Marketplace

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’t let up on spending. It’s the perfect storm ...

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 transform Chrome — the most used search engine —...

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 jobs in the same month. That means they sorta just...

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 highest share since Moody's Analytics began co...

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, roads, parks. But President Trump’s major spending b...

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 the pandemic. Now, about 35% of Americans work fro...

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&P 500 over the past few years. A Fed rate cut, w...

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 push the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. But t...

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 called up some retailers to understand why they have...

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 critical for federal decisionmaking. In this episod...

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 of President Trump’s punishing tariff agenda. A...

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 warning signs show up all over: long-term unemployme...

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 attempting to remove one member and has nominated 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 to uncertain tariffs, funding cuts, and the immigr...

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 corporate bond. It’s kinda like an afternoon snack ...

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 statisticians to produce positive reports, we might wo...

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 inflation gauge — marking its highest level in months....

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 an annualized 3.3% from April through June. We ta...

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 about available jobs and future incomes. But a dip i...

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 Governors over unproven allegations of mortgage fra...

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 company. But today, Intel responded with a regulatory ...

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 uncertainty over tariffs and other federal policies. But th...

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 records. In this fickle economic moment, how’d ...

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 Economic Symposium on Friday, and as he contempla...

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, HomeGoods, and Marshalls) raised its outlook for the rema...

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 joined a growing list of companies to shift from ...

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 Boston Fed report, the proportion of spending done b...

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 flip side, consumer sentiment fell in an early-Augus...

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. Today’s producer price index tells a different ...

"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 industry. It’s a topic the show’s creators are...

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 metro area. The same goes for goods categories. So w...

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 global economy — oil demand will fall. And we're al...

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 suceeds in slashing the Temporary Protected Status ...

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? Well, take a look at the math, and the last few m...

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 rise — specifically, student loan delinquencies s...

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, natural gas demand is in a period of tremendous gro...

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 BLS data will become less trustworthy. Economists f...

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 counts were also revised down significantly. What’...

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 & Christmas. That’s up nearly a third from June,...

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 convey nuance — like, say, six months of tariff 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, confidence in the labor market weakened for a seventh cons...

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 safe to assume rates will stay up for at least a whil...

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 volume of our personal data available online, and h...

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? "Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal speaks with Neil Irwin at Axi...

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 jump from the 1.5% rate set back in 2019. The Whit...

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 to the Federal Reserve's independence — and why ...

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 tell us how the economy is doing — if people and b...

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 consumer prices. But are these manageable, one-time price...

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 turning. But so can immigration. In this episode, “...

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 decades. Apian, a London-based health care logistics...

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.S. reaches that milestone. For our ongoing “Age...

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 and keep prices down, or pass on the cost to custom...

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, the CBO estimates, and those who remain Medicaid-eli...

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. Lately, thanks to all that pesky economic uncert...

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 job right now, you may see things a bit differently...

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 credit that has existed in some form for nearly 20 ye...

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 White House nails down details, some businesses are su...

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 adequate resources, or use land for revenue rather...

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 undocumented. As a result, the farms that grow three-q...

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 that give us a clue as to where GDP is headed, it ...

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 will vote on it tomorrow. Nonpartisan experts at th...

An American manufacturing road trip

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Several regional Fed offices reported soft or stagnant manufacturing activity this spring. Tariffs, immigration policy and other uncertainties are dri...

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 sentiment numbers. Bloomberg's Kate Davidson and the W...

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 2021. There’s not much hiring right now and workers...

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 what to expect. In this episode, experts weigh in on ...

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 in May from a monthslong downward slide. Uncertaint...

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 to Truth Social, demanding that U.S. oil firms “d...

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” category? A 25% tax on some automotive parts. In th...

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 lowest spring rate since 2020. The trend toward selling...

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 to wait” before making another move. But what if ...

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 lean on them. But between millions of dollars slashe...

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 why tariffs didn’t drive inflation up in May. Th...

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 elsewhere. Now that those tariffs are on pause, shipping c...

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 floated ending Federal Reserve interest payments, cla...

