According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 1.8 million Americans have been actively looking for a fulltime job for more than 27 weeks. That’s over six months. In this episode, two people tell us what it’s like to navigate a never-ending job search. Plus: A surge in lone star ticks threatens the cattle industry, McDonald’s keeps huge amounts of data on frequent customers, and the national debt passes that $40 trillion threshold.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:The national debt hits $40 trillionTicks increasingly threaten the health and livelihood of ranchersAn Alabama cattle farm with a bird-tourism side hustle“Put me in, coach”: Navigating long-term unemployment in the low-hire economyHow the McDonald's mobile app compiled 515-page dossier on one reporter

Girl Scout Cookies represent a $800 million industry. A new documentary called “Cookie Queens” follows sellers across the country, and one of those featured, Olive, joins the show to discuss the economic lessons she’s learned. But first, Lauren Saidel-Baker, economist at ITR Economics, tells us what retail earnings can reveal about the U.S. consumer.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Prices for some back-to-school supplies are up this year, alongside other essentials like groceries and gas. Shoppers aren’t just turning to cheaper brands — they’re buying less, and cutting out non-essentials. This morning, we look at how inflation could affect shopping extending into the holiday season. Then, we discuss the cost of our debt pushing up interest rates, and a North Carolina Girl Scout talks cookie selling.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:“Back to school” on a budget

OpenAI is launching ChatGPT for Teens, which has new guardrails to steer conversations from sensitive topics like self-harm or sexual content. It’ll also include parental controls and features intended to support studying without the cognitive offloading that often happens.Plus, the surge in construction of AI data centers has increased the value of basically any component that goes into them. Now, thieves are increasingly targeting cargo shipments of materials bound for data centers. And Amazon is expanding its drone deliveries. Paresh Dave at Wired joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino for these stories.Everything we talked about:“Introducing ChatGPT for Teens: Built for learning, backed by protections” from OpenAI“OpenAI’s Second-Quarter Sales Show Tepid Growth Compared With Anthropic” from The Wall Street Journal“States Seek $200 Billion From Meta Over Child Social Media Addiction Claims” from The New York Times“‘The Worst I’ve Ever Seen’: Cargo Thefts Have Turned Violent in Pursuit of AI Hardware” from Wired“Amazon Prime Air drone delivery is expanding to nearly 500 US cities and towns this year” from Amazon

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s buyback of long-term bonds was a bit of a letdown this week — the interest rates barely budged. The Treasury’s next move in its quest to rein in the national debt will be to issue a ton more short-term securities. But that might not be such a good idea, either. In this episode, we’ll catch you up on the bond market turmoil. Plus: Multifamily construction permits are a housing bright spot, the Fed’s favorite inflation measure is due for a methodology change, and two craft-focused small business owners share the view from their economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:"Buying a house with a credit card": The Treasury's plan to finance the national debtThe Fed's preferred measure of inflation is changingAs central bank bigwigs gather in Jackson Hole, local businesses carry onBuilders bet on multifamily housing — but only in certain places

It's been a month now since the World Cup ended, but English football is back this week. The Premier League season kicks off Friday. And Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, is the latest American investor to buy a stake in a team — he’s now part of a group that purchased more than a third of Liverpool Football Club. Was it a smart investment? But first: Fewer homeowners are "equity-rich," and that concerns real estate analysts.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Number of "equity-rich" homes has declinedWhy would Jeff Bezos want to buy an English football team?

In case you missed it, investor jitters about borrowing, geopolitical conflict, and inflation drove the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield up to a nearly two-decade high. Then, the Treasury Department announced it would spend $4 billion on longer-term government bonds. There was some relief, and bond yields began to fall. We'll explain market reactions and why this is all about confidence in the long-term financial stability of the U.S. Plus, we'll learn about the current landscape for psychedelic therapy drugs.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Most of the world’s internet traffic flows through underwater cables on the ocean floor. The wires are also responsible for some $10 trillion worth of financial transactions every day. And because those cables hold so much data and carry so much money, they’re also a potential security threat. That may explain why the U.S. and China are vying for control over the technology — and why the Trump administration is ramping up spending to replace cables in the Caribbean and Central America. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Erin Murphy, the managing director for Asia at Redpoint Advisors, about why these cables play a key role in geopolitics. More on this:US is considering big boost to anti-China spending globally from The Associated PressRisk Beneath the Waves: Safeguarding Subsea Cables for a Secure Global Network from CSIS

How much should parents budget for daycare? Does it make more financial sense for both parents to work and pay for childcare, or for one parent to stay home and care for their child? And why is childcare so expensive if childcare workers aren’t paid enough? In this episode, Reema shares a big announcement… She also hears from listeners and new parents about how they’re making childcare work for their families, and public policy expert Taylor Morrissey explains why the childcare system in the United States feels so broken.If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgIf you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

The price of imported goods, sans energy, was up 4.5% year-over-year in July. Data center buildout is driving that jump — imported computer prices were up 17%. In this episode, we explain why import price inflation is distinct from regular inflation and what that leap means for Fed rate-setting. Plus: U.S. oil firms ink deals with Venezuelan producers, the Treasury excecutes on major bond buybacks, and Kai meets a duo trying to turn Hollywood upside-down — or, at least, vertical. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:What happens when import prices skyrocket? More inflation, of courseU.S. oil companies ink production deals with VenezuelaMicrodramas get the "Hollywood treatment" at this new studio

The Treasury Department announced this morning that it'll double the amount it spends on its buyback operations for longer-term government bonds. It had planned to spend about $2 billion buying back government debt. Now, it will spend $4 billion. This comes after investor concerns over federal debt, global instability, and inflation drove the 30-year bond yield up to a nearly 20-year high. We explain. Then: why Mexico's government is launching a line of mini EVs.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:Mexico launches its own electric car to show it can do more than build for other countries

Later this afternoon, we'll get minutes from the most recent Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed kept interest rates steady in July, but there was some disagreement. A handful of Fed officials wanted to raise the cost of borrowing. This morning, we'll discuss the dissents, fresh economic data, and what to expect from today's report. Then, it's been five years since tens of thousands of Afghans were airlifted to U.S. cities. We'll learn about their careers and lives.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:What to watch for in the next Fed minutesFive years after the Afghan evacuation, thousands have built careers and businesses

Water systems across a dozen states were targeted by cyberattacks in recent weeks. So far, the water has remained safe to drink, but the incidents have raised concerns about the possibility of future attacks. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Nikita Shah, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about other vulnerable infrastructure and the steps that states can take to strengthen cybersecurity. More on this:How Tehran’s Use of Cyber Operations in the U.S.-Iran Conflict Has Evolved from CSISA Leaked Memo Ties Cyberattacks on Minnesota Water Utilities to Iran | WIRED from WIREDNew York awards $9M to protect water systems after cyberattacks in other states - Gothamist from Gothamist

Cattle herds are at a national low not seen since the 1950s. That’s driving up the price of beef for consumers, but it’s also affecting the companies that process cows into steaks and burgers. In this episode, why meatpacking plants are shuttering. Plus: Home Depot stays afloat despite a “frozen” housing market, retailers prepare to release quarterly earnings, and interior design is stuck in a “color recession.”Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Here's why Home Depot calls housing market "frozen"Retailers should be doing well, despite consumer challengesDespite a slow alcohol retail market, this Wyoming distillery is expandingMeatpacking plants close as U.S. cattle herds shrink to a nearly 75-year lowIs the greige wave here to stay?

The school year is getting started across the country, but some families are sending their kids to school without access to a benefit many have relied on in previous years: free school meals. Significant changes to SNAP under last year's Republican tax and spending law have led to plummeting SNAP enrollment — which is often tied to free school meals. Also on the program: big retailers' quarterly results and a buyer's market (for wealthier homebuyers, that is).Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories in this episode:A buyer's market? Yes. For those who can afford it.

The average worker in the U.S. who stayed in their job between 2021 and 2024 saw their wages decline by 9% after inflation, a new paper finds. While the gap between wage growth and inflation is smaller now, that doesn’t undo the bad news of a few years ago. And this decline in real wages may be at the root of poor consumer sentiment. Plus, some Vermont businesses are offering steep discounts to lure back Canadian tourists.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:U.S. businesses offer deals to lure back Canadian touristsReal wage losses are at the root of low consumer sentiment, new paper finds

Today, we’re resharing an episode that’s perfect for a summer listen. We’re answering Maddox’s question about what happens to your quarter when you put it inside a claw machine. It just zips away! Ryan and Bridget talk to an expert who lets them peek inside a claw machine to find out where that quarter goes. After getting some tips on how to win at the claw, Bridget gets a little too hung up on trying to win a stuffie, leaving it up to Ryan to bring her back to reality (shocking, we know).

More than 100 rockets took off into orbit from Florida’s Space Coast last year — a new record. And with more rockets taking flight each year, the availability of launch sites is becoming a bottleneck for the growing space industry.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants to make it easier for space companies to build new spaceports to make way for the increasing number of rocket launches. The agency has proposed waiving some environmental requirements for space launch. Daniel Ackerman has been reporting on the space industry as part of the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT.

Consumer spending fell in early August, according to preliminary results from the University of Michigan’s survey. July retail sales were down, and the average price of gas is nearing a record high for August. In today’s episode, we look at how consumers could be cutting discretionary spending as a result. Also, we’ll look at why China’s economy may be in trouble, the value of GDP as a statistic, fake business registrations in Colorado, Reddit joining the S&P 500, and the global plastics industry.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Is the consumer engine of the economy starting to slow down?Is China's economy in trouble?Why we still use GDP to measure economic growthGetting weird mail? In Colorado, it could be business fraudPopular online forum Reddit is joining the S&P 500Middle East conflict raises U.S. plastic industry's sinking ship

China, the world's second-largest economy, sent several cargo ships through an Arctic route over the weekend, along waters hugging Russia's northern coast. The two countries are trying out a path that could become a new shipping lane from China's East Coast to the largest port in the U.K. — one that could avoid U.S.-controlled choke points for trade. But first, big retailers will report quarterly earnings this week. What could they tell us about the U.S. economy?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Could an Arctic shipping route transform global trade?

Get used to paying higher gas prices — they’re the cost of curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions. That was the message from President Donald Trump at a rally on Friday. Today, the temporary ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran expires, and ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is now essentially halted. We'll have the latest. Plus, the $46 billion tribal gambling industry lacks a leader, and that could hamper business growth and investment.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:What happens when a $46 billion industry doesn't have a leader?

Suno, an AI music company, wants to partner with independent artists by launching an incubator program called Suno Spark. This program will provide grants, marketing support and, of course, Suno AI tools to unsigned musicians.Tatiana Cirisano, vice president of music strategy at MIDiA Research, which consults in entertainment, discusses more on this.

In the Commerce Department’s retail sales report for July, sales at stores of all kinds were down 0.6%, when a modest increase in sales had been expected. Though some discretionary purchases are up, consumers are certainly tightening their belts. Also in this episode, we look at the decline of Etsy, how businesses near the Canadian border are dealing with fewer visitors, and the staying power of Candy Crush.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Inflation dipped slightly in July, but remains above Fed's targetRetail sales dropped sharply in July as consumers tighten spendingThe AI slop-ification of EtsyFewer Canadian shoppers leave border businesses strugglingThe incredible staying power of Candy Crush Saga

Forecasters predicted we’d see a slight increase in retail sales in July, but instead, Census Bureau data released this morning revealed a significant drop. As high energy prices persist and tax refunds run out, it appears that consumers have begun to pull back. Should we be worried? Plus: 200 Nebraskans have lost Medicaid coverage in the first wave of terminations under the government’s new “work requirements.” Many more Americans may soon follow.Stories featured in today’s episode:Roughly 200 people in Nebraska lost Medicaid on Aug. 1Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The federal budget picture for 2026 is not looking too hot. Just in July, the government borrowed $432 billion — that’s $14 billion a day. We explain what’s behind the record-breaking national debt, and what it would take to pay it back. Then, we explore how relentless heat waves in Italy are creating dire conditions for the country’s cheese banks — yes, literal banks, where wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano are held as collateral.Stories featured in today’s episode:This year's budget deficit has almost reached $2 trillion. It's not over yet.Climate change is causing trouble for Italy’s cheese banksEvery story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Anthropic announced it's adding invisible watermarks to all text generated by its chatbot Claude. The AI startup is rolling out the policy globally as part of efforts to comply with the European Union AI Act.Plus, there's a patchwork of state laws that regulate AI-generated political messaging — they're being put to the test ahead of the midterm elections. And federal regulators ordered Kalshi to continue to operate in New York, despite a state lawsuit seeking to shut it down.Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, about all this for this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

The government is selling 30-year bonds with interest rates at a quarter-century high. We talk with Greg Ip at the Wall Street Journal about how that could be a warning from investors over stubborn inflation and mounting debt. Also in this episode, we look at how energy prices shape the Producer Price Index, rising prices for retailers, and coal slipping as an energy source, before diving into infrastructure with a look at Puerto Rico’s water crisis and solar panel installation in Ann Arbor, Michigan.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Inflation cools for producers in JulyHow small business owners are dealing with rising costsCoal still behind natural gas, renewables in electricity productionHow one restaurant is navigating Puerto Rico’s water crisisFree solar panels and home batteries? Ann Arbor's trying it out

Cloud computing providers, chip makers, server makers, and even construction companies like Caterpillar all boasted stellar quarterly earnings, sending the message that demand for the development and upkeep of AI is still surging. However, the question remains whether the tech giants pouring cash into data centers will see a return on these enormous investments. But first: Tomorrow we get July’s retail reports, and analysts predict that they’ll show they same thing we’ve been seeing for months: Even though consumers are stressed, they’re still spending. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Treasury Department is changing the rules on which businesses have to report their ownership to the government. The Biden-era requirements were intended to prevent money laundering, but critics say they were too onerous. Will the changes make it easier for dirty money to get into the U.S.? Then: Even though the Trump administration says we’re in control of the Straight of Hormuz, barely any ships are getting through. But unlike at the start of the war, oil markets don’t seem spooked. We explain. Stories featured in today’s episode:Treasury changes rules for business reporting ownershipEvery story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Generative AI models can produce enormous volumes of text, images and video in seconds. But without expert human instruction, the output is often generic. (You might say slop.)A number of startups in Silicon Valley are on a mission to change that by giving AI a more human sense of taste. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with critic and journalist Sophie Haigney about what taste is and whether artificial intelligence can truly replicate it.

Tight grocery budget? Try a "recession recipe." Reema talks producer Alice Wilder about her trip to meet Kiki Rough, a TikTok creator who makes hyper affordable recipes. Kiki learned how to to cook on a shoestring budget while on food stamps and has gained a large following as food insecurity in the U.S. rises. But even after going viral, she’s is still struggling to feel financially secure.How have you been stretching your grocery budget? Email us your favorite penny-pinching recipes, and we’ll put them together into a little cookbook on our website!If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgIf you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

The average household’s buying power has slipped by about 0.1%, when the latest CPI report is compared to last week’s jobs numbers. In layman’s terms, Americans took a pay cut over the last year. But economists aren’t so clear on what comes next. In this episode, we’re on the inflation-outpacing-wages beat. Plus: Drivers brace for continued high gas prices, fractional homeownership startups present tradeoffs in this squeezed housing market, and we break down some lesser-known economic indicators.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from this episode: Inflation has slowed, but wage growth hasn't caught upRefined oil prices face more pressure than crude, and consumers will pay the priceTo understand how war impacts financial markets, look to the pastWhat you should know about fractional homeownership

Magic: The Gathering is considered the first modern trading card game. It's a big business, too. Hasbro reported that the game's revenue jumped to a record $545 million in Q2. Today, as a continuation of our "What's That Like?" series, we'll hear from one of the artists who helps bring this fantastical world to life. Also on this morning's program: What do oil disruptions mean for consumer prices going forward?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:How Magic: The Gathering cards come to life

Baby boomers make up the biggest share of homebuyers. Most downsize in their golden years, selling a bigger house and purchasing something smaller. But an increasing number are bucking that trend by buying larger homes or holding on to their bigger houses and renovating them. All of this has implications for a housing market where inventories are below historic norms. But first, more than 10% of student loans are at least 90 days past due.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The student loan delinquency rate is ticking upBaby boomers are supposed to downsize. Some are doing the opposite

This story includes discussion of suicide.Back in 2021, TikTok tweaked its algorithm in an effort to address dangerous filter bubbles — a sort of algorithmic spiral of recommendations for high-risk content like extreme dieting or self-harm. But internal company documents obtained by Bloomberg Businessweek show 10% of U.S. users — 15 million Americans — were purposely excluded from this safety update. This was part of user testing to validate the new feature and track whether it reduced engagement with the famously sticky platform.One of those users was then-16-year-old Chase Nasca, who subsequently died by suicide. Olivia Carville, Bloomberg Businessweek investigative reporter, has been on the story.

Credit card delinquencies are sitting at 13% so far this year. It’s the highest national rate since the tail-end of the Great Recession. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, including high inflation and job uncertainty, is partially to blame. Also in this episode: Home equity lines of credit become more popular as traditional borrowing rates climb, small business owners are cautious but optimistic — and trying to hire — and Kyla Scanlon explains economic nihilism.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Younger consumers are turning to "little treats" in the face of economic nihilismWhy lines of credit have become a preferred piggy bank for homeownersCredit card delinquencies approach Great Recession levelsChina is shaping the technology of the future. Where does that leave the U.S.?Small business owners are feeling uncertain but optimistic

We have the latest reading on how small businesses are feeling in this economy, courtesy of the National Federation of Independent Business's Small Business Optimism Index. Small businesses are more upbeat and are looking to hire. We discuss that and other economic data drops. Then, as part of Marketplace's "What's That Like?" series, we hear what it takes to become a game designer behind Hasbro's Magic: The Gathering.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:How Magic: The Gathering cards come to life

Up until last year, construction workers were not in high demand. The data center construction boom has been changing that. Wage growth in the sector is outpacing the rest of the labor market. But the benefits of that growth are relatively limited. This morning, we'll dig in. Plus, President Trump is extending his waiver of the Jones Act to counteract oil disruptions, and the demand for EVs has risen alongside higher gas prices.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Dealers are paying more for used EVs and smaller cars as gas prices stay highHow data center construction is affecting the labor market

Remember those grainy old baby monitors? So passé. Today, the modern nursery can be equipped with HD cameras and biometric sensors — all analyzed with artificial intelligence.The technology can detect hazardous position changes or a blanket covering a baby's face, but also tracks less critical metrics that purport to help optimize infant sleep and health. Sapna Maheshwari, business reporter at The New York Times, recently wrote about this. She's been an avid user of the Nanit Smart Baby Monitor System with both of her children.More on this“Aw, It’s Baby’s First A.I. Surveillance System” from The New York Times“AI-powered IoT is creating a new security challenge” from Spiceworks

More bad news from last week’s jobs report: Wage growth slowed to 3.2%, the lowest yearly rate in five years. Combine that with high inflation, and consumers are losing purchasing power. In this episode, where did the wage growth go? Plus: Temp firms report increased demand, Bed, Bath & Beyond’s parent company wants to expand into services, and Pringles implements AI on the production line. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:U.S. consumers' real earnings have been fallingWhy Bed Bath & Beyond's parent company is pivoting to mortgages and flooringShould we ditch paper checks? You probably write more than you thinkShe chose rural South Carolina over Italy and EnglandOne bright spot in an otherwise-meh labor market? Temp jobsA new kind of AI chip: Pringle-making gets optimized by artificial intelligence

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the K-shaped economy is turning C-shaped, meaning low-income wage growth is beginning to outpace growth for higher earners. But experts said the evidence for that claim may be lacking. This morning, we’ll discuss if it’s a fair characterization before diving into the latest attempt to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Then, we’ll look at how hospitals are turning to career academies and other programs to tackle a crisis in recruitment and retention.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:Is the K-shaped economy over?Hospitals are turning to career academies to combat a retention crisis

Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate adjourned for its August recess without passing the “Clarity Act,” which would change the way cryptocurrencies would be regulated. The bill, largely backed by the crypto industry, would treat many cryptocurrencies like commodities rather than securities. This morning, we’ll look at how that would change which agency has oversight, then look at how fairs and carnivals can be a barometer for consumer spending.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:What fairs and carnivals can teach us about the economy

Substack, the platform popular for online newsletters, recently launched an artificial intelligence detection feature powered by Pangram. The detector allows users to scan text and get an estimate for how much of it was likely written by AI. But some creators are concerned about the tool’s accuracy and its potential to prompt a “witch hunt” for writers who use AI. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Substack CEO Chris Best about the new feature.More on this:AI Content Is Everywhere on Social Media, Especially LinkedIn from PangramI Test-Drove Substack’s New AI Detection Tool, and It Mostly Worked from CNET

The July jobs report is out, and it’s a doozy: The U.S. labor market shed a net 23,000 jobs last month. Previous months, which saw moderate gains, were revised down. In this episode, which sectors cut the most roles, and what it all signals about the broader economy. Plus: Climbing car prices lock buyers in longer-term loans, communities combat a teacher shortage by building affordable housing, and we want to hear your stories about voluntarily leaving the workforce.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:The economy lost 23,000 jobs in July. Should the Fed be worried?Here's where the economy lost jobs in JulyCar prices continue to rise. Auto lenders compensate with long-term loansThe school districts building affordable housing for teachersHow leaving the labor force helped this caregiver find her calling

The latest jobs report for July is out. The economy lost 23,000 jobs last month, but analysts were expecting more than 80,000 jobs to be created. This morning, we have some context behind the headline numbers. Plus, we got dozens of financial results this week. Some of the big names were Uber, Palantir, McDonald's, Disney, and CVS. What stood out? And later, Meta was fined $567 million over social media's harm to kids.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Yesterday, a New Mexico court ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay more than $500 million to address harms to young people from its platforms. It's the second phase of a landmark trial, and the combined fines from both parts are north of $940 million. This morning, we'll have an explainer. Then, we'll parse the economics of launching the first female American professional baseball league in over 70 years.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:Women's pro baseball is back

Is your shirt-folding technique good enough to train a robot how to do it? Could MySpace be creeping back into our browsers? We get into all this on today’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”But first, the rocket ship/satellite internet/AI company SpaceX reported this week that it spent over $18 billion in capital expenditures in the second quarter. That’s six times what it spent the same time last year. Most of that was on AI infrastructure. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Joanna Stern, founder of the media company New Things, to discuss all these topics.Everything we talked about:“Here's the mark a SpaceX rocket crash left on the moon” from CBC“SpaceX posts loss of $541 million in first report since record-setting IPO” from The Washington Post“Train robots and make money” from The New Things“Could Myspace be making a return” from CNN

As high gas costs pile up for drivers, Big Oil is getting jumpy. That’s because one way to bring prices down, at least temporarily, is an oil export ban. The Trump administration hasn’t signaled support for such a ban, but oil firms are being proactive, by lobbying the White House to find alternatives. Also in this episode: CEOs are sour on this economy, a major university invests big in artificial intelligence, and we analyze the difference between Fed Chair Warsh and former Fed Chair Powell’s public statements.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Big oil is not up for another export banCan you spot the difference between Warsh and Powell's FOMC statements?Why you should care about CEOs' confidence in the economyThe FIRE movement: How soon can I quit?USC pushes to expand AI research with $200 million gift

We got the latest reading of jobless claims today. Last week, 199,000 people filed for first-time unemployment claims. Thing is, there were large-scale firings of Haitians and Syrians with Temporary Protected Status, but because they aren't eligible for unemployment insurance, they won't show up in unemployment claims. We'll discuss how these job losses can be tracked and more of this low-hire, low-fire economy we can't seem to shake. Plus, we'll explore how local utilities are grappling with the potential costs and benefits that data centers can bring.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:As more data centers hook up to the grid, how will electric companies keep prices down?

