as consumer moods sour

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TJX, the parent company of off-price retailers T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, posted excellent earnings this week, while Target cut its sales fo...

The long-awaited September jobs report arrives

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The September jobs report finally arrived after a six-week delay, showing employers added 119,000 jobs — well above expectations. The BLS also recor...

Too little, too late?

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

China's purchase of 1 million tons of U.S. soybeans ends a trade war freeze. And while it's better than nothing, it's still far below typical November...

Rural hospitals were already short-staffed. Then came Trump's H-1B visa fee

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The White House’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications is adding extra pressure to health care systems in rural and low-income areas. Histor...

Why we've got an eye on this week's corporate earnings

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A few big box retailers report earnings soon, including Target, Walmart and Lowe’s. That could give some clarity on the state of the American consum...

Trump's tariff turnaround

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest in President Donald Trump’s trade war waffling? Tariff exemptions aimed at lowering Americans’ grocery bills. Affected products could i...

What happens when the data takes a month off?

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the government shutdown officially over, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is back at work after a 43-day hiatus. But all that missed data can’t b...

Are we spending more because we can, or because we have to?

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Consumers may have revved up their spending in October, but spending more doesn’t mean getting more — prices are also up this holiday season. In t...

More labor market blues

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Business owners aren’t too optimistic about the labor market, according to an NFIB survey. About a third are struggling to fill an open position, an...

Where we're at with tariffs and inflation

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Despite expectations surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariffs, inflation doesn’t seem to be speeding up — though it’s hard to say for sure...

Consumer sentiment hits three-year low

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Consumer sentiment — as in, how everyday people feel about the economy — fell to a low not seen since 2022, according to the University of Michiga...

A 20-year record for job cuts

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas counted over 153,000 job cuts in this country last month — the most October layoffs since 2003. Are compan...

The job market keeps flashing warning signs

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With no government jobs data available during the shutdown, analysts have turned to private reports for clues about the labor market. In the latest ro...

What to know as SCOTUS weighs Trump's tariffs

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday for and against the legality of President Trump’s signature economic policy: tariffs. In thi...

How long until SNAP reaches kitchen tables?

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has been court ordered to partially fund this month’s SNAP benefits, after refusing to step in during the shutdown. Emergen...

How the economy went "K-shaped"

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. economy is increasingly “K-shaped.” That means the gap between the wealthiest companies and consumers, and ... everyone else, is growing....

The case of the missing GDP report

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the government shutdown delaying the Bureau of Economic Analysis' third quarter GDP estimate, economists turn to Fed models and private analysts....

Nvidia: Boom or bubble?

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nvidia's market valuation surged to $5 trillion Wednesday, breaking records. The chipmaker is on fire, and it’s using its glut of resources to inves...

AI is here. Where are the new, better jobs?

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon and Chegg both announced layoffs this week; Chegg says AI competition was a factor, and Amazon’s CEO alluded to AI-related job cuts earlier t...

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 manufacturer Whirlpool reported earnings today, and th...

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 inflation. However, there’s a divide between hig...

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 a government shutdown over a congressional budget...

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 lid on inflation before Javier Milei, an ally of P...

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 data collection on hold, firms don’t have all the ...

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 of Labor Statistics, which publishes the most rel...

Oil flow or oil freeze?

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A U.S. blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers may sound disruptive, but global oil is plentiful, and Gulf Coast refiners remain tied to Venezuela’s heav...

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 a tailspin. But by close Friday, markets evened o...

CEO confidence sinks

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CEO confidence fell in the latest quarter of 2025. Executives surveyed by The Conference Board voiced concerns over inflation, tariffs, and global tra...

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’ Index hits its lowest point since March. Many retail...

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 tremendously: Big banks. Recent earnings reports showed banks...

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 in November. The constant back and forth of tarif...

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 Kalshi and Polymarket both saw major investment th...

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 has hurt other currencies, while easing rates and ...

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 cancelled September jobs report? Well experts haven’...

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 hoping to fill the gap with their own data sets —...

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 the firm. As AI investment has ramped up, similar de...

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 example? Fast food restaurants are struggling whil...

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 can thank a combination of federal cuts and their r...

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 its next move. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee...

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 market's a bit more cautious. As Washington nears a shu...

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 market remains sluggish — owners don't want to g...

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-induced price bumps, consumers are dipping into savings ...

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 slowing job market and uncertain trade policies, ...

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. They aren’t alone. As the streaming wars escala...

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 percentage points lower than its current level. A ...