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 analysts anticipated. It seems tariffs haven’t qui...

What do U.S. Treasury auctions have to do with me?

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Later this week, the U.S. Treasury will auction off billions of dollars worth of 30-year bonds. While that may seem yawn-worthy to most of us, the out...

What's the consumer debt tipping point?

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Consumer credit rose $17.9 billion in April — $6 billion more than projected, the Fed says. Americans may be anxious about tariffs, but low unemploy...

Labor force participation dropped last month

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest jobs report is out Friday, and overall it’s pretty middling — some details are good news; others not so much. One data point sounding e...

Churn goes the labor market

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unemployment filings and layoffs are rising, and private sector hiring hit a two-year low, recent reports show. Is it just healthy turnover or should ...

Why employers are flocking to Utah County

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Provo, Utah, which sits in one of the youngest counties of the U.S., has attracted some major employers in recent years. This week, “Marketplace” ...

What if government data becomes untrustworthy?

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The GOP’s budget bill, now at the Senate, includes proposed cuts to federal statistical agencies. That could make government data narrower and less ...

How many trade wars are we in right now?

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It depends on who you ask. But we can all agree that this round of tariffs is not the same as the ones President Trump enacted during his first term. ...

Where's the job market headed?

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The economic reports out this week gave a fuzzy view of the economy, but next week will be all about jobs: job openings, labor productivity, and the l...

This GOP bill will affect borrowing costs for everyone

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The GOP spending and tax bill making its way through Congress would pile significantly onto the national debt. In turn, bond investors will demand hig...

Can anyone compete with Nvidia?

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nvidia, as you probably know, makes chips — more specifically, GPUs, which are needed to power artificial intelligence systems. But as AI adoption r...

Consumer sentiment rebounds

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Conference Board’s latest consumer confidence index notched its highest monthly increase in four years. To be clear, it was coming off a five-ye...

Pessimistic about the economy? You're not alone.

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When “vibecession” became a word in 2022, it referred to consumers grappling with higher prices despite a strong economy. This year, consumers are...

WNBA franchises are a slam dunk in this iffy economy

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The WNBA’s first expansion team in 18 years, the Golden State Valkyries, played its first game last week to a crowd of 18,000 fans. Though this unce...

Who can afford a house in this economy?

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The supply of homes for sale hit a nearly five-year high in April, but prospective buyers aren’t exactly taking the bait. Some may feel they’re sw...

The bond market is panicky over that GOP bill

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest GOP spending and tax bill would add an estimated $3.8 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade. More debt means the government...

Which companies can "eat" Trump's tariffs?

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over the weekend, President Trump told retailers to “eat the tariffs” after Walmart warned of price hikes spurred by the trade war. Across the cou...

"Buy Canadian" boycott takes off

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

These days, Canadian consumers aren’t just interested in supporting their own homegrown businesses — they’re also actively avoiding American on...

Redefining the "college senior"

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

University retirement communities — where a college partners with a senior living community to provide residents access to classes, concerts, sport...

When stressed consumers and higher prices collide

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Retail sales were practically flat from March to April, and consumers are feeling more glum, two recent reports show. Already, one big box retailer ha...

That "big, beautiful" tax bill could shock the bond market

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Early estimates say the GOP’s tax bill will add $3.8 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years. (This, despite President Trump’s insistence on s...

So, when will we see those tariff price hikes?

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New data shows us that despite President Trump’s new tariffs, the inflation rate for some categories of goods stayed the same or even fell in April....

U.S. and China hit pause on tariff war

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the next 90 days, the two countries will temporarily ease tariffs on each other’s goods as trade talks continue. But what does this deal mean fo...

Uncertainty is the name of the game

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the Federal Reserve opted to leave short-term interest rates alone, despite concerns about the rising risks of a weakening U.S. economy. In...

What we're expecting

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest consumer expectations report is out and Americans are feeling much worse about their own personal financial situations than they were in Ma...

U.S. to talk trade with China

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As tariff pressures mount, China’s vice president and other leaders have agreed to meet with top U.S. officials. If history is any guide, substantia...