We've been reporting a lot on the rural healthcare crisis recently. Later today, a community in rural Maine will likely learn whether its local hospital will lose labor and delivery services. The state’s largest health system has proposed closing the birthing unit at Lincoln Hospital in the state’s Midcoast region. It would be the fifth rural Maine hospital to stop delivering babies in the last two years, but the community is fighting hard to keep it open. Also: more people are swiping credit cards just to get by.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Credit cards are becoming easier to access for subprime borrowers“Nobody wants this”: Community protests possible L&D closure at rural hospital

How were you raised to think about money, and how do you know when the values you inherited no longer fit? What do we owe other people, and when is generosity a duty? Reema talks with Abigail Disney, the grandniece of Walt Disney, about family, legacy, and giving away millions.If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgFollow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Let’s say you're chatting away with AI — perfect grammar, great vocabulary. Then, boom: a random word in another language! That's the topic for today's “Uncanny AI.” Those moments where it becomes really clear that AI doesn't think like us. Janelle Shane, who writes the AI Weirdness blog, helps explain why AI chatbots do this.More on this:“ChatGPT users flummoxed after AI bot starts inserting Arabic into responses” from The New York Post“ChatGPT is mixing languages or Answers are Wrong!” from OpenAI Developer Community

You know how wages have, on average, stagnated when you account for inflation? Well there’s one group that saw some actual wage growth last month: Job changers. Pay growth for people who switched jobs was 7% in July, according to ADP. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the entire labor market is heating up — some in-demand labor sectors might be accounting for most of that bump. Also in this episode: Gen Z bucks the K-shaped economy trend, insurance billing errors can add up for employers, and Kai visits a used EV auction.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Job-changers are seeing their highest wage increases in nearly a yearGen Z is spending more across all income bracketsIn healthcare, catching errors from insurers is a growing industryThe entrepreneur building a marketplace for used EVs

The Associated General Contractors of America recently issued a report that finds job gains in the building trade are uneven, with residential construction still lagging. The reasons are a combination of supply chain uncertainty, immigration policy, and high mortgage rates. We'll unpack. Plus, AI and online gambling are following crypto's lead in campaign spending. And, from "Marketplace Tech," can AI tackle some of the biggest failings of our justice system?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in today’s show:From “Marketplace Tech”: AI-driven law could be an answer to accessible legal helpWhat's behind the slowdown in construction jobs?

The music industry is wrestling with the best way to incorporate and acknowledge artificial intelligence in the business. AI tools are one thing, but what about AI-generated music or AI-generated artists? Record labels are now proposing new guidelines on how music generated by artificial intelligence should be treated. Today, we dig into what it means for chart eligibility and the task of finding human-made music. But first: World Cup fans boosted U.S. service exports.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:World Cup fans drove up U.S. service exports in JuneRecord labels push for AI music guardrails

From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. “The Midnight Rebellion” is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It's fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family. You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight Rebellion. Each chapter ends with a choice. YOU decide what’s next. Choose wisely. And if you liked what you heard, listen to the rest and follow The Midnight Rebellion wherever you get your podcasts.

AI has already changed the legal field, bringing new efficiencies — along with some high-profile mistakes — to tasks like research and drafting contracts. But law professor Benjamin Alarie at the University of Toronto has a bigger transformation in mind.He wants to see AI tackle some of the biggest failings of our justice system, like the lack of access to legal resources, slow processes and inconsistencies in how law is applied. He lays out his vision in a new book called "Superjustice: Law in the Age of Artificial Intelligence."More on this:“Superjustice: Law in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” from Oxford University Press“Judge Punishes 4 Lawyers After Catching Both Sides Using A.I. in Lawsuit” from The New York Times

In July, the manufacturing sector grew at its fastest month-to-month rate in four years. A new tax law likely boosted company spending to some degree, but AI investment packed the biggest punch — demand is strong and the money is flowing. Also in this episode: McDonald’s suffers a sales slump, the latest JOLTS data points to a steadily improving labor market, and Kai talks to one economist behind a Trump administration investment tracker.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Manufacturing sector benefits from continued AI demandTracking down the Trump administration's $27.6 billion in investmentsWhy job openings have been rising slowly this yearMcDonald's sales soften as diners spend cautiouslyWhere did China's oil imports go?

California voters will decide this November whether to impose a one-time wealth tax on the state's richest residents, setting up what could become one of the most expensive ballot measure fights in state history. Proposition 40 would levy a one-time 5% tax on the total wealth — not just income, but stock holdings, real estate, yachts, and other assets — of roughly 200 of California's richest residents. We’ll dig in. Also: a stopgap funding bill and Treasury term premiums.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:Why term premiums on U.S. Treasurys have been risingCalifornia voters weigh $100 billion wealth tax to offset Medicaid cuts

Seven states are set to hold primary elections this week. Polls open today in Washington, Kansas, Virginia, Missouri, and Michigan. This morning, we'll dig into where exactly dollars are flowing, as well as their sources. Then, Maryland was hit hard by the Trump administration's DOGE cuts. It lost close to 25,000 federal jobs last year. So, to help out their neighbors, some Marylanders have formed a kind of club whose goal is to redistribute money.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Would you join a club where the goal is to redistribute money?

Last month, President Xi Jinping spoke at an AI conference in Shanghai, China. There he promoted AI accessibility for the world, touting China’s adoption of open-weighted models.After OpenAI’s rogue model incident in which a training model hacked into the company HuggingFace and stole confidential information, the discussion over whether models should be open or closed has intensified.“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carion spoke with Adam Segal at the Council of Foreign Relations about China’s soft power play in the global AI arms race.

Permian Basin oil companies are reporting strong quarterly earnings, as the Iran war keeps prices up and supply restricted. West Texas, formerly in a slump, has seen an uptick in hiring and new rigs. But oil companies are moving cautiously — they want to avoid a bust after the boom. Also in this episode, more caution: Small businesses carefully weigh workforce expansion, the U.S. invests billions to prop up the Japanese yen, and a Colorado peach farmer preps for a water shortage.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Why did the U.S. just spend billions to prop up the Japanese yen?What the bond market is trying to tell usHow small- and medium-sized firms are navigating this labor market momentBecoming a freelance court reporter helped this mom find herselfHigh oil prices lift all boats in the Permian Basin, but companies remain cautiousPeaches pay the bills for Western Colorado farmers, but drought makes their future uncertain

Japan's yen is up against the dollar this morning. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. Treasury Department bought up yen, boosting its value. Japan has been struggling with the low value of its currency. The purchase could help the U.S. though, too. We'll explain. Then, Trump also said over the weekend that the U.S. would back down from fresh attacks on Iran. What's that mean for oil prices?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The latest news on mortgage rates — crucial for would-be buyers and sellers — is not great. According to Freddie Mac, the average interest on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up again last week to 6.66%. That puts the cost of borrowing to buy a home at the highest level we’ve seen in a year. We explain what's going on. Then, Google's AI summaries are leaving many publishers searching for new ways to reach customers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Mortgage rates just hit a one-year highGoogle's AI search is changing who gets web traffic

OpenAI released its first ChatGPT model in November of 2022. Since then, companies across the U.S. have worked to integrate AI models into their workflows as quickly as possible.However, according to a recent survey from Indeed, while employers have been keen on adopting the help of artificial intelligence, employees are hesitant to move past experimentation and into implementation.Priya Rathod is a workplace trends editor at Indeed, and she said that in order to get across this great divide, employers need to focus on adequate training for employees and their managers.“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Rathod about the survey and how businesses can improve on AI adoption.

Amazon’s autonomous vehicle company, Zoox, can now roll out 2,500 of its vehicles annually in the next two years. Are more robotic cars coming, or will there be more speed bumps? But first, we’ll look at the market impact of the Fed’s decision to keep interest rates steady in our Weekly Wrap. Plus, the effect of rising health insurance costs for employers, a retiree returning to the workforce for a family business, and a look at how Boulder, Colorado is making room for the Sundance Film Festival.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Weekly Wrap: Kevin Warsh's dilemma on interest ratesRising health insurance costs may take a bite out of your paycheckLeaving retirement for a new family businessAmazon's self-driving Zoox taxis are about to hit the roadsWhen a legendary film festival comes to Colorado, will homeowners open their doors?

The federal government is proposing a rule allowing its agencies to require that their workers sign non-disclosure agreements. That rule has yet to be finalized. But another rule, which is final, says workers could be fired for refusing to sign an NDA or violating one after signing it. This is raising alarms for advocates. We dig in. But first: what the performance of some of the country's biggest companies tells us about the rest of the economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories in this episode:Trump wants to require NDAs for federal workers, worrying advocates

Inflation data out yesterday showed the pace of price increases slowed a bit in June, but that may be short-lived when it comes to food. Prices for commodities like wheat, corn, and rice could jump 10% to 18% by next summer because of ongoing wars in Iran, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as what’s forecast to be a “super El Niño” this year. Then, we check in on the state of remote work.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Food commodity prices predicted to jumpTurns out, remote work has staying power

Meta and Microsoft — as well as other tech titans — have been reporting quarterly earnings, and investors are looking at AI spending with a more skeptical eye. Plus, more than 1,000 workers at top AI labs signed an open letter this week calling on the government to "deliberately set the pace" of this fast-moving technology, and NBCUniversal makes a deal with YouTube to add all of Peacock's content to its premium streaming service.Anita Ramaswamy, columnist at The Information, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino to discuss these stories on this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Since 2020, the cost of groceries has risen 26%. But contrary to what you might think, cash-strapped consumers aren’t necessarily staying away from pricier options. In this episode, why Americans are doubling down on organic — even as the cost of their overall grocery haul rises. Plus: Why more customers are choosing chargebacks, what economists predict about inflation two years from now, and how a Maine nonprofit is bringing lobstering to the next generation.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:The Fed doesn't have an inflation crystal ball, but it does have "sticky-price CPI"In spite of price hike fatigue, consumers are still snapping up organic foodsCredit card chargebacks are on the rise — part of the reason is fraudMultiple wars drive up the price of diesel"Never would have expected to be here": Young Mainers consider the lobster

The Federal Open Market Committee decided to hold interest rates steady yesterday. The central bank has a dual mandate from Congress to manage inflation while maximizing employment. Today, we'll dig into some warning signs in the current long-term unemployment figures, as well as the "low-hire, low-fire" environment. Then we'll learn why the Bureau of Economic Analysis is updating its inflation calculation and why it matters for everyday consumers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Why the government is updating how it calculates inflation

You may have heard that a diamond is forever. Turns out, a diamond's value is not. Overall, global rough diamond prices are down 20% year over year and 40% from a decade ago. That's just for natural diamonds — not the increasingly popular lab-grown diamond category. And legendary diamond mining company De Beers announced it's suspending diamond production at its largest mine. We'll unpack. But first: why Fed officials are so confident about hitting their inflationary target.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:What's behind the diamond downturn?

How many subscriptions are you paying for right now? Whether we’re watching TV, listening to music, or even just storing photos, it feels like we are required to rent so many parts of daily life these days. Reema talks to tech reporter Lance Ulanoff and finance writer Hanna Horvath about the origins of the subscription economy, what lies ahead, and how we can cope. Plus, we’ve got another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” where producer Alice Wilders joins Reema to investigate their own subscriptions and find ways to cut costs. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgIf you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Money Questions” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Shri Narayanan, professor of engineering, psychology and linguistics at the University of Southern California, teaches his students to privilege humans when using artificial intelligence for their research across areas of study. In this episode, he walks us through how he, for example, uses AI to map behavioral analyses that can inform areas of study including autism and depression.

The Trump administration’s war in the Middle East has driven up fuel prices globally. As drivers pay more at the pump, some oil-rich states like New Mexico and Alaska are experiencing a tax revenue windfall. In this episode, one man’s gas spend becomes another man’s state budget booster. Plus: The Fed holds rates steady despite internal disagreement, “kidulting” and collectibles fuel growth in the toy retail space, and a line dancing resurgence driven by social media launches one instructor’s boot scootin’ career.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Oil-producing states benefit from war-driven windfallAdults are spending big on toysWhat happens if the AI bubble pops?How one entrepreneur is riding a wave in popularity for line dancing

Today, the key stock index in South Korea — the Kospi — was down almost 6% at close. That’s after dropping 10% yesterday. We’re starting to see somewhat of a change in investor emotion for tech stock, prompted by questions over big tech companies spending on AI. What else is driving the sell-off, and what does it mean for the broader market? Plus, we look at how AI is shaping the job market for younger job seekers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The U.S. Federal Reserve will wrap up a two-day meeting today with an announcement from Chair Kevin Warsh on interest rates. In the middle of uncertainty regarding the war in the Middle East, oil prices, and inflation, experts say rates could remain unchanged — for now. Also, we look at how consumers are pulling back on grocery spending and why the Trump administration is arguing some countries have “excess capacity” in certain manufacturing sectors.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The University of Southern California is aiming to integrate AI across its campus, thanks to a $200 million dollar gift from a venture capitalist. Gaurav Sukhatme is the newly appointed director of USC's Stevens School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence and interim dean of the Viterbi School of Engineering. As he showed Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino around his lab, she asked him how the technology will be embedded across all fields of study at USC.More on this:“Mark and Mary Stevens give $200 million to power AI research across USC” from the University of Southern California“Students question value of college as costs rise and AI reshapes jobs” from PBS

President Trump insists his economic policies have supported a reshoring of manufacturing jobs. At a rally held at a Michigan GM facility on Monday, he doubled down. In reality, the U.S. has lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs since Trump took office in 2025. In this episode, we fact check the President’s claims, and consider the future of Michigan’s auto industry. Plus: Companies begin to offer insurance for AI mistakes, the U.S. trade deficit shrank a bit in June, and UPS winds down its Amazon delivery fulfilment partnership.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Trump says his aggressive trade policy is bringing back factory jobs. Is it?No really, what is Kevin Warsh thinking?New insurance products cover damages caused by AIUPS and FedEx are moving from higher volumes to higher marginsThe trade deficit fell in June, but remains highAs mortgage rates stay high, this lender is seeing buyers accept the new normal

The number of Americans 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2060 — reaching 95 million people. You may have heard about the massive wealth transfer slated to come from Baby Boomers to younger generations, but new reporting finds that the high cost of elder care is wiping out the money some older adults had hoped to leave to their heirs. Also, we'll parse some of the economic data the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee is considering as it convenes today and tomorrow.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The "Great Wealth Transfer" may be smaller than expected

Investors are apprehensive as we get into an action-packed week in the economy. The Federal Reserve finishes up an interest-rate-setting meeting tomorrow. Dozens of companies on the S&P report earnings, and we also get reports on inflation and GDP. Plus, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon issue earnings reports, and investors are anxious about cash burn at companies building out AI data centers. Then, we'll get into the different concerns Baby Boomers and Gen Z have about the economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Investors are keeping an eye on AI cash burn in Big Tech earnings reportsWhy Baby Boomers and Gen Z have different concerns about the economy

The ocean is already one of the best climate solutions we’ve got. It absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that would otherwise contribute to global warming. But what if it could store even more CO2? Marketplace’s Amy Scott, host of our climate podcast “How We Survive,” looked into one strategy to achieve that goal. And she set sail for a demonstration.This feature is part of “How We Survive.” You can hear more of Amy’s reporting on marine carbon removal and other geoengineering solutions on their new season, wherever you get your podcasts.

More than 330,000 Haitians lost their ability to legally live and work in the U.S. this week. A recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for refugees from certain countries. In this episode, why the policy change will deliver a swift blow to the healthcare sector. Plus: Economists weigh the Fed’s next interest rate move, businesses report cautious optimism in new survey, and a Baltimore club redistributes wealth to neighbors in need.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Economists share their Fed expectationsBusinesses report optimism, despite all the economic uncertaintyA new kind of club wants people to share the wealthWhat the end of TPS for Haitians could mean for the labor forceTo reduce their climate impact, airlines target contrailsCircus school balances world-class programs with small town values

Fewer students are trying to get advanced degrees in the United States. The number admitted to Ph.D. programs this coming fall dropped by 15% from last year. The number of international students applying to Ph.D. programs in the U.S. has also dropped sharply. Today, we'll hear how reduced federal funding for universities and stricter immigration policies are affecting advanced degrees and research. But first, a check-in on how businesses are feeling and what that means for their customers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories in this episode:Ph.D. admissions have dropped 15% for the new school year

On Monday, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will open to traffic for the first time. The structure connects Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, and provides a new link between the two countries. The opening also comes at a time of increased trade tension, with the U.S. proposing new tariffs on certain Canadian goods. We'll dig into the economic benefits of the new bridge — and its significance. Also, we'll look at the declining number of Ph.D. students and proposed cuts to federal research agencies.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in today’s episode:Gordie Howe Bridge cuts U.S.-Canada trade tension — tariffs add it backPh.D. admissions have dropped 15% for the new school year

A proliferation of AI apps that allow users to create sexualized images of real people have grown into a multi-million dollar industry.Social media platforms are serving as de facto gateways to these services, despite the fact that most prohibit the sharing or promotion of this kind of non-consensual intimate imagery, according to Sina Laubenstein, director of programs at the Institute for Strategic Dialogues, which recently published a report on this.

Intel’s sales jumped by 25% last quarter, the largest increase in over a decade — making the U.S. government’s stake in the company around $40 billion after the administration invested last year. In this episode: Was Trump’s Intel deal a win-win? Plus: Why Gen Z’s not drinking regular soda, rates on business loans might climb, and a 63-year-old pivoted to statue restoration after a career in tech.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Weekly Wrap: Are tariffs just white noise?Rates on business loans have held steady, but they might climb soonIntel is booming a year after the U.S. government bought a stake. Is that a win-win?Mushroom soda and other functional drinks make a splash in the beverage marketHow a 63-year-old took statue restoration from a side hustle to full-time job

The reasons for premature retirement are plentiful: Companies downsize or go bust, partners get sick, kids need childcare help. A new survey finds that, on average, workers think they’ll retire at around 62, but the average age at which retirees actually leave the workforce is closer to 57. Thing is, most said they wished they’d saved more — or sooner. Plus, we dig into the latest round of tariffs from the Trump administration and debrief the past two weeks of earnings reports.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories included in this episode:Americans are retiring earlier than they'd like to. And not because they can afford to.

A new batch of tariffs went into effect overnight. And there’s more to come as the Trump administration attempts to rebuild the tariff wall torn down by a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year. This morning, we'll explain the fresh import duties, their exceptions, as well as an ongoing tariff investigation. Plus, support beams inside a former office tower in New York City that is being converted to apartments buckled recently. What does this mean for other office conversions?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories from this episode:What the near collapse of NYC’s Pfizer building means for office conversions

OpenAI revealed this week that two of its advanced AI models escaped containment and hacked into the systems of AI company Hugging Face, which had the answers to the benchmarking test the two models were being evaluated on.Plus, France becomes the first country in the European Union to ban social media for kids under 15. And Apple is reportedly expected to start leasing its devices to consumers. Will Oremus at The Atlantic joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino for these stories.

Sounds rosy, right? Not if you’re long-term unemployed, underemployed, or a new grad. In this episode, the labor market’s low-hire, low-fire status quo reaches a new extreme. Plus: States sue over new Medicaid work requirement protocols, Uber lays off a tenth of its customer service workers with plans to replace them with AI chatbots, and a family travel boom reshapes luxury resorts.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:It's still a tight job market, despite record-low initial unemployment claimsAs yields on Treasury notes rise, the bond market is changingStates sound alarm over new Medicaid work requirement ruleAn AI customer service agent will take your call nowThe life of a Hollywood freelancerFamilies are crashing honeymoon hot spots

PlayStation announced in June that it would stop selling physical copies of games by 2028. Soon, when you buy a game, you’ll just be renting the digital license — which PlayStation could wipe at any time. Understandably, gamers are not happy. Then, a boom in the private jet market makes hangar space hard to come by.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Gamers are upset by this death knell for physical discsA surge in private aircraft sales is leaving hangar space in short supply

Last year, counties with high flood risk had a net loss of over 60,000 residents — more than double the year before, according to a recent analysis from Redfin. We explore how climate risk is making things less affordable for homeowners. Then, a look at how WNBA players won a landmark new contract. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in today’s episode:Residents flee flood-prone counties for more affordable homesThe labor agreement reshaping the WNBA

Is a frustrating dynamic in your workplace keeping you up at night? In our recurring advice column, “Work Drama”, we try to find answers to your sticky work questions. This week Reema is joined by Marketplace correspondent Kristin Schwab and host/correspondent Sabri Ben-Achour to answer your workplace questions – from favoritism getting in the way of a promotion to persistent recruitment for the office kickball league. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgFollow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

A missing package can easily ruin a day, but chasing where that package went — or even a refund — is like following Odysseus on his treacherous journey.And in the age of AI chatbots, the process is a whole lot less human.Dillon Thompson is currently on such a journey. He is looking for an e-bike that FedEx said had been delivered. In his search, Thompson found himself in the AI chatbot hellscape that customer service lines have become.“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Thompson about his trials and tribulations as he chased his tail from company to company and chatbot to chatbot in hopes of finding his missing bike.

The yield on a 30-year Treasury bond has been hovering above 5% for a couple weeks — the longest stretch since the Great Recession. One reason is Treasury bonds are competing with Big Tech debt. We’ll explain, with help from one reporter’s shady gym membership deal. Also in this episode: AT&T attributes strong earnings to service bundles, a customs broker updates us on shipping logistics amid tariff changes, and Kai explains why Fed economists want to keep inflation expectations "anchored."Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:30-year Treasury yields stick above 5%China's consumer economy is losing steamAT&T's service bundles make for an earnings boonInside the "tariff whirlpool" with a brokerage managerWhat “anchored inflation expectations” mean for the Fed

Across Europe, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and pushing temperatures into the triple digits in some places. The heat has been slowing trains, straining power grids, and making it harder for people to work. All of this comes at an economic cost. This morning, we'll unpack. Then, private equity-backed firms now own about one in 10 U.S. community hospitals, but takeovers don't guarantee profits. We'll hear about one private equity-backed hospital chain becoming a nonprofit.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The economic costs of Europe's heatwavesQuorum Health, a private equity-backed hospital chain, is going nonprofit

President Trump said on Truth Social last night that he's planning a 100% tariff on generic drugs coming into the U.S. starting in 2028, which would jump to 200% a year after. This threat comes as the Trump administration is poised to announce another round of sweeping tariffs, which would replace existing import duties expiring this Friday. Also: one of the world's largest health databases and a pause in federal Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:New tariffs covering 60 countries to replace existing import dutiesWhy one of the world's largest health databases matters

Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino has been using chatbots pretty intensively the last couple years. And there are some details she’s shared about herself that chatbots seem to think are really important. For instance, Claude is obsessed with the fact that she sometimes gets up for work at 4 a.m.It comes up constantly in their chats — apropos of nothing. So, why do large language models latch on to these random tidbits? It's the first topic in our new series “Uncanny AI.” Those moments when it becomes clear AI doesn't think like us.Here to help us unpack what might be going on is Janelle Shane, a laser scientist who writes the AI Weirdness blog.

Anthropic settled a copyright case Monday, agreeing to pay out $1.5 billion to authors whose material had been scraped to train its AI chatbot. It comes out to roughly $3,000 per work used after legal fees and other costs. But the outcome isn’t as decisive as it seems. In this episode, what Anthropic’s decision to settle means for future AI copyright cases. Plus: What we lose when we rely on digital downloads, why Jersey Mike’s is soaring while Subway slumps, and how small business owners are handling higher trucking costs. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:How business owners are grappling with higher trucking costsJersey Mike's filed to go public. What advantages does it have over other sandwich chains?A GM vehicle will set you back around $52,000. Here's why that's higher than average.In the digital era, what media do we still own?Anthropic pays $1.5 billion to settle a copyright caseBreckenridge's dark night skies are dreamy — but they come at a cost

Canada and Mexico are getting very different treatment from the Trump administration when it comes to trade. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will travel to Mexico tomorrow for talks on revising the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada is not invited. In fact, it’s facing new U.S. tariffs. We dig in. Then, the transition to an AI economy could benefit some workers and displace others, but who gets to decide just how this transition will go? The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest coalition of labor unions, is demanding a role.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:How labor unions are tackling AI and midterm elections

Organized labor could play a major role in this year’s midterm elections. The nation’s largest federation of labor unions says it plans to mobilize 16 million voters with ties to the labor movement. "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams recently joined Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, at the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Summit, to discuss how the AFL-CIO is factoring in union members' concerns and opportunities regarding AI in the lead-up to the midterms. But first, Boeing eases back into the good graces of federal regulators.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Boeing may soon be able to deliver two models of its troubled 737-MAX to airlinesHow labor unions are tackling AI and midterm elections

This week we’re sharing an episode of the Marketplace climate solutions podcast “How We Survive.” The new season is all about the controversial ways humans are tinkering with nature in an effort to save the planet, from shooting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, to launching sunshades into space. In this episode, they explore the wildest intervention to date: de-extinction.The team takes a tour of Colossal Labs, the $10 billion Dallas-based startup betting it can reverse-engineer extinction itself, to see how they plan to turn pigeons into dodos and Asian elephants into woolly mammoths. But whether it’s bringing back the woolly mammoth from extinction or shooting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, just because we can mess with nature, does that mean we should? After the tour, host Amy Scott chats with Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert to find out. Follow “This Is Uncomfortable” on Instagram and Tiktok!Support Marketplace with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

The Big Tech companies driving the AI boom are expected to spend more than $700 billion on data center infrastructure this year. To finance this spending spree, they're increasingly looking to debt. Hyperscalers like Alphabet, Oracle, and Meta have been issuing corporate bonds at a scale the industry has never seen — nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars this year so far. The bond market could be considered a less risky way than stocks for investors to get a piece of the AI hype. To explain what the flood of AI debt means for the bond market, we’re joined by Julie Ask, an independent industry analyst at Ask Advisory. More on this: “The Quarter-Trillion-Dollar Onslaught of AI Bonds Is Testing Investors’ Limits” from the Wall Street Journal “AI has taken over the stock market. The bond market is next.” from The Economist

Blink and you’d miss it — gas prices cooled earlier this summer as the Iran war reached a ceasefire, but the national average is back up to $4 a gallon, according to AAA. In this episode, will U.S.-Iran negotiations drive fuel prices even higher? Plus: Starter home supply eases in some parts of the country, regional bank earnings reveal what’s going on in the consumer economy, and Kai discusses changes to the Fed under Chair Kevin Warsh.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Gas prices hit $4 a gallon againRegional bank earnings will tell us a lot about the health of the economyAll engines go as U.S. shipping speeds upStarter home supply is starting to pick up, particularly in the SouthFor this Texas park worker, home is about the location — not the house

The use of AI in the workplace can be a polarizing topic. How inevitable will AI be in our jobs, and what sorts of conversations should corporate leaders be ready to broach? "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams recently dug into that and more with Linda Hill, a Harvard Business School professor, at the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Summit. But first, leading economic indicators aren't as leading as they used to be.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories in this episode:How to approach the AI revolution

We're more than a week into renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran after the ceasefire collapsed. The escalation is starting to show up at the gas pump, sending prices up to more than $4 a gallon, according to AAA. That’s 13 cents a gallon more than we were paying last week. The average price a year ago? Was $3.14 a gallon. Also: an Nvidia stock sell-off and changing conversations around AI.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Why Nvidia briefly lost its crown as the world's most valuable companyHow to approach the AI revolution

As top AI firms race to develop a “superintelligent” agent — one that surpasses human cognition — are they prioritizing safety guardrails along the way? Not according to the Future of Life Institute’s AI Safety Index, which reported that companies have gone back on their own promises to take a pause if their technology ever got close to certain risky points. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Sabina Nong, AI safety investigator at the Future of Life Institute, about what measures might ensure durable safety around AI moving forward.

The short answer is no, the Chevron-Iraq deal won’t solve the problem. So why did the U.S.-based energy company sign a vague, preliminary deal to negotiate a pipeline that circumvents the Strait of Hormuz? It’s another sign that energy firms expect the war with Iran to drag on. Also in this episode: Talent managers represent more social media influencers as sponsored content spending grows, a food critic delivers the history of iconic Las Vegas buffets, and the U.S. experiences a fun shortage.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Inflation is softening. Can it last with war and tariffs?Chevron seeks new route to transport oil from IraqThe professionals behind that sponcon on your feedThe economics behind America’s fun shortageThe Las Vegas buffet, from 1946 to today

President Donald Trump recently made a point to express admiration for Australia’s retirement system — and he says he’s got his Commerce and Treasury secretaries working on a strategy to implement it in the United States. Future Effects correspondent David Brancaccio joins to explain Australia’s “super” system of mandatory savings, and what it could mean for Social Security. But first: why new home construction jumped in June.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in today’s episode:Why is Trump interested in Australia's retirement system?

The House Budget Committee approved a $95 billion budget bill on Thursday. The measure paves the way for a process known as reconciliation, which allows the majority party to pass bills without minority support. The package includes funding for defense, the war against Iran, and farm relief initiatives. This morning, we have an explainer. Then: what AI firms' expansion to New York City means for commercial real estate.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.’Stories featured in this episode:House panel advances $95 billion reconciliation billArtificial intelligence companies are coming to New York City

Apple has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the AI startup stole trade secrets. The iPhone maker claimed that former Apple employees were asked to bring proprietary hardware to job interviews with OpenAI, and that the company tricked manufacturers into sharing Apple design secrets.Plus, New York state becomes the first to enact a data center moratorium, and Uber is lobbying to slow the roll of autonomous vehicles in Washington D.C. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Paresh Dave, senior writer at Wired, to learn more.Here’s what we talked about: “The 6 wildest claims in Apple’s lawsuit against OpenAI” from The Verge“OpenAI’s First Device Will Be Movable, Screenless Speaker Built as AI Companion” from Bloomberg“New York becomes the first state to impose a data center moratorium” from Reuters“Uber’s robotaxi lobbying effort puts it on a collision course with Waymo” from TechCrunch“Robotaxi Riders Are Falling Asleep, Sparking Frantic 911 Calls” from Bloomberg

The White House has proposed new tariffs on 60 countries that allegedly aren’t doing enough to ban forced labor. Domestic businesses, already burned from last year’s trade war, are bracing for more hurt. In this episode, companies weigh early orders against rising costs. Plus: Recent positive inflation data could convince the Fed to hold interest rates steady, Kroger buys Giant Eagle in ongoing effort to unseat Walmart as the supermarket market-share king, and parents sacrifice to put their kids through youth sports.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from today’s episode: Retailers map out tariff strategiesThe Fed digests an optimistic week for economic dataTraditional supermarkets are struggling. Kroger hopes its Giant Eagle merger will helpBusiness Botox: What it takes to sell a luxury homeYouth sports have turned into a five-figure-a-year commitment for many parents

Annual inflation is clocking in at 3.5%, which is still high by recent standards. That's also the same rate at which average hourly earnings grew in June. While workers barely broke even in June, they actually lost purchasing power to inflation in April and May. With real earnings stagnating, we'll examine some of the causes. But first, we'll check in on how the latest developments in the war with Iran are showing up in oil prices and the rest of the global economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories included in this episode:What happens when wages grow at the same rate as inflation

Later today, we'll get retail sales figures from the Census Bureau. Consumers are pretty stressed right now and don’t like the prices they’re paying at the grocery store and gas station. However, they are still splurging on things that bring them joy. Plus, Spain and Argentina will face off for the World Cup final on Sunday. This morning, we'll dissect the political and financial costs for some national soccer clubs that didn't make it that far.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Stressed consumers are still finding ways to splurgeThe economic cost that comes with crashing out of a World Cup

The attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are suing Meta for $1.4 trillion, claiming the social media giant designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young users.The case is heading to court in Oakland, California, next month. It follows a landmark verdict earlier this year: A Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for mental health harms to a young woman who said she'd become addicted to the platforms starting at nine years old.And there are a slew of similar cases coming down the pike. To help break this down we're joined by Gaia Bernstein, law professor at Seton Hall Univerisity and author of the book "Unwired: Gaining Control over Addictive Technologies."

Have you ever daydreamed about leaving your office job, moving to the countryside, and living off the land? In 2008, Laura Griggs and her husband did just that: they moved to a small farm in rural Missouri and raised their family there for nearly a decade. Reema talks with Laura about the real cost of homesteading, and why she ultimately had to leave it behind.And later in the episode, we’ve got another edition of Alice Gets Her Life Together, where producer Alice Wilder shuts down a high-interest credit card and learns why it’s so easy to get into debt. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgIf you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Though the latest inflation reports show price growth cooled a bit in June, U.S. inflation remains higher than its peer nations, which include the U.K., Canada, France, and Japan. President Trump’s tariffs are partially to blame. But so is hefty capital expenditure by AI giants. Can anything counterbalance all that spending? After that: Kai explains the utility of Beige Book “soft” data, IBM posts mediocre earnings, farmers fret over fertilizer prices, and student borrowers weather five years of policy whiplash.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Why is inflation in the U.S. worse than other developed countries?IBM and other old-school tech companies feel the AI pinchFertilizer costs worry farmers as Iran conflict continuesStudent loan policy changes give borrowers whiplashFor these entrepreneurs, it's all in the details

The AI boom has boosted tech spending to levels not seen since the IT boom of the 1990s. All of the spending on the AI infrastructure buildout is contributing to economic growth, but that kind of investment won’t necessarily support the broader economy over the long run. Also on the program: The producer price index showed a bigger drop than economists expected, and proposed changes could affect how billions of dollars in federal research grants are awarded.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.How AI investment is fueling the broader economy

Data centers, that is. That is the question that states are now grappling with. Just yesterday, New York became the first state to enact a moratorium on new large-scale data centers. Meanwhile, Louisiana is offering big tax breaks to try to attract AI companies. This morning, we dig into the economic arguments for and against data centers. Then, Delaware has long been the go-to state for registering companies because of its favorable business laws, but now Wyoming is taking the lead.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:New York pauses data centers over water and power concernsCould a business court help Wyoming be the next Delaware?

Netflix may be the undisputed king of streaming, but it's facing a new challenge: "the sophomore slump." Internal data reported by Bloomberg show audiences dropping off dramatically for follow-up seasons of successful shows.Series like "The Night Agent," "Beef" and "Avatar: The last Airbender" all lost 50% or more of their original viewers when they returned for season two. To figure out what might be going on and how Netflix could respond we called up Brandon Katz, director of insights and content strategy at Greenlight Analytics.

We got a better-than-expected June CPI report: Inflation slowed in both the goods and services sectors. But it’s hard to say whether that trend will continue and how it might affect the Fed’s next inflation rate decision. Also in this episode, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh testifies before Congress, so we break down his approach to central bank communication and the Humphrey-Hawkins Act. Plus, an egg price-fixing scheme, the hog lobby, and credit cards.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from today’s episode: Inflation slowed in June. What does that mean for interest rates?Can the hog lobby — and falling prices — get Americans to eat more pork?Cracking open the price-fixing scandal behind rising egg pricesWhat higher credit card spending means for the economyWhy Kevin Warsh is on Capitol Hill today

This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released fresh consumer price index numbers, which showed that consumer prices actually fell 0.4% month over month in June. The year-over-year inflation rate, meanwhile, clocked in at 3.5% — down from 4.2% in May but still higher than the Federal Reserve's target. We'll discuss, then learn what's behind raising hay costs and how new U.S. foreign aid contracts are shaping healthcare on the African continent.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Higher hay costs for farmers could spell higher beef and dairy prices for consumersThe new currency of global health aid: data

The way U.S. aid is distributed around the world has changed significantly since the beginning of President Trump's second term. Reporting by ProPublica shows that a series of new agreements between the United States and various African countries is tying funding to access to those countries' health data. So what kind of data is accessible and who stands to benefit? Also: setting the backdrop to Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s first Congressional testimony.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Last month, comedians Harris Alterman and Dave Ross posted a series of advertisements for made-up tech companies around the New York City subway system. The ads are fake, but they bear an eerie resemblance to the real AI marketing campaigns proliferating throughout U.S. cities. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with the two comedians about why the joke resonated with so many people and what’s next in terms of AI mockery.

Five major banks report earnings Tuesday morning, and analysts expect them to be rosy. Despite a volatile energy market and uncertain geopolitical climate, U.S. banks are turning strong profits. They’ve got AI investment and a booming stock market to thank. Plus, the inflation beat: Steep producer inflation could soon show up in consumer prices, economists aren’t sure how long overall inflation will stick around, and we check in with three small business owners ahead of the June CPI.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from today’s episode: Rapidly rising producer prices could spell trouble for the economyWhy are big banks doing so well in this economy?Prices may remain elevated well into next yearPrivate jets and fake phone notifications are all part of the "hustlebro" scam

The Social Security trust fund is set to run out of money by 2032. Multiple policy proposals that could address this shortfall — everything from raising taxes and the retirement age, to scrapping the cap on taxable earnings. But today, labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards shares another solution: tax companies that use gig workers. But first, the new Federal Reserve chair heads to Congress as policymakers are split about the direction of interest rates.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this epsiode:How the gig economy could strengthen Social Security

Tomorrow, we'll get an inflation reading via the consumer price index. But a new report from the Urban Institute already finds that some people are struggling to cope with the cost of groceries. It turns out that more people utilizing credit cards and buy now, pay later services for groceries are struggling to repay those debts. Then, could the gig economy be a solution to funding the Social Security trust fund?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:As food prices rise, some consumers are turning to credit cards and other loans to buy groceriesHow the gig economy could strengthen Social Security

Mitigating climate change likely requires not only lowering emissions, but removing existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. And while the Trump administration has cut many climate initiatives, it's continued to fund some carbon removal projects. Marketplace’s Amy Scott reports.

Energy prices are up, and we’ve got a war to thank. Two wars, actually. While all eyes have been on Trump’s on-again, off-again conflict with Iran, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil refineries — and the effects are rippling through the global energy market. Also in this episode: Data centers ease electricity bills in some places (for now), travelers turn to buses as airfares rise, and Kai discusses the week’s economic headlines.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:As inflation roils, what will Fed Chair Warsh do next?The war driving up refined fuel prices might not be the one you're thinking ofData centers lowered electric bills in some places — for nowAs airfares skyrocket, summer travelers take the busWhat does it take to “grow a dress” in your backyard?

This morning, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Sabri Ben-Achour is joined by Gus Faucher, chief economist at The PNC Financial Services Group to take a look at how consumers responded to inflation during the second quarter of 2026, when the war in the Middle East was at its most disruptive. In short — they kept on spending. Plus, how changes with the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement could pose risks for the auto industry.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Why the auto industry needs chipmakers

In the last few weeks, chipmaker Micron Technology has signed agreements with both General Motors and Ford Motor Company, which are looking to secure their supply of memory and storage platforms. This comes after the U.S. announced it would withdraw from a trade deal with Canada and Mexico, of which the car industry represents about 18%. But first, we’ll look at how John Deere product owners now have the “right to repair.”Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:John Deere equipment owners now have the "right to repair"Why the auto industry needs chipmakers

OpenAI is rolling out its most advanced GPT-5.6 model after delaying the release for testing with the government. But the White House denied that the review was mandatory. What’s the deal?Plus, Reuters reported that China is considering limiting access to its top AI models from foreign competitors, including the United States. And, Meta launched a new AI image generator, sparking privacy concerns.Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino discusses this week’s top tech stories with Axios tech policy reporter Maria Curi. Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Inflation that resulted from the U.S. war with Iran had just begun to cool when President Trump called off a shaky ceasefire. Now, as the world turns their attention back to conflict in the Middle East, economists turn their attention to the Federal Reserve. Will the central bank act to tamp down a second round of inflation? Also in this episode, PepsiCo sees tempered sales in North America, women in finance pivot to social media influencing, and taxpayers foot the bill for wild horse managementEvery story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Return to U.S.-Iran war is likely to change inflation expectationsPepsiCo had a great quarter — except in North AmericaThe women leaving Wall Street for content creationWhen wild horses get rounded up, the taxpayer’s bill growsBaby boomers are un-tying the knot — and it's complicating inheritancesWhat it takes to transform a 600-year-old fixer-upper into a forever home

Yesterday, oil prices surged in response to the president's announcement that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was over. Today, we dig into this morning’s dip in oil prices, responses from the bond market, and what it all could mean for future moves by the Federal Reserve. Plus, major artists like Meghan Trainor, Post Malone, and the Pussycat Dolls have canceled summer tours. These cancellations come as the costs of going on tour have climbed and as fans become more careful about where they spend.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:How the economics of touring have changed for indie bands

The country's biggest airlines are about to report financial results for the second quarter, which just so happens to have been at the height of the Iran war and all its economic disruption. That's left airlines between a rock and a hard place. It's gotten more expensive to fly, so airlines need to raise prices, but consumers are inflation-wary. We dig in, then learn how the economics of touring have changed for indie bands.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Why airline fares and fees won't be going down anytime soonWhat it costs for indie bands to go on tour

How are you supposed to juggle caring for your aging parents while also raising young children of your own? And how do you budget for those competing responsibilities? This week, Reema talks to Nicole Chung, author of “A Living Remedy,” about her experiences caring for her parents in their final years of illness, how the U.S. healthcare system failed them, and the toll it took on her both emotionally and financially.Plus, Reema and Alice dig into our mailbag and hear from listeners in the “sandwich generation” – those who have caregiving responsibilities for both their parents and their children. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgIf you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions,” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

In the post-9/11 years, the U.S. military has adhered to the “golden hour” rule: Wounded troops should be evacuated to higher-level care within 60 minutes. But as the new realities of drone warfare have taken shape in the Russia-Ukraine war, WUNC News military reporter Jay Price said medical response teams are being forced to rethink this standard approach to battlefield medicine. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Price to learn more.More on this:As attack drones grow more common in warfare, it's harder for medics to treat battlefield injuries from WUNC News

President Trump called off the a ceasefire with Iran Wednesday morning, sending the U.S. back into a military conflict — and sending oil prices back up after weeks of steady cooling. In this episode, Kai calls up economist Robin Brooks at Brookings to explain how a reignited war will affect global oil markets and prices at the pump. Plus: Retailers stock up early for the 2026 holiday season, businesses surpass homes’ energy use for the first time on record, and corporations issue more shares to raise capital.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Trump calls off Iran ceasefire, a move that "obviously will push oil prices up"Some business owners are stocking up early for the holidaysWhy public companies have been on a tear issuing new sharesBusinesses are using more electricity than homes for the first time on recordWhat the energy shock means for the decarbonization industry

There's been a recent spike in immigration enforcement action around the country. The New York Times reported last week that more than 10,000 people were detained in five days. This comes after earlier high-profile ICE raids in places like Minnesota. This morning, we'll dig into the data on how immigration crackdowns disrupt economic activity. But first: discussions of AI market anxiety and a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:How immigration crackdowns hurt the U.S. economy

President Donald Trump says the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is "over," but that talks can continue. The U.S. says Iran violated a memorandum of understanding when it attacked three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking additional back-and-forth attacks. So what happens to oil prices, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and prices at the pump now? Also on the show: the problem that comes when consumers keep anticipating price increases.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Trump says the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is "over." What's that mean for prices?Fed survey shows rising inflation expectations, despite falling prices

We're still unpacking the slew of consequential Supreme Court decisions that came down at the end of the term last week. Among them was a 6-3 ruling on digital data privacy.In Chatrie v. United States, the Court found digital data does fall under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, law professor at George Washington University and author of the recent book “Your Data Will Be Used Against You: Policing in the Age of Self-Surveillance," explains more.More on this“Chatrie v. United States” opinion from the Supreme Court of The United States“Supreme Court limits use of 'geofence warrants' amid cellphone data privacy concerns” from ABC NewsBluesky thread post on the 6-3 ruling from Andrew Guthrie Ferguson

Samsung just reported a whopping 1,800% profit increase for the second quarter of this year. But its stock price fell nearly 7% in response to the news. What gives? In short, high expectations got in the way of actual growth. Also in this episode: Baby boomers begin to transfer family businesses to the next generation, buy now, pay later giant Klarna applies for a U.S. banking license, and the telehealth boom is more than super-fast prescriptions from your couch.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Why analysts predict a robust second quarter earnings seasonSamsung posted 1800% profit growth. Its stock fell anyway.The baby boomer business transfer is comingThe era of drive-thru healthcare is hereFintechs harbor banking dreams

President Donald Trump rang Wall Street's opening bell yesterday from the Oval Office to mark the launch of the Trump accounts program. Trump also took the opportunity to link his presidency to the stock market, pointing to dozens of record-breaking highs during his term. Today, we discuss the relationship between federal policy and the stock market. Then, we'll talk about the economic impact of removing temporary protected status for certain migrants.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Trump administration is taking another stab at replacing the tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down in February. Three days of hearings are about to start in Washington over one path forward; there are many. At the same time, a group of Democratic attorneys general is arguing that this backup plan might be illegal. This morning, we'll have the latest developments in the tariff saga. Also: Congress eyes a national EV registration fee.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Congress is eyeing a national fee for electric vehicles, following in the footsteps of states

Both OpenAI and Anthropic are planning to go public, each pushing a valuation of $1 trillion as of their latest funding rounds. But even before these mega-IPOs send a tsunami of new liquidity through their home city, San Francisco, signs of growing AI wealth aren't hard to find. And no sign is blinking brighter than the real estate market.San Francisco has the highest and the fastest-rising home prices in the country, according to data from Redfin. Recently, a turn-key restored Edwardian home hit the market for just under $3 million, right outside the neighborhood known as Cerebral Valley for its concentration of AI workers.

U.S. families expect to spend more than $900 on back-to-school shopping this year, according to one PwC survey. Big box retailers have taken advantage of anxiety about higher costs by pushing school supplies earlier than ever. In this episode, how consumer mood correlates to consumer spending. Plus: Holiday weekend heat strains electric grids, Boeing and Airbus aircraft demand persists, and algae can make or break Great Lakes summer tourism.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode: Anxiety is driving some of our early back-to-school shoppingChicago Fed launches a new consumer sentiment composite indexWeekend heat wave tests the country's power gridWhat's behind the massive appetite for new Boeing and Airbus planesHow the algae in Lake Erie can make or break the Great Lakes economyHow homeownership turned an HR professional into a plant entrepreneur

“I don't know what a young person who's a current college student who has no work experience could possibly do for me, sitting at a computer, that AI couldn't do itself,” said Molly Kinder, who researches AI and the labor market. While there's no real evidence yet that AI is eliminating entry-level jobs en masse, researchers say we should plan for the possibility. What exactly would that look like? We’ll explore. But first: checking in on oil production and gas prices.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:In the age of AI, what will entry-level jobs look like?

A lesser-known chipmaker riding the AI wave, the Korean company SK Hynix, will debut on the Nasdaq exchange on Friday. The company makes specialized chips that are in short supply and used in everything AI-related right now. That huge demand has sent its stock soaring 250% so far this year. Plus, as NATO leaders meet in Turkey this week, we'll dig into Europe's promised defense spending increases.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

During last year’s massive wildfires in Los Angeles, concerned residents and firefighters went to one app to get up to date information: Watch Duty. Now, the app covers all 50 states and recently added flood tracking to its repertoire. Watch Duty’s chief technology officer David Merritt joined Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino to talk about how the app is scaling up.

Careers in the trades — a path that’s largely more AI-proof, less expensive, and more dependable — are attracting more attention. We visit Hope Renovations, a program in North Carolina focused on getting more women and non-binary people into the trades. Also, we look at a decline in the labor force participation rate, country stores in New England, and a tailoring business in Utah.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

This week, we've been looking back at some of the major economic milestones since the U.S. was founded. Today, we wrap up our series by examining the past 50 years — including changes to how Americans work and who comprises the nation's workforce. Then, we look at what the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has meant for Africa's economy. Plus, we discuss why so many people are drawn to the Grand Theft Auto franchise and what a shift to digital-only gaming means for the video game industry.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:A timeline: 250 years of the U.S. economyAt last, Grand Theft Auto VI is available for pre-order

Gamers have been waiting more than a decade for the next installment of Grand Theft Auto. Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI finally began last week. Just how big is the release? One report suggests that Grand Theft Auto VI brought in $1 billion in preorders just one hour after launch. "It is probably going to be the most valuable media property in the history of mankind," said Dmitri Williams, a professor at USC Annenberg. But first, we learn about the economic booms and busts of the 20th Century.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:A timeline: 250 years of the U.S. economyAt last, Grand Theft Auto VI is available for pre-order

Many scientists believe we’re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction brought on by factors like climate change, deforestation, fishing and hunting. The Texas-based company Colossal Biosciences claims its technology could help prevent some of those losses, and even bring back long-extinct species. For the new season of the Marketplace climate podcast, “How We Survive,” host Amy Scott got a virtual tour of their labs.

The Labor Department’s June jobs report came in with just 57,000 new jobs added. Economists expected double that, and while the unemployment rate ticked down, we consider why job growth may be middling. Also in this episode, we look at stagnant wage growth, a start-up that’s looking to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the “lump of labor” fallacy, Saudi Aramco’s World Cup sponsorship, and a social worker who leads tours to supplement retirement.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

This week marks one year since Congress passed the Republican tax and spending bill, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Today, we'll delve into how individuals, small businesses, and corporations have taken advantage of tax cuts and what it all means for the revenue the federal government is bringing in. Also, we'll unpack the drop in unemployment. And, a July 1 deadline to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement has passed. What comes next?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:What happens after a missed North American trade deal deadlineTrump's tax and spending law, one year on

It's been nearly a year since President Donald Trump's big tax bill. The law makes it harder to qualify for programs like SNAP and includes new work requirements. Some states are already seeing sharp drops in SNAP enrollment as they implement the changes in the law. By some measures, participation in the program is down by nearly 10%. Then, we'll continue to examine the history of the U.S. economy. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:A year since Trump's big tax bill, SNAP enrollment has fallen dramatically

This week, we’re sharing an episode of “Proxy,” a podcast about the emotional questions that make people feel alone — and the conversation that unfolds when you find someone who gets it. Sam is a progressive person who suddenly has more money than friends and family — and he doesn’t know how to feel about it. He wants to be generous. He wants to be responsible. He wants to stop feeling guilty and secretive and afraid. But the more he thinks about what money can do, the less clear it becomes what having “enough” is supposed to mean.In this episode, host Yowei Shaw connects Sam with David Steely, a man who has spent years wrestling with the same questions — and has given away most of his money.We’ll be back with a new episode of “This Is Uncomfortable” next week! If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

AI is the buzzy tech of the moment. It's made plenty of money not only for companies but the cities and states where investment is pouring in. Illinois and specifically Chicago are betting that quantum computing will be the next major tech breakthrough to transform the economy. And they're trying to get in on the ground floor. So they’ve turned a former steel mill site into a tech hub, called the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, with the hope of attracting as much talent and investment as possible. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Jeanne Whalen, economics reporter at The Wall Street Journal, to learn more.

It’s unclear what Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will do regarding interest rates, but would a “Fed put” actually help promote stability in financial markets? Also in this episode, we look at why fewer teens are getting paid jobs, a decline in single-family homebuilding, prediction markets for natural disasters, traffic expanding way beyond rush hour, and the booming cowboy boot market.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Americans spend, on average, just over 8 minutes a day on financial management — things like budgeting or paying bills — according to a recent paper in the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance. But those few minutes are among the most stressful and least enjoyable parts of the day. So how can we stop that painful procrastination? Reema Khrais, host of Marketplace's "This Is Uncomfortable," joins the show to discuss. Also, we continue our look back at America's economic history and parse some private payroll data.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:How to get yourself to do those personal finance tasks you've been avoiding

The Supreme Court finished its session yesterday with major opinions on birthright citizenship, transgender athlete rights, and campaign finance. We're going to focus on that last one. In National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission, the court struck down limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. Without those caps, the way parties raise and spend money could quickly change. Plus, we’ll look back on how some provisions from last year's big tax bill have played out.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories in this episode:High Court's latest campaign finance decision hands more spending power to political parties

This season, we explored large-scale climate interventions that could be our last hope. One intervention in particular, solar geoengineering, made a lot of listeners’ heads spin. (We’re right there with you.)This episode, we answer some of your most pressing questions about solar geoengineering. We get into whether solar sunshades could harm crops, what international efforts around solar geoengineering look like, and what would happen if a powerful country went rogue and put sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. Plus, we look at a solution to some of these more extreme solutions: decarbonizing.

Who is using AI? And what are they using it for? Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, has been trying to answer these questions to better understand how AI is reshaping the economy. The firm’s latest Economic Index report offers new insights on how people are using Claude and how they feel about AI’s potential effects on the labor market. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Anthropic’s head of economics Peter McCrory to learn more about what the data reveals.

Fresh data on consumer confidence shows a lot of mixed signals — Americans are feeling better about the economy and where inflation is headed, but worse about job prospects and family finances. Also in this episode, we look at the widening gender wage gap, a small business owner dealing with tariffs, how remote work is giving families more options, and growing natural gas infrastructure.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Chinese government reported a slight increase in its June factory activity, driven mostly by exports and demand tied to AI. Today, we'll delve into what these latest numbers tell us about how China's economy is doing and discuss how the ebbs and flows of Chinese manufacturing affect consumers here in the United States. Then, yesterday, the Supreme Court allowed Fed Governor Lisa Cook to keep her job (for now) but gave the president broader authority to fire other federal officials. What are some of the shorter- and long-term impacts?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The ripple effects of Monday's Supreme Court decisions

About 3 million fewer people had Affordable Care Act insurance plans in February compared to last year. Much of the drop is likely due to the end of pandemic-era enhanced subsidies, which resulted in higher premiums. And ACA premiums are only likely to increase next year. Plus, starting tomorrow, Medicare will begin covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. And, as we prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we'll look back at the economic moments that defined the first 50 years of our nation.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Millions drop ACA insurance as premiums rise

The resemblance to an actual dog is loose but the quadrupedal robot dogs known as “Spot” from Boston Dynamics do have four legs. They're often used to do reconnaissance in hazardous environments. And four of them are working security at the World Cup games in Dallas and New York. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Merry Frayne, at Boston Dynamics about Spot’s capabilities and why they wanted to deploy them at live sporting events.

The Supreme Court’s ruling Monday expanded presidential power over agencies that would traditionally be viewed as independent, with the Federal Reserve as an exception. What does that mean going forward? Also in this episode, we look at rising transportation costs, infrastructure projects, Comcast’s spinoff of NBCUniversal, and the business of estate sales in Los Angeles.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Major shifts to federal student aid kick in on July 1, including strict limits on how much graduate students can borrow from the federal government. The new loan caps raise questions about who can access graduate education in the U.S., who should pay for it, and whether the country’s workforce pipeline can keep pace with the growing demand for highly-skilled professionals. We'll also preview this week's economic data releases, including consumer confidence and the June jobs report.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Will new federal student loan caps make grad school more affordable or less attainable?

More Americans are using GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, for weight loss, and that’s impacting their grocery shopping habits. A new survey finds that GLP-1 use could shave up to 2.7% off grocery store sales this year. So, how are food companies adapting? Also on the program: a preview of major Supreme Court decisions coming up and a frank conversation about the costs of being in a wedding party, courtesy of the Marketplace podcast "This Is Uncomfortable."Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:GLP-1s are changing shopping habits — and brands are changing along with themWould you go broke for a bachelorette?

There’s a longstanding nursing shortage in the U.S. that's only expected to get worse. Some hospitals have experimented with robotic nursing assistants to lighten the load, like a model known as Moxi that rolled out in 2019. They’re kind of R2D2-meets-Rosie-the-robots and were designed to handle non-patient-facing tasks like transporting lab samples. But many hospitals eventually pulled them from operation. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Varsha Bansal, reporter at Proof News, about what went wrong.

Economists are forecasting that AI is likely to cause prices to rise over the course of the next year. On Thursday, both Microsoft and Apple said they’re raising prices some of their flagship products thanks to skyrocketing memory and storage costs. But AI could end up making a whole lot of things cheaper — eventually. Also in this episode: how one union negotiated huge savings on healthcare prices, a look at the garage sale culture in Alaska, and the return of the restaurant matchbook.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Congress’ historic housing bill still hasn’t been signed by President Donald Trump. There’s a lot in the bill, and changes may take years. Some of the provisions are meant to help rural America, where about a quarter of Americans live. We'll dig into some of the impacts. Then, language in the current U.S.-Iran peace deal could help Iran develop its own economy and become more integrated in the global economic system.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Housing bill addresses longstanding challenges in rural areasWhere do things stand with the Iran peace deal?

This morning, as part of our "What's that Like?" series, where we get firsthand accounts from people working unusual jobs, we hear from animal talent agent Dawn Wolfe. She's the owner of the agency Pawsitively Famous and has worked with dogs, cats, reptiles, and even tarantulas. But first, a week after a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, are ships able to transit the Strait of Hormuz?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories from this episode:Where do things stand with the Iran peace deal?Behind the scenes with an animal talent agent

SpaceX stock prices fell back to earth this week after they skyrocketed in the wake of the IPO a couple weeks ago. Plus, why a Google AI subsidiary is investing in the film studio A24. And why Meta might be getting into the prediction markets. The New York Times reported this week the social media giant was working on its own prediction market app, sort of like Kalshi and Polymarket, which have been bringing in billions of dollars but also drawing lots of scrutiny and legal challenges. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Anita Ramaswamy, financial columnist at The Information, for this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

Inflation was up 4.1% in May, according to the BEA’s personal consumption expenditures index. We know hot energy prices, resulting from the war in Iran, were part of that spike. But cut out energy and food, and inflation still hit a three-year high, at 3.4%. So what else is driving the increase? Also in this episode: Q1 GDP is revised up, Wyoming navigates the consequences of property tax cuts, and Great Lakes cargo ships make up a vital branch of U.S. supply chains.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from today’s episode:It's not just food and energy — "core" inflation is up as wellGDP grew 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026. What does that tell us?What do we need property taxes for? Wyoming is finding outNeed a burger? A car? Winter road salt? Thank cargo ships on the Great LakesGen Z trades in date-flation for "solo-maxxing"

Core inflation rose to 3.4% in May, according to this morning's PCE report out from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. That's the highest since October 2023. Part of the rise is driven by service sector inflation, which should be more immune to shocks from tariffs and energy costs. We dig in. And later, now that Spirit Airlines has shut down, its bankruptcy estate is auctioning off its access to New York’s LaGuardia Airport.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Spirit to auction $80 million in takeoff and landing slots at LGA

According to the ACLU, state lawmakers have introduced more than 500 bills targeting LGBTQ people in the 2026 legislative session. Those policies have economic consequences. Today, we explore what's at stake for states with anti-LGBTQ laws and how companies are navigating a climate unfriendly to DEI policies. But first, the dollar's recent strength is not about investors fleeing to safety, and hotter-than-hoped-for inflation means a higher chance of an interest rate hike.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories from this episode:Investors love the U.S. dollar right now — just not for the traditional crisis reasonsHow anti-LGBTQ policies can affect business

We here at Marketplace love indicators that give us insights into which direction the economy is moving. But AI is evolving fast and it can be hard for the data — and the people looking to it for clues about AI's effects — to keep up. So the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, with help from the payroll firm ADP, recently launched its own AI Economic Indicators. They track things like AI adoption, productivity, and of course, jobs. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Connacher Murphy, research manager at Stanford Digital Economy Lab, to learn more about the database and what researchers call the Canary Dashboard for jobs.

Marriage brings with it a slew of state and federal privileges – when it comes to taxes, inheritance, and benefits – but what if that’s not the most important relationship to you? What legal and financial options are out there for chosen family? Reema talks to LGBTQ+ legal advocate Angela Giampolo and tax expert Brixton Carothers about everything from setting up a revocable living trust to forming an LLC with a polycule. Plus, Reema and Alice respond to listener messages, including confessions about workplace mishaps and financial infidelity. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgCheck out our upcoming virtual event, "Get Your Life Together with This Is Uncomfortable" - a work session to tackle one tedious task...with friends! More info here: https://www.marketplace.org/tiuSupport This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_podIf you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions,” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

When the U.S. launched a war against Iran, some Wall Street traders bet the ensuing energy shortages would push inflation up. Now that a ceasefire has brought down gas prices, the narrative has shifted: What if cheaper gas fires up the economy too much? In this episode, the markets are betting on inflation, whichever way you slice it. Plus: Prospective buyers struggle to secure mortgages on homes worth less than $100,000, local getaways anticipate healthy summer vacation demand, and direct-to-consumer brands reframe their environmental commitments.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode: Whether oil prices are high or low, Wall Street is betting on inflationThe housing bill that might make small mortgages easierWith summer travelers facing higher costs, local vacation spots are thrivingWhy one direct-to-consumer brand is shifting its messagingBeekeeper turned business owner is growing into newer, bigger spaces

AI’s burgeoning influence on the field of healthcare is raising concern among nurses about the future of their profession. New AI tools are being developed to perform tasks ranging from notetaking to proposing diagnoses, but recent research found that those tools can make severely harmful errors. Now, unions representing nurses are fighting to keep their professional judgment front and center. But first, we spoke with Susan Schmidt at Exchange Capital Resources about how Micron Technology’s focus on memory has made it a central player in the tech stock scene.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

New limits on federal student loans for graduate programs, going into effect on July 1, will cap the amount students can borrow at $100,000. For professional programs, like medical school and law school, the cap is doubled. But that category doesn’t include physician assistant and nursing programs, and advocates say that could deter enrollment. Plus, a look into why mission-driven fashion brands are toning down their sustainability efforts. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:New federal student loan limits threaten the supply of physician assistants, advocates sayWhat happened to mission-driven fashion brands?

Big Tech is looking for land to build its AI data centers. HBCUs are looking for new funding after federal cuts.And partnerships between them, like one announced by Fisk University, could be a mutually beneficial — or could end up being a form of "digital sharecropping," according to strategist Ashley Northington, who wrote about this for Tech Policy Press.

All season, we’ve been unpacking the controversial ways we’re messing with nature to save the planet. In this episode, we explore the wildest intervention to date: de-extinction. We take a tour of Colossal Labs, the $10 billion Dallas startup betting it can reverse-engineer extinction itself, to see how they plan to turn pigeons into dodos and Asian elephants into woolly mammoths. But whether it’s bringing back the woolly mammoth from extinction or shooting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, just because we can mess with nature, does that mean we should? After the tour, host Amy Scott chats with Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental journalist Elizabeth Kolbert to find out.

A typical starter home in nearly 250 U.S. cities is now worth $1 million or more, according to Zillow. Is that even a starter home anymore? In this episode, how rapid housing inflation has changed the game for first-time homebuyers and why more Americans are opting for a starter home in the suburbs. Plus: Manufacturing data reflects strong sector growth, U.S. trading partners bear the economic brunt of Trump’s war with Iran, and the 1973 oil crisis provides lessons for dealing with chaotic fuel costs today.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from today’s episode:A key index shows the U.S. economy is expanding. Elsewhere, not so muchStrong manufacturing numbers mask a sector hedging against war and tariff uncertaintyFor this London honey seller, Brexit has been "a chaotic 10 years"When the "starter home" price tag hits $1 millionWhat can the oil crisis of 1973 teach us about today?A fixer-upper became a forever home for this Massachusetts couple

Amazon Prime Day starts today and runs through Friday. Consumers are expected to spend $26 billion over those four days, and they’ll have plenty of help from AI. Today: a primer on Amazon’s big AI shopping experiment. Then, will a new U.K. prime minister mean an altered trade relationship with the EU? And later, Congress is pushing forward with homebuying restrictions for institutional investors, but the plan may not be foolproof.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Investors are buying up Sunbelt homes. Could a congressional ban help?

Last night, the Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bill aimed at making it easier to build housing and bring down the cost of both buying and renting. Home prices have jumped about 50% in the past six years, and rents are up nearly 30% nationally. Today, we’ll delve into why it seems impossible to construct new, low-cost housing. Then, we’ll check in on the economy of Northern Ireland 10 years after Brexit.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The shortage of affordable housing hits lowest-income households particularly hard10 years on, what Brexit has meant for Northern Ireland

In late May, Pope Leo XIV released Magnifica Humanitas. His first papal encyclical is an appeal for a more human-centered approach to artificial intelligence. Joining him at the Vatican for the unveiling was Anthropic co-founder, Chris Olah, and Father Brendan McGuire, pastor at St. Simon parish in Silicon Valley. McGuire joined the priesthood after a career in tech and co-founded the Institute of Technology, Ethics and Culture — a joint initiative of the Vatican and Santa Clara University. He's one of a handful of religious leaders Anthropic has consulted on building ethics into AI.Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Father Brendan about his experience as a spiritual advisor to AI.

The last time Austan Goolsbee voted in an FOMC meeting, he was one of two policymakers opposed to cutting interest rates. Six months later, he doesn’t regret that dissent. In this episode, Kai catches up with the Chicago Fed president to discuss the central bank’s communication style, persistent inflation concerns, and former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan’s legacy. Plus: Beef prices are likely to keep climbing this year, it could take months to rebuild depleted oil reserves, and economists make a case that AI could drive more inflation.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from today’s episode:Chicago Fed President: Inflation is "well above the target and has been going the wrong way"As the oil crisis eases, the global scramble to replenish reserves beginsWhy beef prices keep climbingMany economists believe that AI will lead to more inflation. Why?How We Survive: A Carbon Burial at Sea

Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan died today. He was 100. Greenspan served under four presidents in his five terms as central bank chair. This morning, we're joined by Julia Coronado — she’s the founder and president of MacroPolicy Perspectives and once worked alongside Greenspan — to discuss his economic legacy, his role in boosting Fed transparency, and his particular way of communicating. Then, from the latest season of Marketplace's "How We Survive," we dive into the ocean’s vast potential to store carbon.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:From “How We Survive”: A Carbon Burial at Sea

Congress is working on a bipartisan bill to address housing affordability by, among other things, making it easier to construct homes. One provision would place limits on the number of single-family homes that companies and institutional investors can purchase. The idea is to prevent deep-pocketed investors with all-cash offers from competing with regular buyers. Investors say they aren't the problem. So, who's right? This morning, we head to Las Vegas to find out. But first, businesses around the globe are pessimistic about how the war is affecting the economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories in this episode:In Las Vegas, institutional investors crowd out prospective homebuyers

Nurses have a tough job. AI tools promise to take care of some of the more mundane and repetitive tasks that eat up so much time and, by extension, money in healthcare. But often these AI efficiency initiatives can be a bit top down without much consideration for how workers actually do their jobs. So, some nurses unions are bargaining over AI. Claire Keenan-Kurgan of Interlochen Public Radio has this story.

With midterm elections just months away, the top economic concern for voters is the cost of healthcare. That's according to a recent poll from the health policy nonprofit KFF.With that in mind, the “Marketplace Morning Report” team traveled to southwest Alabama to learn more about how policy decisions at the national level lead to consequences for health care access in local communities across rural America.Many of the people we met often have to travel hours for basic healthcare needs. And experts say that’s a fate that lies ahead for even more communities because of changing federal policies. In the absence of action to address health care shortages, many communities are turning within, leaning on each other and their own resilience to navigate the complicated landscape of what services remain.

“Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams is back in the “Make Me Smart” podcast feed to share some reporting from a trip to southwest Alabama. It’s a deep dive on rural health care access — about 700 rural hospitals nationwide are at risk of closure, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform.Many of the headwinds are longstanding, but recent federal policy changes from the big Republican tax and spending law signed last year threaten to make the challenges more intense.As those changes kick in, the “Marketplace Morning Report” wanted to better understand what that will mean for communities all around the country.In this episode, we share the lessons learned from Alabama, starting with how hard a hospital closure can hit a community.

As high interest rates tamp down homebuying demand, more homebuilders are offering free appliances or upgraded hardware to sweeten the deal. Throwing in a free dishwasher is one thing, but how are they able to offer lower mortgage interest rates? In this episode, we check on the homebuilding sector. Plus: Hotel housekeepers say AI-driven app makes work more difficult, scientists design sunshades built for space, and a “talking book” nonprofit brings news and books to blind people.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from today’s episode:Builders offer incentives to attract homebuyers as high interest rates persistNebraska nonprofit brings local news and opportunities to blind and low-vision listenersMore stress, fewer breaks: Hotel housekeepers reveal what it’s like working for an appA climate change solution from science fiction

A planned summit in Switzerland between the U.S. and Iran was postponed due to a fresh round of Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Though Israel and Hezbollah have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire, the developments are leading to skepticism of a longer-term fix for the Middle East conflict. How are global markets taking this news, and how long might it take to get back to business as usual? Also: the EEOC eliminates federal workforce demographic-tracking requirements, and California buildings must limit "embodied carbon."Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:California buildings must limit "embodied carbon." Here's what that means

This Juneteenth, we're checking in on the state of higher education among Black Americans. In 2024, the percentage of Black adults in the U.S. over the age of 25 who’d earned a bachelor's degree or a higher credential hit nearly 28%. That’s almost double what it was in the year 2000. Will the anti-DEI era change that trend? Then, brands have been spending big to reach U.S. Latino audiences during the World Cup.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The number of degree-holding Black adults doubled 2000-2024. Will the anti-DEI era change that trend?The World Cup offers a huge opportunity for advertisers to reach U.S. Spanish speakers

Meta responded to plummeting morale this week with a pledge to do better with company snacks. Plus, the new AI augmented reality smart glasses everyone's talking about, and not in a good way. But first, SpaceX is acquiring the AI coding startup Cursor a week after it's IPO took off like a rocket.The company hit a $2.5 trillion valuation at one point, but has dropped since then. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Paresh Dace, senior writer at Wired, to learn more.

Kevin Warsh held his first press conference as Fed chair on Wednesday, and — unlike his precedessor — did not say what the central bank plans to do next. Despite his tight lips, markets read between the lines and predict a rate hike is coming soon. In this episode, why Warsh is rewriting the Fed’s communication style, and how it could alter the economy. Plus: Jobless claims tick down a bit, GPS shapes global infrastructure, and RV owners struggle to sell their vintage digs.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read today’s stories:Unemployment is still low, but so is hiringFed Chair Kevin Warsh is trying to keep his options open. Investors are parsing his words anywayGPS is a pillar of the global economy, and it's also pretty vulnerableUsed RV sales are up, but many large, older rigs are sitting on lots for months

While the Federal Reserve voted to keep interest rates steady yesterday, the path ahead for rates is far from certain. One big factor is artificial intelligence, which new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh thinks can help workers produce more, adding to the supply of whatever a company makes with the same resources. Today, we'll unpack the argument, then paint a picture of the labor market and dig into energy lessons from the 1970s.

The company behind the new electric Slate vehicle — which has a somewhat rudimentary, Tonka-truck-like frame — is highlighting its simplicity and affordability. Next week, we’re going to learn just how affordable it really is. And while some of Slate’s marketing is geared toward rural and working people, the reality is that driving EVs in those areas can still be a challenge. Then, Hollywood is backsliding on diversity, but that's not true for audiences.

Weddings are meant to be joyful milestones and a chance to show up for the people we love. But for many people today, being a part of a wedding can come with multi-day trips, expensive outfits, and financial pressure that leads to years of debt. Reema is joined by cultural commentator Josh Lora and The Atlantic editor Annie Joy Williams to talk about the cost of being a wedding guest, why wedding culture is getting more expensive, and how to navigate the pressure to say yes.Did you find a creative way to make your wedding affordable for your friends? Give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here.Check out our upcoming virtual event, "Get Your Life Together with This Is Uncomfortable" - a work session to tackle one tedious task...with friends! More info here: https://www.marketplace.org/tiuSupport This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_podFollow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

AI has ushered in a golden age for scams. There are the deepfake kidnapping calls, the vibecoded ecommerce websites and one of the latest, according to a recent article in the Hollywood Reporter, is a casting scam targeting aspiring actors. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with labor and media reporter Katie Kilkenny who wrote about how this scheme typically unfolds.

Retail sales were up 0.9% in May, which is a generally positive economic sign. But it doesn’t square with our reality, in which price inflation outpaces wage growth. That is, until you look at that pesky personal savings rate. In this episode, YOLO consumers in a grim economy. Plus: Fed Chair Warsh holds rates steady, the rate of new households is falling, and what would happen if the U.S. lost its global reserve currency status.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

What does the American Dream look like to you? Getting ahead? What about homeownership, raising a family, or financial security? This morning, we'll feature a discussion about generational differences in what success looks like and how the affordability crisis is forcing Americans to reevaluate what they're willing to sacrifice to get there. Also on the show: how retail sales data may factor into interest rate decisions and why Yum Brands is offloading Pizza Hut.

A recent report from the Social Security Board of Trustees finds that the fund that helps pay for retirement benefits will run out of money earlier than previously projected. This morning, we'll unpack when people's benefits will actually be hit, the Congressional inaction behind this bleak picture, and how immigration policy plays into all. But first, if the Straight of Hormuz reopens, there could be a glut of oil next year.

Last week, the Trump Administration ordered Anthropic to cut off access to its most advanced AI models — Mythos 5 and the pared-down public version, Fable 5 — from foreign nationals due to reported security weaknesses in Fable's safeguards.In response, Anthropic shut them down for everyone including the handful of companies that had been granted access to Mythos.One of those companies is Mozilla, which said Mythos identified about 270 bugs in its Firefox browser that had slipped through previous reviews. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Mozilla chief technology officer Raffi Krikorian about the government essentially hitting a kill switch on the system.More on thisWhat to know about the Anthropic models takedown - from The HillMythos and Fable can make us all safer. Shutting them down is reckless - from the Transformer SubstackFederal spending on Y2K reaches $8.38 billion - from CNET

We can't avoid catastrophic warming without also capturing and storing carbon dioxide — both the carbon we've already emitted and the carbon we continue to emit through industries that are tough to decarbonize, like steel, petrochemicals, and cement.Europe is a leader in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), with a goal of storing at least 50 million tons of captured CO2 a year by the end of this decade.So this episode, we team up with Germany-based reporter Sam Baker from the DW podcast “Living Planet.” We follow carbon dioxide from its source at a cement plant, all the way to its final resting place under the North Sea. And we look beyond the hype to see if Carbon Capture and Storage could be a real climate solution. Or just another way for the fossil fuel industry to keep on drilling.

Nvidia just joined the likes of Amazon and Alphabet in selling off billions of dollars in bonds. What do these tech giants need help financing? Data centers, of course, to support the buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure. For now, the cash is flowing, but when will these firms need to show some returns on those investments? Also in this episode: Commercial solar energy projects approach a deadline for federal tax credits, Fox enters the streaming wars by acquiring Roku, and Kai breaks down the history of post-FOMC press conferences.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

World leaders are meeting at the G7 in France, and one of the major topics is the diverse economic needs of Africa. The U.S. and Iran are also slated to sign a new peace deal on Friday. This morning, we'll discuss some headlines from the economic forum and how the war has affected African economies. Then, Corpus Christi’s water supply is reaching crisis levels, and one potential solution — a desalination plant — is sparking debate among area residents.

More than a million people dropped their Affordable Care Act coverage this year after Congress let enhanced pandemic-era subsidies expire. That number is likely to rise significantly as the year goes on. And for the first time in years, the number of insurers offering ACA plans has dropped, too. We'll dig in. Also on the show: the global wait for fertilizer and the challenges of the teen summer job market.

Bridget and Ryan are approached by a big film producer to write the next summer blockbuster — a movie all about the penny! The timing couldn’t be better because so many of you have been wanting to know: why did the U.S. stop making pennies? The answer comes down to dollars and cents. But … will this be “Million Bazillion”’s big break into Hollywood? Listen now to find out.

Demand for power is growing thanks to the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure across the U.S. But as utility bills continue to rise, states and grid operators are turning to address problems in grid infrastructure. Reliability and affordability are among the largest concerns for regulators and consumers alike. On July 23rd, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold a meeting with PJM Interconnection LLC, the nation’s largest electric grid operator, to address these issues. “Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Ethan Howland, a senior reporter at Utility Dive, about how these problems may get addressed, and what’s at stake for the United States power grid.

Nuclear energy can lower one cost that has seen rapid inflation in recent years: electricity bills. But nuclear power plants aren’t cheap to build. In one state, legislators wade into a debate over whether taxpayers or utility companies should shoulder the burden. Also in this episode: Kevin Warsh faces war-driven inflation ahead of his first FOMC meeting as Fed chair, MAHA movement drives up cotton demand, and advertisers leverage the World Cup to reach Latino consumers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

In a time of economic uncertainty and with so much information at your fingertips, where you get your financial advice matters more than ever. In a new Marketplace series called "Must Be the Money," journalist and author Lee Hawkins has candid conversations with athletes, influencers, and entrepreneurs about wealth creation and navigating today's economy. But first on the show, with an Iran deal and this first Federal Reserve meeting under Chair Kevin Warsh, we'll preview the economic week ahead.

A tentative deal has been reached to end the war in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, which has served as a mediator, says the agreement will be signed in Switzerland on Friday. But details of the agreement are scarce, and that uncertainty is likely to be reflected in oil prices. Then, first-time homebuyers remain locked out of the market. And from the latest season of the Marketplace podcast "How We Survive," can cloud-seeders save Utah's Great Salt Lake?

On today’s episode, Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino walks us through how AI is making it harder to break into the cybersecurity sector.

Across the country, anti-geoengineering bills are being proposed in state legislatures. These bills would ban the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere for the purpose of affecting sunlight or weather, and could impact future research into stratospheric aerosol injection — or even cloud seeding. But, unlike environmentalists that are advocating against the potential use of geoengineering as a climate solution, the bills’ proponents think that it’s already happening. Their proof? You can see it in the sky, they say: just look up.In this episode of “How We Survive,” Amy Scott talks with producer Rachel Kahn about how a once-fringe conspiracy theory could impact the future of geoengineering.

Today, we’re featuring an episode from the new season of “How We Survive.” Could dimming the sun be the key to cooling things down before the climate crisis worsens? Some scientists say yes, that we can cool the earth by launching tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. It’s a type of solar geoengineering that was once seen as preposterous, meant to exist only in the pages of a sci-fi novel. But now, it’s a reality. To find out for ourselves, we travel to Northern California where two entrepreneurs are launching sulfur-filled balloons from the top of stacked shipping containers. Later, we talk with scientists on both sides of this issue to find out if solar geoengineering could help prevent catastrophic tipping points or introduce a whole new slew of cascading consequences.

SpaceX went public Friday, with much pomp and circumstance. Investors are already buying and selling the company’s stock — well, some investors. Employees, early investors, and Elon Musk all held SpaceX stock pre-IPO. Now, the company will supervise when and how they can sell it off. In this episode, we explain why. Plus: An unlikely city tops list of best metro areas for recent college grads, an AI chatbot helps one reporter sell his house, and we break down the week’s economic headlines.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Today, “Marketplace Morning Report” Kimberly Adams is joined by economist Lauren Saidel-Baker with ITR Economics to break down the results. The food manufacturer Campbell’s reported a 4% decline in sales, citing inflationary pressures and softer demand, while Smucker’s, Dollar General, and Five Below all flagged consumer stress in their outlooks. Later in the show, we look at how longstanding challenges for rural Alabama communities accessing healthcare might get worse because of federal policy changes.

This morning, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams joins Marketplace’s Nova Safo to discuss the unknowns with which the stock will debut. SpaceX confirmed the public offering price is $135 dollars per share — that’s how it raised $75 billion, and how it'll make CEO Elon Musk a trillionaire — but the company followed an unconventional IPO process. Later in the show, Adams speaks with hospital administrators in Alabama about how they’re preparing for the effects of rural healthcare changes.

The White House is not giving up its push to preempt states from passing their own AI laws, something it tried and failed to accomplish last year. We'll get into it on today's “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus it looks like federal regulators might actually put some rules on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. And Siri AI is coming to an Apple device near you later this year, as long as you're not in Europe. But first, back to that renewed attempt to pass federal guidelines and preempt state-level AI laws. The Trump administration tried and failed to get a similar provision into a defense spending bill last year, then signed an executive order that hasn't really slowed states down much. So what's different about this newest push? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, to learn more. Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all three economists we asked say gas prices are due for another hike this summer. The war in Iran continues to drain oil reserves in the U.S. and abroad, and eventually prices will have to match growing supply-demand tension. (Yes, that’s even if the war ends today.) Also in this episode: Bond investors expect inflation to stick around for a while, a trio of upcoming IPOs will barely put a dent in total market cap, and Kansas City short-term rental demand disappoints as World Cup kicks off.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Today, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams talks with Marketplace’s Henry Epp about his reporting on the tournament. High ticket prices are making it an expensive endeavor for fans, and those in host cities — like Kansas City — aren’t seeing the boon they may have expected from increased economic activity. But first, Adams is joined by Marketplace’s Nova Safo to discuss Visa, which says it integrated its payments network into ChatGPT to allow autonomous agents to shop for you.

This morning, we’re taking a look at screwworms — little flies that’ll essentially eat an animal alive if untreated. When cases started spreading in Mexico in late 2024, the U.S. mostly banned the import of live animals. Now, Mexico is responding in kind, with the most visible impact being to the horse industry. Later in the show, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams will unpack how, in Alabama, rural communities and healthcare systems are taking funding issues into their own hands.

Unfortunately, a lot of us know someone who has been scammed… but how many scammers do you know? After reporter Carlos Barragán’s mother fell victim to an online romance scam, he traveled to Lagos, Nigeria, to investigate the world of “Yahoo Boys,” as Nigerian scammers call themselves. He spent years getting to know these young men, earning their trust and reporting the most intimate details of their lives. This week, Carlos joins Reema to talk about his new book, “Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception, and the Real Lives of Nigeria's Romance Scammers,” and the complicated story he discovered about the social and economic forces that push people into these crimes. Plus, how loneliness is key to the scam… on both sides! Here is our Spotify playlist of all the stories about scams and scammers that we’ve had on the show. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgIf you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support “This Is Uncomfortable” with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Should you learn prompt engineering, or maybe a physical trade? There's almost no skill that AI won't eventually surpass, according to neuroscientist Vivienne Ming.In her new book, "Robot-Proof: When Machines Have All the Answers, Build Better People," she argues humans still have qualities AI can't replicate, like curiosity, social intelligence and a sense of inner purpose. And honing those makes us better partners to AI.Ming has found in experiments that the most capable form of intelligence is neither human nor AI on its own, but both working together in ways that play to each of their strengths. She calls this the Cyborg model.

The May CPI report dropped Wednesday and it’s a doozy: Inflation rose 4.2% over the last 12 months. This means wallet pressure is bearing down on consumers, as wage growth lags behind price growth. On the other hand, the CPI report includes signals that inflation may have reached its peak. In this episode, an optimist’s and pessimist’s reading of the latest inflation data. Plus: Slowing immigration will have long-term effects on the U.S. economy, and summer camps shift to accommodate anxious teens.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the consumer price index for May this morning, with some bad news for consumers. Headline inflation soared over 4% for the first time in three years, driven in part by higher energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East. The question remains of how much higher oil prices will continue to seep into other areas of the economy. Also on today’s show is a look at how index fund providers could react to SpaceX’s upcoming IPO.

This week, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams has been in Thomasville, Alabama as part of our series examining the economic challenges facing rural health care. This morning, we’ll look at how low wages in Alabama can mean low Medicare reimbursement rates — shaping how much doctors and nurses get paid, and how much money hospitals and clinics can make. But first, we’ll cover how solar power use in the U.S. is hitting new milestones amid energy price fluctuations.

Can a technology used for war help prevent an environmental catastrophe in the making?Cloud seeding is a technique where particles, usually silver iodide, gets dispersed into clouds to help generate more rain or snow and it’s been around for 80 years. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. used cloud seeding in a top secret mission called Operation Popeye, to prolong the monsoon season in Vietnam. It’s since been deployed by state governments and private companies to bring more water to arid places. The only problem? It was hard to verify just how well it worked, which meant it was hard to make any money doing it. Until now. We tag along with a team of cloud seeders in Utah as they race to try to save the Great Salt Lake, and build a rainmaking empire.

Hey Million Bazillionaires, we're dropping into your feeds again this week to tackle a different kind of question: can we actually change course on climate change? That question is at the heart of a new podcast for kids and families from our friends at WBUR. “The Midnight Rebellion” is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It's fiction rooted in real science. Each episode ends with a choice. YOU decide what’s next. Choose wisely. And if you liked what you heard, listen to the rest and follow “The Midnight Rebellion” wherever you get your podcasts. Have a question you want Million Bazillion to answer? Send it to us! And join us next week for our season finale episode all about pennies.

Earth keeps getting hotter. And despite some efforts to slow planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, they're still rising, leaving a lot of people hungry for alternative climate solutions. One idea: reflect sunlight away from Earth. Amy Scott, host of the Marketplace climate podcast, “How We Survive,” looked into one out-there proposal to do just that, and whether it could one day become a reality.

Bank of America advised investors late last week that too many red flags pointed to a market peak, and that it was time to “take profits.” In plain English? The stock market could see a downward turn soon, so it may be time to sell. In this episode, why tell investors to sell? Plus: Ongoing war in Iran strengthens oil and gas outlooks, we check in on foreign trade zones operating under new Trump-era rules, and packaged food brands face myriad potential headwinds.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

We heard earlier about the closure of a hospital in Thomasville, Alabama, as part of our series chronicling the economic crisis that rural hospitals are facing. Now, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams speaks with the director of Thomasville’s public library about the critical role the hospital played during a personal emergency and where community members turn now that it’s closed. But first, we’ll check on how small businesses feel about inflation and find out how SpaceX’s initial public offering could affect the rest of the market.

Yesterday, as part of our series examining the economic challenges facing rural health care, "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams visited Thomasville, a town of 3,500 people in southwestern Alabama. Today, we'll learn from town residents what happens to a community — and its local economy — when addressing certain healthcare needs also means a multi-hour drive. But first, what would a government-controlled sovereign wealth fund that invests in AI look like?

File this under the definition of irony: last month, The New York Times reported that a high-profile new book, "The Future of Truth: How AI reshapes reality," includes several quotes that appear to be made up or misattributed. Author Steven Rosenbaum acknowledged he'd used AI in the writing process.One of the quotes came, allegedly, from a book by data journalist and NYU professor Meredith Broussard. It was a critique of trusting algorithms to make decisions in medicine. Here at “Marketplace Tech,” we have an unexpected connection to this story. We called up Broussard to discuss it.

Bridget and Ryan are having their lunch break at a Chinese restaurant when they run into “Million Bazillion” listener Daphne with a big question: What’s the difference between capitalism, socialism, and communism? Turns out, each system was born out of people’s attempts to build a better society, but they have very different ideas about the role the government should play in our money lives. As the duo work their way through these "isms," they explore the problems that each system tries to solve and the tradeoffs that come with it.

Averages wages grew 3.4% year over year, but at the same time, inflation as measured by the consumer price index, has been eating away at those gains. Workers don’t want to lose purchasing power — rising inflation will feel like a pay cut — but the Fed may see things a bit differently. Plus: Home cooks are a bright spot in Campbell’s soup sales, the owner of Vimeo, AOL, and WeTransfer files for an IPO, and a former diplomat rehabs old movie theaters.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Oil prices are still heading up this morning, but a bit more slowly after tensions in the Middle East appear to be easing. Earlier today, Israel and Iran attacked each other for the first time since the ceasefire in April. What’s behind these rising oil prices, and why are traders bidding up crude? Also in the show: a preview of May inflation data and encouragement to work from home in World Cup host cities.

There are about 700 hospitals at risk of closure across rural communities in the U.S. Financial headwinds are mounting, with disappearing federal subsidies and cuts to Medicaid. Alabama is a state familiar with hospital closures and at risk for more. This morning, host Kimberly Adams visits Thomasville Regional Medical Center, a hospital that looks frozen in time but has been closed for almost two years, to learn what happens to a community's economy and access to healthcare when vital resources disappear.

Enforcement of the Take It Down Act began last month. If tech firms don’t comply and take down non-consensual intimate images — AI-generated or not — within 48 hours of being notified, they face financial and criminal penalties.Lauren Feiner is a senior policy reporter at The Verge, who’s been writing about the law. She walked us through how platforms have been responding.

Growing health insurance premiums, particularly for plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, have been in the headlines as cuts to Medicaid roll out nationwide. But healthcare deductibles are also growing — and with them, the group of Americans who have insurance but can’t afford to use it. Also in this episode: The hospitality industry adds jobs in May, a jeweler in California mines his own gold, and we recap the week’s economic headlines.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its May jobs report earlier this morning. The economy created 172,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate stayed at 4.3%, and the April number was revised up by 64,000 jobs. Who's doing all this hiring? Also on the program, global food prices stabilized last month, but we're not out of the woods yet. And we'll check in on the momentum of the $100 billion wedding industry.

SpaceX is expected to go public next week in what could be the biggest initial public offering ever. Anthropic has also filed for an IPO, likely later this year; OpenAI is moving in that direction, too. With all the hype around these companies, should retail investors — or regular people, for that matter — get in on these IPOs? We do the numbers so you don't have to. Plus, migrant workers in Italy are organizing for better conditions, and Anthropic wants coordinated plans for slowing AI development.

SpaceX is targeting a $1.77 trillion valuation, but some analysts think it's worth half that. Plus, Florida sues OpenAI — the first state to take legal action against an AI company. But first, President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week, similar to the one he called off last month, asking AI companies to give the government a first look at advanced models that could have national security implications. It comes after models like Anthropic's Mythos have raised cybersecurity concerns for reportedly being too good at finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities.Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Liz Lopatto, senior reporter at The Verge, to learn more.Everything we talked about:“PROMOTING ADVANCED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INNOVATION AND SECURITY” from the White House“Trump Signs Executive Order Seeking Oversight of A.I. Models” from The New York Times“SpaceX: What Investors Need to Know About Its Enormous Upcoming IPO” from Morningstar“SpaceX is worth less than half of its $1.75 trillion IPO target, Morningstar says” from CNBC“Attorney General James Uthmeier Files First-in-the-Nation State-Led Lawsuit Against OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman for Deceptive Practices and Harms to Floridians” from Florida’s Attorney General“OpenAI Sued by Florida’s Attorney General Over AI Harms” from The Wall Street Journal

Oil inventories have fallen drastically since President Trump launched the war against Iran. But it’s not because we’re suddenly using more fuel. Instead, the U.S. is exporting much more oil than usual — to places that can’t get enough with the Strait of Hormuz blocked. All this will have knock-on effects for oil prices in the U.S. for months to come. Plus: Investors want to yank more money from private credit firms, your social media algorithim is likely full of “stealth ads,” and we visit the elk antler market in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

SpaceX is set to go public next Friday. If all goes according to plan, the company is seeking a valuation of nearly $2 trillion. That would be the biggest initial public offering on record, and it would make CEO Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. We'll learn more. Then, as part of Marketplace's "What's That Like?" series, we head to Zigong, China, to learn what it takes to be a master lantern artisan.

The jobs report comes out tomorrow. One of the stats in the report that's been rising is the number of people working “part-time for economic reasons.” That’s BLS-speak for workers who would like to be full-time but have had their hours cut or haven’t been able to find full-time jobs. Today, we'll hear from some of those workers and what it means for the overall job market. Also: construction jobs in the Mountain West and red warning signs in the Fed's Beige Book.

When a store offers different shoppers different prices depending on factors like the weather, the time of day, and what the store knows about each buyer, it’s called dynamic pricing.This spring, Maryland, became the first state to ban this practice in grocery stores. The state’s governor Wes Moore proposed the law. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Gov. Moore at the statehouse in Annapolis about why he wanted this ban, his administration’s plans to train the state’s workforce for a future AI economy, and more.

Lots of us have dreamed about taking on a completely different career, but how do you actually make the leap? This week, Reema visits a cohort of people pivoting to the trades in North Carolina and speaks with career coach Phoebe Gavin to get her tips on making a successful pivot. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU.If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

For a while now, we’ve talked to small business owners who say they want to hire more employees, but aren’t in a financial position to do it, can’t find qualified applicants, or are too concerned about the economy to make the jump. But two new reports show small business hiring picked up this spring. In this episode, whether that’s a blip or the start of a positive trend. Plus: An AI prescription renewal tool is launched in Utah, Macy’s tries to turn things around, and we visit a river in the Pacific Northwest with two aging bridges at risk of collapse.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Talk to enough experts about geoengineering and the conversation eventually turns to termination shock. That’s the idea that if we were to start cooling the planet and then suddenly stop, the resulting “shock” of heat could be catastrophic. It’s also the title of a novel by bestselling sci-fi writer Neal Stephenson, who explores the science, politics, and unintended consequences of trying to engineer the earth’s climate. In this episode, we sit down with Stephenson to talk about what sci-fi can teach us about real-world climate solutions. But first: a climate idea so ambitious it sounds like it came straight from the pages of science fiction.

The Federal Reserve has long relied on the PCE as its preferred measure of inflation. But there's another inflation yardstick known as the trimmed mean, which tries to smooth out big inflation bumps. Last week, the Dallas Fed's trimmed mean came in at 2.3% — lower than the PCE and much closer to the Fed's 2% target. What accounts for the difference, and why does it matter? Then, we hear how 48 "base camp" venues are preparing to host World Cup athletes.

A day after lowering tariffs on some agricultural and manufacturing machinery, the Trump administration is proposing new tariffs on 60 countries, including major trading partners. President Donald Trump has been seeking to rebuild its global tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down many in February. Then, we'll dig into Big Tech's spending spree on AI infrastructure. And after, figure skating is having its biggest moment in decades. Can it last?

If you have a debt, you may get a call, a letter or a text prodding you to pay it back. Now, that call could come from an AI agent.The AI debt collection market is expected to reach $16 billion by 2034, according to the Kaplan Group. Kate Nibbs of Wired has been reporting on this and said these bots are not as effective at getting people to pay back the money they owe.

Massive Medicaid cuts, including new work requirements, are rolling out across the country. Trouble filing paperwork will be one reason qualifying Americans lose their coverage. In this episode, what history tells us about cutting Medicaid funding. Plus: Personal incomes are falling, consumers are prioritizing value over luxury, and we explain incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s preferred inflation measure.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

At Nadine’s Hair Braiding, located in suburban Maryland, customers can walk in at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m. and find a stylist. The 10,000-square-foot salon operates with roughly 400 braiders working as independent contractors and serves hundreds of clients a day. Today, we're visiting the salon to learn about the challenges — and successes — of running such a huge operation. Also: why President Trump is reducing tariffs on certain large machinery, and how remote work could be sidelining younger workers.

It’s been about four months since President Donald Trump threatened sanctions against countries supplying much-needed oil to Cuba. The country's economy is already struggling with shortages, inflation, rolling blackouts, and the longstanding U.S. embargo. This morning, we'll hear from a sociologist and retired professor at the University of Havana who's lived through nearly every major chapter of Cuba’s modern economy — from the rise of Fidel Castro to the current economic crisis. But first, there's a modern gold rush (but this time for uranium).

There is growing demand for time with GPUs, the chips that power artificial intelligence. AI companies need those chips in order to keep their models up and running. And to do that, they can reserve time with a GPU. Now, there’s interest from Wall Street in creating a futures market for this AI compute time, essentially treating it like a commodity. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Liz Hoffman, business and finance editor at Semafor and host of the “Compound Interest” podcast, who recently wrote about this.

Today, we’re resharing an episode from our archive that feels especially relevant as the World Cup men’s soccer tournament kicks off next week! “Million Bazillion” listener Alistair wants to know how professional athletes get paid. It’s perfect timing for the question as Bridget and Ryan prepare for the semi-annual Public Radio Foosball Tournament. They scramble to assemble their dream team on a limited budget, while learning the reasons why big teams pay big bucks to the players who bring in big wins.

Manufacturing production, new orders, imports, and exports were all up in May, according to the latest PMI report. The only piece of the manufacturing business that didn’t grow was the labor force — payrolls contracted for the 32nd month in a row. In this episode, how much can a sector grow without hiring more humans? Plus: Dollar stores dip into delivery, college campuses turn into robot training grounds, and new jobs data will tell us whether inflation growth keeps outpacing wage growth.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell accepted the Profile in Courage award last night. Today, we'll delve into the role of the central bank, its current controversies, and signals from new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. Then, there's another potential wrinkle in the tariff refund process. And later, who’s underrepresented when it comes to shaping AI policy? A new mapping tool aims to boost transparency over the future of AI.

Dollar General reports earnings tomorrow. The company already saw its stock jump last week after one of its rivals, Dollar Tree, reported a great first quarter. This hints at a growing demand for deals from consumers across the income spectrum who are feeling pinched by inflation. Then, we chat with the creators of an interactive map, which shows users the different companies and people who are shaping AI regulation across the U.S.

The price of oil has gone up significantly since late February, when the US invaded Iran. And when oil prices see a crazy rise, it makes other sources of energy look more attractive. But we’ve been here before - back in the 1970s, oil prices skyrocketed, and people started to turn to alternative or renewable energy sources. But, for a few reasons, it didn’t stick. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes explores why.

Hourly wages went up 1.7% over the past year, according to Indeed Hiring Lab. Salaried wages went up 2.9%, reversing a 2022 trend in which hourly raises outpaced salary raises. Still, there’s one thing all workers have in common: Neither group kept pace with inflation. Also in this episode: Oil futures tell us where fuel prices are headed, convenience stores transcend utility, and a travel nurse tells us about life on the road.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Could dimming the sun be the key to cooling things down before the climate crisis worsens? Some scientists say yes, that we can cool the earth by launching tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. It’s a type of solar geoengineering that was once seen as preposterous, meant to exist only in the pages of a sci-fi novel. But now, it’s a reality.To find out for ourselves, we travel to Northern California where two entrepreneurs are launching sulfur-filled balloons from the top of stacked shipping containers. Later, we talk with scientists on both sides of this issue to find out if solar geoengineering could help prevent catastrophic tipping points or introduce a whole new slew of cascading consequences.

The Jeff Bezos-backed Slate is a super bare-bones EV that can be configured as an SUV or pickup with starting costs in the mid-$20,000s. Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, and Subaru presently offer fully electric models in the $30,000 and $35,000 range, and Ford plans on launching a lower-cost electric truck next year, too. Today, we dig into the growing competition for cheaper electric cars. Also on the show: a check-in on consumer savings and market movements.

More than a third of all Americans think they’ll lack enough savings to retire, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. For some, one solution to financial precarity in retirement is going back to work, or unretiring. Today, we hear from a 74-year-old retiree who's back in the job market in order to make ends meet. But first, durable goods orders are a sign of strong growth in a sea of economic worry.

This week, rideshare drivers in Massachusetts unionize; plus, Robinhood lets AI agents trade on behalf its customers.But first, there’ve been hints for a while that Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX are planning to go public in the near future. Last week, SpaceX filed its initial public offering prospectus, also known as an S1, which is meant to help investors understand the company’s business model, including the risks it faces. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Paresh Dave, senior writer at WIRED, to learn more.Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”Everything we talked about today:“Tech titans prepare for blockbuster IPOs in new front of AI race” from The Hill“SpaceX Listed Grok’s ‘Spicy’ Mode as a Risk in Its IPO Filing” from Wired“Your AI agent can now trade for you on Robinhood. And buy stuff with your credit card too” from CNBC“Rideshare drivers union in Mass. says it's the 1st to be recognized in the U.S.” NBC Boston

The personal savings rate fell to just 2.6% in April — a low not seen since June 2022, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. That means Americans have, on average, less cash leftover at the end of the month. Gas and grocery price inflation are partially to blame. Also in this episode: Office real estate looks a little K-shaped, one city tries to relieve budget problems with trademarked merch, and Kai breaks down the April PCE report and Q1 GDP revision.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Inflation's heating up and is well above the Federal Reserve's goal. The central bank's preferred reading on inflation came out this morning for April. Prices are up 3.8% from a year ago; it was 3.5% in March. What does that mean for the future of interest rates and the inflation consumers expect going forward? Then, we'll discuss how the war in Iran has added new pressure to an already strained farm economy.

Before war in the Middle East, roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer shipped by sea moved through the Strait of Hormuz. In the last three months, fertilizer prices have climbed between 30% and 50%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. It's yet another growing expense for farmers, and it comes at a time when more farms in the U.S. are closing or going bankrupt. But first: A new study finds racial bias in AI hiring tools.

We’ve talked a lot about how money works and why countries have their own currencies here on “Million Bazillion.” But listener Alessio wants to know: Why DOESN’T the whole world use the same money? And could the world’s nations all decide to just use one shared currency? In this bonus mini-episode, we’ll get some answers!

Like the name suggests, plug-in solar panels can be plugged into an electrical outlet just like you would your toaster. But instead of using electricity, they send power back to be used elsewhere in the home.In most of the country, plug-in solar is neither illegal nor legal. But energy policy consultant Bentham Polis, who's also a senior researcher with the Clean Energy States Alliance, says a growing number of states are passing laws to help spell out the rules around the technology.Discussed in this episode:Instagram video from The Garbage Queen“How do plug-in solar panels work and how are they installed?” from The Independent“What States Need to Know About Plug-In Solar” from Clean Energy States Alliance

Today, we’re featuring an episode of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute.” Reema Khrais joins host Brittany Luse and Wailin Wong, host of NPR’s “The Indicator,” to talk about the hidden ways money shows up in dating and marriage.And we’ve got a new “This Is Uncomfortable” project to share! You’ve heard Reema Khrais ask rapid-fire “uncomfortable money questions” on the show, where she asks guests to share details of their financial lives. Now we want to hear how you would answer! Send us a voice memo, and we may feature it on the show. This week, we kick things off off with listener Thistle from California. Learn more here: https://www.marketplace.org/uncomfortablequestionsFollow This Is Uncomfortable on Instagram and Tiktok! And support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_podIf you liked this episode of NPR's “It’s Been A Minute,” you can follow their podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Four days a week you will get for more episodes like this, featuring deep dives into how culture impacts what you think, feel, and believe.

Forget hard inflation data. Where do everyday Americans think our economy is headed? Well, one survey says consumers expect prices to rise 4.8% over the next year. And in a way, that might have jinxed us — expectations alone can raise actual prices. It’s the power of manifestation, baby! After that: Farmers face compounding hardships, a GDP revision will show the Iran war's economic impact, and environmental concerns spur a wool demand surge.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Office of Personnel Management is proposing a strict new non-disclosure agreement for federal workers, which would bar them from disclosing “non-public, confidential, or proprietary information.” The Trump administration says a new agreement is needed to stop leaks to the press. A draft of the NDA is being published today. Then, from the latest season of Marketplace's "How We Survive," can we engineer nature to slow the climate crisis?

Consumers have grown increasingly worried about inflation, and many are delaying major purchases, according to J.D. Power. That's especially true for people under 40. In a survey, J.D. Power found that only about a third in that age group believe they can cover everyday expenses. We'll dig in. But first, Spotify has long invested in podcasts and audiobooks. Now, it wants you to listen to magazine articles on the platform, too.

Could dimming the sun be the key to cooling things down before the climate crisis worsens? Some scientists say yes, that we can cool the Earth by launching tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. It’s a type of solar geoengineering that was once seen as preposterous, meant to exist only in the pages of a sci-fi novel. But now, it’s a reality. To find out for ourselves, we travel to Northern California, where two entrepreneurs are launching sulfur-filled balloons from the top of stacked shipping containers. Later, we talk with scientists on both sides of this issue to find out if solar geoengineering could help prevent catastrophic tipping points or introduce a whole new slew of cascading consequences. Clarification (June 18, 2026): This episode has been updated to more accurately reflect David Keith's relationship to the carbon removal company he founded.

Public backlash to content generated by artificial intelligence has pushed brands to reconsider how AI is used in their marketing.Some companies are swerving away from AI and finding ways to prove that their advertisements were made by humans.One of those humans is Ash Xu, a commercial director and online content creator. Brands hire her to make a commercial plus a behind-the-scenes video about how the ad was made. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Xu to learn more.

As President Trump’s war in the Middle East continues, Americans continue to face higher fuel prices. But some have it worse than others. In this episode, we compare the situation at the pump in Texas, heart of the U.S. oil industry, and California, where air quality regulations make gas pricier. Plus: Wholesale clubs attract higher-income shoppers, fast fashion giant Shien acquires eco-conscious Everlane, and a new Chicago Fed report reveals strong manufacturers and shaky consumers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Heard of "doomspending"? It refers to a feeling of hopelessness about your financial future and spending more freely now than you maybe should. From Marketplace's "This Is Uncomfortable," we dig into the self-defeating financial decisions we sometimes make — from splurging to regain a sense of control to not saving for retirement because it's hard to envision the future — and how to rethink those impulses. But first: new strikes in Iran but the same old market uncertainty.

At a recent conference, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman toned down his talk of mass worker displacement caused by AI. He said he thought AI would have had more of an impact on the elimination of white-collar jobs by now, adding that he’s “delighted to be wrong about this” and that there’s a “human part” of work that can’t be replaced. Also on the show: a preview of a Q1 GDP revision and the astronomical costs to attend this year's World Cup.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids. GLP-1 weight loss drugs are peptides. Insulin is one, too. And there are thousands of others. Now, people are seeking out peptides in the hope of better muscles, better skin, better memory, better…everything. Many of the peptides people wanna try are available for research use only but the Food and Drug Administration might change this. In July, the agency could decide to make about a dozen peptides more accessible by allowing pharmacies to compound and distribute them Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Zara Stone, tech culture reporter at The San Francisco Standard, to learn more.

“Million Bazillion” listener Cora wants to know: How does a company buy another company? But before Bridget and Ryan can answer, Borpo, host of “Learning with Borpo” and CEO of a giant educational media empire, shows up with an offer to buy “Million Bazillion!” As the duo tries to figure out whether it’s a good deal or not, they’ll learn that buying (or selling) a company is more than just money on the table. It also involves intense negotiations, government regulations, and could change things for workers and customers.

Convenience stores face new barriers to accepting SNAP dollars this year. A USDA rule aimed at providing healthier options mean some stores must choose between expanding their perishable offerings — which can be expensive — and accepting SNAP dollars at all. In this episode, we examine SNAP regulations from the perspective of businesses. Plus: Upcoming tech IPOs could shake up your retirement fund, first-time homebuyers keep getting older and Quince might set a new standard for retail business models.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Last month, four high school seniors participated in an experiment. A Stanford economist was given a list of colleges they were accepted to, what they were contemplating studying, their financial situations, and the aid packages they were offered. Then, she recommended the most economically sound college choice for each. Today, we'll delve into her choices and thinking. But first: why it would be crazy to think about cutting interest rates right now.

A new U.S. Department of the Interior report confirms what many already feared: The Colorado River system, which pumps out water to 40 million people in seven western states, is looking grim. It was already depleted from drought and a dry winter, but there’s now concern over hydropower and keeping taps flowing in Phoenix and Tucson. We'll dig in. Then, the number of Latino-owned businesses is growing at a fast pace.

The wildfire risk mitigation company Technosylva helps utilities, insurers and government agencies predict where and when a fire could spark. It uses historical weather data to make those predictions and suggest changes to help prevent or mitigate a fire. For example, maybe moving a tree branch that's close to a power line so it doesn't fall and start a fire.The company is nearly 30 years old, and Technosylva's chief executive, Bryan Spear, explains how the advent of AI has changed the work they do.

S&P Global’s flash Purchasing Managers’ Index for May reflects “a tale of two economies.” Input costs increased across industries this month, and while manufacturers could keep up, the services sector faced softening demand. Also in this episode: Birdwatching brings tourist dollars to Northwest Ohio, an independent performance venue in Iowa gets creative to keep the lights on, and we discuss the week’s economic headlines. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

HotSOS Housekeeping is an app that uses real-time data to help hotel housekeepers speed up room turnover. But the constant monitoring means the tracking of every move, which can add stress and discomfort for some workers. Today, we hear from two housekeepers — one who has union protections and one who doesn't — about how the algorithmic app has changed their worklives. But first, rising prices mean the central bank may flirt with interest rate hikes this year.

Memorial Day weekend is here, kicking off the summer travel season. More Americans are expected to hit the roads this year, but it comes at a time when gas prices are the highest they've been in four years — up about a $1.40 since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, and Iran effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz. Also on this morning’s podcast: high-profile concert cancellations and a preview of consumer sentiment.

On this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review, we take a look at how college graduates do not wanna hear about AI. Plus, what we all learned from the Musk v. Open AI case. But first, AI was unsurprisingly front and center at Google’s annual I/O developer conference. Among a suite of new AI products, Google said it updated its iconic search bar. Now, when searching in AI mode, the bar will expand as you ask a question. It will also provide suggestions about what you might wanna ask. Google says this is the biggest change to its search box since it debuted over 25 years ago. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Anita Ramaswamy, a columnist at The Information, about how this could change how people experience the internet. Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

Elon Musk’s SpaceX just filed to go public, and OpenAI is expected to file in the fall. Both businesses have been around for over a decade — what was the hold up? In this episode, we explain the tradeoffs that come with an IPO. Plus: U.S. manufacturers struggle with climbing tungsten prices, Stellantis doubles down on affordable car models, and the authors of “How to Win a Trade War” make an optimistic case for our future global economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Some of the biggest names in tech are making moves to go public this week. SpaceX — Elon Musk’s rocket, social media, and AI company — filed for an initial public offering yesterday. And the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, could file for an IPO as soon as tomorrow. These companies have raised a lot of private capital over the years. Why go public now? Plus, the pharmaceutical industry is investing billions in finding exotic radioactive isotopes to treat cancers.

About 8,000 Meta employees lost their jobs this week. The company is looking to offset its massive AI spending and “operate with a flatter structure." 'Flatness' has become a common refrain when tech companies shed jobs. It refers to the elimination of layers of middle-management roles, as AI agents take over some coordinating functions. Also on the show: Nvidia faces stiffer competition, and we learn about advancements in radiation cancer therapies.

Do you ever look at the world and think: everything is so uncertain, who knows if I’ll ever be able to retire … so I might as well get those concert tickets? Then you might be doomspending. Reema talks with The Financial Diet’s Chelsea Fagan and behavioral economist Judd Kessler about why we doomspend, and what we should do instead. Plus, producer Alice Wilder makes a confession. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! And support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Anthropic’s newest AI model, Mythos, is so good, the company says, at uncovering security vulnerabilities that it's too dangerous to release to the public. Anthropic shared a preview version with a select group to help patch the holes that Mythos finds.But the prospect of a super-hacker AI system is still sending some business leaders into a panic. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino reports.

Affordable Care Act premiums are higher this year, after Congress declined to renew subsidies for the health insurance program. As a result, about a million fewer Americans enrolled for 2026 and even more are slated to drop by the year’s end. In this episode, why falling enrollment will raise premiums further. Plus: Bond yields hit record highs around the globe, businesses start to see tariff refunds ahead of schedule, and utility rates are about to get worse.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Investors have been souring on bonds. To entice them back, bond yields have been rising. The yield on the 30-year bond yesterday hit 5.2%, the highest rate since 2007; 10-year yields are about as high as they've been in more than a year. Many people have exposure to bonds in their retirement accounts. Bond yields also impact the rates on mortgages and business loans. We'll explain. Then, Google's search revenue remains strong — thanks in large part to AI.

The number of hot, dry, windy days is increasing, setting the stage for fires. Wildfire season is off to an awful start. In March, Nebraska had its largest wildfire in state history. Right now, a fire outside of LA is forcing evacuations. While the federal government spends about $3 billion on wildfire suppression each year, most of that is being spent, and states are having to fill the gaps. Also: why Google is "leading the way" in the AI race.

Earlier this month, a group called ShinyHunters took responsibility for a hack on the education platform Canvas, which is used for coursework at colleges. In a letter posted online, the group threatened to leak data it took from the platform, including billions of private messages between students and teachers. Canvas was also temporarily unavailable, disrupting students’ ability to do their work.Then, last week, Instructure, which makes Canvas, said it had reached a deal with the hackers, that the data had been returned and all copies destroyed. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes asked Rachel Tobac, CEO at Social Proof Security, what we know about the deal.

The climate crisis is escalating. We have to decarbonize our economy, but we’re moving too slowly. So, what’s the backup plan?This season of “How We Survive” is about engineering nature: large-scale interventions that could be our last hope. We’ll explore technology being developed that could alter our weather patterns, transform our planet, and possibly save us all from the worst outcomes of the climate crisis. Or lead to catastrophic, unintended consequences. On our hunt for solutions, we tag along with entrepreneurs trying to launch sulfur into the stratosphere, venture to the Utah mountains where there’s a serious endeavor to create more rain and snow, find out how (and why) scientists are trying to resurrect extinct animals. Join us for the new season of “How We Survive,” starting May 27.

The era of frequent public speeches given by Federal Reserve officials on monetary policy may be over. Incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has expressed a desire to reform the central bank’s robust communication style, which has been the norm since the 1990s. In this episode, what do we stand to lose if the Fed zips its lips? Plus: Retailers weigh passing higher costs onto cash-strapped consumers, stateside EV sales don’t keep up with European surge, and cities make an economic case for planting more trees.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

If you’re a homeowner — this is no surprise to you — property insurance can be expensive. It seems to get more and more pricey each year. Some might blame climate change or natural disasters, but if you look under the hood of the $1 trillion in premium payments last year, the numbers might tell a different story. We'll unpack. But first, we'll discuss and preview earnings for some of America's largest retailers.

President Donald Trump has dropped his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns in exchange for the creation of a new $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which will compensate people who have been investigated or targeted for “political, personal, or ideological reasons.” We'll dig into the highly controversial fund. Also on the show: home sellers stay on the sidelines, and a pro dumpster diver finds gems amid dorm moveouts.

In this episode, Bridget and Ryan travel through the history of money in front of a live audience of kids and families (for real!) to answer Sofia’s big question: What is the gold standard? Together, they explore this old money rule, how paper money became a thing, and why no countries in the world – not a single one – use gold to back their money anymore.This episode was performed as part of WBUR’s Podcast Playdate festival for kids in Boston. It was one of the most fun experiences we’ve ever had on the show. We loved seeing so many of you in the audience, hearing your reactions in real time and getting to meet you in person.Thank you to everyone who came out. We can’t wait to go back next year!If your family is interested in learning even more about today’s question, check out our website. We’ve got conversation starters and a tip sheet!Love the show? You can help make it happen. Donate what you can at marketplace.org/givemillion

As of mid-2025, about a third of newly published websites were generated by artificial intelligence. That’s a massive increase from just three years before when the number hovered around zero. The AI written text provides fewer diverse viewpoints and is generally presented in a cheerful manner. That's all according to an early study out last month. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with one of the study’s authors, Stanford University researcher Maty Bohacek, about how AI is changing the nature of the internet.

Cybersecurity was once the focus of a huge workforce development push. Job opportunities and training programs were abundant. But as artificial intelligence makes it easier for hackers to pull off sophisticated cyber crimes, it’s also replaced entry-level cybersecurity roles. In this episode, one corner of the AI-affected job market. Plus: What retail earnings could reveal about consumer spending, how homebuilders are feeling, and how the U.S. dollar became dominant.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The U.S. and Iran remain far apart on a ceasefire, as President Donald Trump warns on social media that "the clock is ticking." The standoff is rattling global markets. Government bonds are rising, pushing up borrowing costs. And oil prices are moving higher this morning, as traders worry that the war in the Middle East will lead to a prolonged period of higher inflation. We'll discuss. And later: how Brazil became BYD’s biggest market outside of China.

The war in Iran has cost Americans more than $40 billion in additional fuel costs, according to an analysis from Brown University’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs. The costs go beyond just what Americans pay at the pump; higher diesel costs are factoring into rising prices for other consumer goods, too. This morning, we'll do the numbers. Plus, after a slowdown, "vertical dramas" are putting some Hollywood crews back to work.

Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of energy creation, and uses the flow of rushing water to create electricity. The province of Québec, Canada, has historically had an abundance of it and, later this spring, will start supplying hydropower to New York City.This is the second big hydropower line to link Québec and the Northeast U.S. this year, after a line to Massachusetts came on board this winter.Right now, the power is going one way, from Canada to the U.S., but some are thinking that the U.S. could eventually sell renewable wind energy back to Canada and let that country hold on to its hydropower for when it's really needed, creating a “regional battery,” says Marketplace's Henry Epp, who’s been reporting on this.

New consumer data shows alcohol sales were down over 5% in April. And, as you’ve probably noticed, gas prices were up. Is there any correlation? In this episode, why high fuel prices may exacerbate existing consumer trends — like cutting back on beer. Plus: Cerebras’ successful IPO signals hunger for AI stocks, Hollywood is buying more short stories, and we discuss the week’s economic headlines.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Tomorrow is the Preakness Stakes, the second event in the Triple Crown. Betting on horse racing in the U.S. has declined by more than 50% over the last few decades. And while you might think platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket would see opportunity in horse racing bets, they haven't made inroads. Why don’t prediction markets have a horse on that race? We explain. And later, we'll do the numbers on defense lobbying.

"LNG is the next growth story of the next decade," says Kent Britton, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi. Liquefied natural gas exports are expected to grow 30% in the U.S. in the next year and a half. That growth is driven mostly by new and expanding LNG export projects along the Gulf Coast. What does it mean for the global energy market and coastal economies? But first: inflation, imports, and U.S.-China trade deals.

This week, WhatsApp is offering private chats with its AI. Plus, Princeton will now hold supervised exams after a rise in AI-fueled cheating.But first, Google’s self-driving car division Waymo opted to do a voluntary recall of 3,800 of its robotaxis. This comes after a Waymo drove into a flooded road in San Antonio, Texas. The car was empty and no one was hurt, but Waymo is now updating its software to address how its cars deal with flooded roads. Will Oremus at The Atlantic joins Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes for these stories.Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

President Trump arrived for trade talks in China this week with a gaggle of corporate CEOs in tow. One expert tells us Trump’s body language, tone, and the C-suite entourage all hint Chinese President Xi has the upper hand in any negotiations. In this episode, what we expect the two world leaders to discuss. Plus: Consumers and retailers show signs of caution, the EU rethinks fiber optic cable routes in conflict zones, and traditional TV comapnies try out AI-driven ad programming.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Recent controversy surrounding the rock band Geese and a digital marketing firm Chaotic Good Projects has sparked debate over the tactics firms use to drum up hype for artists online. How can we tell if online hype is real or fake? And does it really matter? Trapital founder Dan Runcie joins Kimberly to break it down. Plus, a final thank you from Kimberly.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Geese psyop debate: Rock band raises questions about music marketing" from Fast Company"Fake Fans" from Eliza McLamb"The Fanfare Around the Band Geese Actually Was a Psyop" from Wired"If Geese are a psy-op, so is everything else" from Dazed "Are Chaotic Good’s marketing practices bad for listeners?" From CBC Arts“Make Me Smart” is a public media program. Show your support with a donation today and keep economic news available to everyone. Donate now: https://bit.ly/mkp_mms_pod

Retail sales in April were up 0.5% compared to the month before and are up 4.9% from a year ago, according to the Census Bureau. So are retail sales higher because consumers are resilient and buying more stuff, or are we spending more just because prices are higher and the stuff we want is more expensive? We discuss. Then, in search of cleaner energy, two new power transmission lines are connecting Quebec to New York and Massachusetts.

Kevin Warsh is officially the next chair of the Federal Reserve. The Senate voted to confirm him to a four-year term on Wednesday. He’ll replace Chair Jerome Powell, who led the central bank for the last eight years. He’ll face a challenging economic environment, worsening inflation, and pressure from President Donald Trump to cut rates. Plus, a look at how median actually rents fell in April and why one Arizona coffee roaster is unable to claim tariff refunds.

Voice cloning is the use of artificial intelligence to generate a clone of a real person’s voice, imitating the sound, when they pause and what words they typically emphasize. And it can be hard for people to identify voices as being AI-generated.Research last year from UC Berkeley professor Hany Farid, an expert in digital forensics, found that people correctly identify a voice as AI-generated only 60% of the time. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Farid about the rapid sophistication of audio deepfakes, why it's so hard to tell the difference between a real voice and an AI-generated one right now, and some tips to help you spot voice clones.

How far would you go to participate in a boycott? Cancel your concert tickets? Spend 25% more on groceries? What about refusing to visit your family? This week, Reema speaks to Canadians who are going to great lengths to boycott the United States. Plus, a conversation with financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin about how to practice “good enough” boycotting. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

The cost of goods for the producers of this economy was up a whopping 6% in April, according to the latest PPI. That means consumers can expect more inflation down the road. Plus: Treasury yields are creeping up, the global oil stockpile is shrinking by about 4 million barrels a day, and diesel pickup truck drivers are shelling out at the pump. In this episode, it all goes back to President Trump’s war in the Middle East. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

This week, we’re sharing an episode of another podcast we like — from another journalist named Amy.Award-winning climate journalist Amy Westervelt returns with a new season of Drilled, a true-crime podcast about the deception, disinformation, and power structures standing between us and real climate solutions. This season is called “Carbon Cowboys,” and exposes how Republican corn ethanol mogul Bruce Rastetter sold his “sustainable aviation fuel” to world leaders, from North Dakota to Brazil.The problem? His “clean energy” project does nothing to help climate change. “Drilled: Carbon Cowboys” follows the land grabs, pipelines, and political power stopping real progress from being made.Here’s episode one. Find “Drilled” wherever you get podcasts, and hear episodes early and ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up on the “Drilled” show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

To address pain at the pump, President Donald Trump and some Congressional Republicans are floating the idea of temporarily pausing the federal gas tax. The thing is, that gas tax helps pay for the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, and more. Today, we delve into how the tax shows up in our everyday lives. Then, we head to Boston to hear how a small college there is serving low-income, first-generation students.

Household debt ticked up slightly in the first three months of this year, increasing by $18 billion, according to the New York Fed. Credit card debt is actually down slightly, but mortgage balances, home equity lines of credit, and car loan balances all grew. We unpack. Plus, later in this morning's show, how might economic tensions appear at the summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping?

In order to write her new book “I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI To Do ‘Almost’ Everything," journalist Joanna Stern decided to invite artificial intelligence into every aspect of her life — including her family life. She has a wife and two sons. On their spring break, she took them to Phoenix, where it's easy to hail a driverless car. They rode in a bunch of them, including one that totally freaked out.She brought home an AI-powered toy (which her four-year-old quickly tired of), and says she realized her kids will "grow up never knowing a world without computers as smart as them.” Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Stern about how she hopes her children will navigate that world.

Inflation was up 3.8% in April, according to the latest CPI. Economists say the war with Iran has caused “transitory” inflation — that’s short-lived inflation from a specific inflationary event. It’s also how experts characterized Trump’s tariffs and the COVID-19 pandemic. But if inflation stays put for, say, five years, is it really still transitory? Also in this episode: Small business owners fret over rising costs, MIT students graduate with majors in AI, and Quebec brings hydropower to the Northeast U.S.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

After a pandemic-era boom, the fine art market is going through something of a bust. Many galleries have closed due to climbing overhead costs and sales just aren’t what they used to be. Author and freelance journalist Julie Belcove joins Kimberly to demystify the inner workings of the global art market and what a slump could mean for the those who work in the arts.

Prices in the U.S. were up 3.8% year over year in April. That's a faster rate of annual inflation than we saw in March. A main driver was higher energy prices, a result of the war with Iran. Those price increases are taking a bite out of consumer wages, but the pain may be temporary. Plus, small businesses are hanging in there. And, we'll preview President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In late February, mortgage rates dipped below 6%, and affordability was beginning to improve. In April, people bought and sold more homes than they did the year before, but not by much. The reason? A whole new source of uncertainty brought on by war in the Middle East. Later in the show: While specialty farmers aren't caught in trade war crosshairs the way commodity farmers are, they still have plenty to worry about domestically.

Today, we’re resharing an important episode from our archive! We’re answering Sadie’s question about why there is so much gold at Fort Knox. (And, we’re releasing a special new episode next week all about gold too. We can’t wait for you to hear it!) Fort Knox is one of the most secure places in the world. In today’s episode, Bridget and Ryan are determined to get inside! But just as the pair lands a special tour to the top-secret gold vault, a couple of mysterious Fort Knox enthusiasts throw a wrench in their plans.

Imagine if you invited robots - smart ones or “smart-ish,” at least - into every aspect of your life. Your emails and texts are all composed by an AI, the bots look at a photo of what’s in your fridge and figure out what you can make for dinner. They even become emotional support, providing advice and sometimes companionship. Journalist and founder of media company New Things, Joanna Stern, decided to try this and she wrote about it in her new book “I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI To Do Almost Everything.” Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Stern about how AI did and didn’t help her and ultimately what she sacrificed by inviting AI into her life.

Inflation and employment are the dual pillars of this economy’s health, which the Federal Reserve is mandated to evenly manage. Last week saw sunny news for the latter category, when the April jobs report was better than expected. Economists anticipate the opposite for the upcoming consumer price index, as the war in Iran inflates prices at home. In this episode, we brace for a dreary CPI. Plus: Adult education programs promise higher wages, retail investors pile on to the chip market, and climate change makes food less nutritious.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Younger workers typically feel more optimistic about the job market than older ones, but a new Gallup poll found that only 43% of Americans aged 15 to 34 thought that last year was a good time to find a job. That’s compared to 64% of those above the age of 55. The optimism of young workers has dropped by 27 points since 2023, potentially signaling the influence of AI. Plus: a breakdown of the costs, both human and financial, of Nebraska’s Medicaid eligibility rollout and a look into the impact of rising gas prices on inflation.

An announcement from Meta that information about employees’ keystroke and mouse movement would be collected and used to train its artificial intelligence has reportedly caused turmoil within the company. But the concept of harvesting data from everyday digital interactions isn’t new. “Marketplace Morning Report” Host Sabri Ben-Achour spoke with Panagiotis Ipeirotis, a professor of Technology and Business at NYU Stern, about how seemingly innocuous online activity can be used to train AI. But first: rising gas prices are making some Americans cut back, but the k-shaped economy knows no bounds.

There's a new flex in Silicon Valley: how big is your AI agent swarm? They can work on your behalf, autonomously, 24/7, on whatever goal you give them. You might think having an army of AI minions could free up some time, maybe make work more chill. But, you’d be wrong, as Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino reports.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has begun processing applications for tariff refunds after the Supreme Court ruled against swaths of President Trump’s import taxes. But limitations on who can file have left some business owners out of luck, and those who are eligible must weigh how much of the refund they should pass down the line. Also on the program: the jobs report, tech layoffs, and what the Spirit Airlines shutdown could mean for a Florida airport. Plus: a look into Sparrow’s Nest Studio, Manhattan’s “home for mahjong.”Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

As Kimberly gets ready to step into her new role as the host of “Marketplace Morning Report,” her predecessor David Brancaccio joins her to talk about his years on the morning shift and what he’s looking forward to on his new beat covering future effects for Marketplace. Plus, the two swap summer reading recommendations and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Liar's Poker" by Michael Lewis"Number Go Up" by Zeke Faux"Pattern Recognition" by William Gibson "The Sum of Us" by Heather McGhee"Public pools used to be everywhere in America. Then racism shut them down." From Marketplace"Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI" by Ryan Rolansky and Aneesh Raman"Want to make new friends? There's an app for that" from Marketplace"Why online courses sold by influencers have become so popular" from Marketplace"The Roomba Guy’s Second Act: A Robot You’ll Want to Snuggle" from The Wall Street Journal "The Spirit Airlines Comeback Story No One Saw Coming" from Inc.“Make Me Smart” is a public media program. Support “Make Me Smart” with your donation today and keep economic news available to everyone. Donate now: https://bit.ly/mkp_mms_pod

President Donald Trump has tried to pressure foreign countries to invest in the U.S. by threatening tariffs. But for decades, the federal government has also been putting on the SelectUSA Investment Summit, a giant trade show where states and businesses try to attract foreign investors. We have a dispatch from this year's Investment Summit. Plus, some of Trump's latest tariffs have been deemed illegal. And: a better-than-expected jobs report and some slower-than-expected World Cup hotel bookings.

This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released fresh jobs data for April. Unemployment remained unchanged at 4.3%, and the overall economy added 115,000 new jobs. A warmer-than-average April resulted in strong seasonal hiring, though it may be too early to see drags from war and high gas prices. Then later, we'll check in with the owner of a Virginia tea shop, who — like many small business owners — has been buffeted around by changing tariff policy.

On this week’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” we’ll discuss why Apple is paying a $250 million settlement over its Apple Intelligence tool and its capabilities. Plus, GameStop makes a surprising buyout offer for eBay. But first up: Anthropic, maker of the chatbot Claude, announced a new computing deal this week with SpaceX and its AI division, xAI. Anthropic will get access to SpaceX’s Colossus One data center, which will let the company increase how much its customers can use Claude. The deal comes as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is facing off in federal court against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke about all this with Caroline O’Donovan, AI and technology senior reporter at The San Francisco Standard, who noted that Anthropic's leaders talked about the need for more computing power at their developer conference this week. Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

After the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced taxes for 85% of households, disproportionately benefiting high-income earners, all eyes are on the GOP’s approach to taxation. But they’re not the only ones, as Democrats, too, seek to cash in on the tax cut strategy. “Marketplace” Host Kai Ryssdal spoke with Annie Lowrey, a staff writer at The Atlantic, about what that dwindling tax base could mean for public works and our national debt. But first: Whirlpool reports “recession-level low” demand, the first quarter’s lower-than-expected productivity, and a look into how some business owners are approaching tariff refunds.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The WNBA’s 30th season tips off tomorrow. This year, things look a lot different for players after the league and players union recently signed a landmark collective bargaining agreement (CBA). On today’s show, The Athletic’s Annie Costabile joins Kimberly to break down how the deal has transformed the way players are paid. Plus, has women’s basketball ever really been given the chance to maximize its earning potential?

Labor productivity has been on a growth streak for the past year and a half. It increased 0.8% in the first quarter of this year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is up almost 3% from a year ago. How much of this boils down to AI? Also on the show: threatened tariffs against the European Union and a conversation about U.S. dollars, the oil shock, and investment from Gulf countries.

If you ask people what they’re most worried about affording these days, healthcare tops the list (now tied with gas). And that concern may translate to a wave of resentment at the ballot box: About 90% of people say healthcare costs will influence whether and how they vote in November, and more than half say it will have a major impact. Then, the United Arab Emirates wants a currency swap with the United States. We explain.

Got a tricky situation at work and not sure what to do? In our recurring advice column, “Work Drama,” we try to find answers to your sticky work questions. This week, Reema is joined by Tobin Low of “This American Life” to answer your workplace questions – from coworkers falling asleep mid-meeting to crushing on your boss.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you have any work drama going on, we want to hear about it! Leave a message at 347-RING-TIU or email uncomfortable@marketplace.org.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! And support “This Is Uncomfortable” with your donation today.

Back in 2015, Elon Musk and Sam Altman got the idea to start a nonprofit AI lab to develop artificial general intelligence that benefits all humanity. The lab would also make its technology open source, calling it OpenAI.All that is according to a complaint filed by Elon Musk, who has since parted ways with the organization. And now he is suing OpenAI, its CEO Sam Altman and its president Greg Brockman, saying they have abandoned the founding principles of the organization in pursuit of profits.They are currently facing off in federal court in the Northern District of California. Paresh Dave at Wired has been in the courtroom. He explains more on what the core of Musk's case is.

The private sector added twice as many jobs in March as it did in April — it’s a promising sign in an otherwise perplexing labor market. Private sector gains could translate to an overall boost in the upcoming BLS jobs report. But even if the quantity of jobs goes up, there are still some negative indicators to keep an eye on. Also in this episode: Corpus Christi's water crisis collides with an energy sector boom and Disney sees revenue wins after raising streaming prices.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The U.S. and Iran are reportedly back to working on an end to the war, and sources say a deal is close. Axios reports that the deal would involve a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and an end to sanctions. This morning, we dig into how seriously markets are taking these peace talks. Then, we continue our discussion of Iran's beleaguered economy — and who exactly they blame for it.

United Healthcare, the nation’s biggest insurer, announced that it’s cutting back on its requirements for prior authorization by 30%. Prior authorization is when your doctor orders a medical procedure, test, or drug, but you can't get it before the insurance company's approval. For insurers, it's a way to cut costs. For doctors and patients, it's a source of massive frustration. Plus, we check in on the state of Iran's wartime economy.

Technology has been transformative for how police officers do their jobs. Body cameras, speed detection technology and surveillance drones are some prominent examples. And now, law enforcement departments are trying to figure out if and how they want to add artificial intelligence to the mix. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Greg Barber, a science and technology journalist who recently wrote about this for Proof News. He explained how AI is being used in police work now and whether or not AI has become a time-saving tool for officers.

In case you forgot, President Trump's tariffs had one goal: narrow the U.S. trade deficit. Compare March ‘25 to March ‘26, and the deficit has shrunk by half. But from February to March of this year, it actually widened — exports rose, while imports rose even more. In this episode, what’s driving all that economic activity? (Hint, it’s not tariffs.) Plus: 30-year Treasury yields top 5%, home remodeling is projected to slow in 2027, and we visit a job fair in Philadelphia.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The power struggle between the states and federal government is as old as the U.S. itself. But under the second Trump administration, that struggle has become particularly fraught. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy joins Kimberly to explain how the president is wielding federal funding as a tool to expand his authority, and how states are fighting back.

Immigrant detention facilities are being bought and retrofitted seemingly overnight without public input across the U.S., and there's little to no notice given to local governments. How can this happen? It's all traced back to a war-focused contracting method Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been using to its advantage. But first, the New York Times reports that the president is considering setting up a safety-vetting process for AI models.

Roughly one in every 20 U.S. workers is holding down multiple jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's fallen a fraction of a percent since last fall, when we saw the highest rate since 1999 — around the moment just before the dot-com bubble burst, when there were fears about what increasing automation meant for job-holders. Sound familiar? Then, we'll unpack a recent water-saving plan to address the ongoing water crisis in the Colorado River Basin.

The episode you’ve been waiting for is finally here. This is part 2 of the San Fran Fin Lit Pod Con cliffhanger episode from last season. Bridget and Ryan finally made it to the conference, only to find it’s entirely cashless. It’s the perfect opportunity to answer all your non-paper-money questions: What would happen if we lived in a cashless world and paid for everything with debit and credit cards? How do you send and receive money with mobile payment apps? And how exactly do checks work?

The startup Winnie is a marketplace for childcare. It works like this: Parents type in the age of their kid and their zip code, then different childcare providers in the area will pop up. You can also filter by languages spoken, and whether you want a childcare center or home-based daycare or another option. It's free for parents to use.But the company was founded back in 2016, when AI search wasn’t really a thing. And Winnie’s CEO and co-founder Sara Mauskopf says parents now want to be able to describe what they're looking for in natural language. So, Winnie has had to adapt. It's just released an AI-powered search tool.Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Mauskopf to learn more about their new AI search engine and the challenges of keeping up with the fast-paced AI sector.

We’ve said from the get-go that consumers paid the bulk of President Trump’s tariffs. Now that most were ruled illegal, individual businesses will get to decide whether to pass those tariff refunds onto customers. And any litigation of those decisions could take a while. Also in this episode: What’s next for the airline industry sans Spirit, why GameStop wants to buy eBay, and how states could claw back some tax dollars.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Starting July 1, a cap on federal student loan borrowing limits kicks in. Graduate students will soon only be able to take out $20,500 a year, and up to $100,000 in total; the cap is higher for some professional programs, like medicine or law. But all this could mean new barriers to advanced degrees for students with little or no credit. Plus, we look at the ever-shrinking consumer cushion. And, what happened to talks of a proposed Spirit bailout?

A new report from Dayforce and the Living Wage Institute found that just over half of full-time workers earn enough to provide for themselves and their families. Wages have been rising, just not as quickly as costs. Familiar racial and gender gaps persisted, too — and got wider in 2025. But first, GameStop is trying to buy eBay for $56 billion, though it's unclear where all that money would come from. Then, is the robotaxi revolution ever coming?

The GUARD Act is a bipartisan bill that would prohibit companies from letting kids under 18 interact with what the legislation calls "AI companions,” which are chatbots designed to encourage the simulation of an interpersonal relationship.This comes after some harrowing stories of teenagers who developed relationships with chatbots and then harmed themselves or others. The bill just passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes talks about this with Ashley Gold, a senior tech policy reporter at Axios.

Bad news for your next smartphone purchase: An extended memory chip crunch is upon us, warns Apple CEO Tim Cook. New artificial intelligence projects are outspending the consumer electronics sector on memory, and manufacturers have limited output capacity. Retailers will likely pass those higher costs onto consumers. Also in this episode: A retiree focuses on charitable giving, specialty movie ticket prices climb to $50, and America’s biggest energy port benefits from the Middle East oil tie-up.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Hey Smarties! There won’t be a livestream for “Economics on Tap” today. But don’t worry! We’ll be back next week. For now, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Enjoy!What happens to your retirement savings when you leave a job? And if you’ve forgotten about an old 401(k) account, how do you track that money down? That’s the mystery Reema is trying to solve this week, as she confronts her own financial anxiety and goes searching for retirement accounts left behind at previous jobs.Along the way, she talks with retirement expert Geoffrey Sanzenbacher about just how common this is -- only about 15% of people roll their retirement savings over to a new employer's plan! And she asks behavioral economist Katy Milkman why this kind of chore feels so hard. Plus, brain hacks that will help you get through that daunting financial to-do list.Here at Marketplace, we’re celebrating Public Media Giving Days on May 1 and 2. Help us keep the conversations going. Donate now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

When college-bound high school seniors commit to a school, it's always a complicated calculus, especially for families who need financial aid. But for students starting this fall, there’s a new wrinkle: new caps on how much parents can borrow from the federal government to help their kids pay for college. Today, one high school senior and his mom talk college finances. Plus, we'll recap an especially busy week for the economy.

Last year, more people left the U.S. than moved in — it’s the first time that’s happened in at least half a century. And 2026 is expected to see even more outmigration. Immigrants pay taxes and are a major part of the labor force in construction, agriculture, and healthcare. All of that can have lasting effects on the economy. But first up, we explore federal government retirement matching and dig into underemployment.

This week, Taylor Swift trademarked her voice and image in what appears to be a bid to protect against AI misuse. Plus, a Japanese airline is experimenting with humanoid robots to help with baggage.But first, Google landed a deal with the Pentagon to let its AI models be used for classified work. A Google spokesperson told us in a statement that the company is proud to be providing its services for national security and that it believes AI should not be used for “domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weaponry without appropriate human oversight."We talked with Maria Curi at Axios about how Google’s deal compares to ones the Department of Defense has with other AI companies. Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

U.S. gross domestic product grew by 2% in the first three months of 2026. (It’s a stark improvement to the final quarter of 2025, which saw GDP growth of just 0.5%.) Experts agree massive investment in artificial intelligence is the main driver of that growth. But what does that mean for the rest of the economy? Also in this episode: Financial market predictions fall short of real-life crude oil costs, airlines face an aircraft technician shortage, and social media is in the midst of a bean craze.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

We’re approaching graduation season for this year’s crop of college seniors. But along with all the celebrations, there’s an extra dose of uncertainty hanging in the air around new grads, as they face an extra-tough job market and the rise of AI. On today’s show, Kimberly talks to New York Times labor and workforce reporter Noam Scheiber, whose new book “Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class” digs into the historical context for the environment today’s seniors are graduating into. Here’s everything we talked about today:”Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class” by Noam Scheiber”Young Graduates Face the Grimmest Job Market in Years” from The New York Times”The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates” from The Federal Reserve Bank of New York ”College Graduates Are Struggling to Find Jobs. AI is Partly to Blame.” from CNBC”U.S. Worker Thriving Declines as Job Market Pessimism Grows” from GallupWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Yesterday, we got quarterly results for some of the biggest companies in the economy, including Google parent company Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. Investors have been pinning hopes on Big Tech. We'll do the numbers on tech firms' earnings and discuss whether the good times — and big spending on AI — can last. But first, the U.S. economy grew faster in the first three months of this year, and we'll outline challenges awaiting Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve.

It’s Big Tech week on Wall Street. Quarterly results from Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon all beat expectations. And shocker: They’re all still spending a lot on AI. One of the biggest expenses is chips. That’s made Nvidia the most valuable company in the world. Now, other Big Tech companies want to get in on that action. Then, the Trump administration has wound down funding for mRNA vaccine development. We’ll explore the impacts.

What do you do when your child’s ideas about money start to sharply diverge from your own? Reema is joined by journalist Patrick Radden Keefe to discuss his new book, “London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth.” Along the way they get into the thorny realities of parenting in a time when young people are aspiring to be like the ultra-wealthy. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU.Support “This Is Uncomfortable” with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

The war with Iran has upended supply chains including for materials that are critical to building the electronics we use everyday, such as a certain kind of thermoplastic, copper, and helium. We are now dealing with shortages of all of them. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Jeff Janukowicz, an analyst with the research firm IDC, to learn more.

Wednesday marked Jerome Powell’s final FOMC meeting as chair of the Federal Reserve. Central bank leaders held rates steady this week, though with the most dissenting votes in over 30 years. Powell also announced his intent to stay on as a Fed governor — the first chair to do so since 1948. In this episode, we recap Powell’s tenure as head of the Fed and unpack his latest press conference. Plus: Companies issue more corporate debt, Taco Bell outperforms sales expectations, and AI spawns new cybersecurity headaches.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Five of the Magnificent Seven — Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Apple — are reporting earnings this week. These tech titans have kind of been single-handedly holding up the market for a while now. Can the good times last? Then, China is the largest manufacturer of solar energy parts in the world, and it's considering restricting exports of solar panel manufacturing equipment to the United States. And, we look at the highly personal legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.

Every five years or so, Congress considers and passes a new version of the farm bill. It is a massive law covering not just agriculture, but also food assistance programs. And it comes at a particularly tough time for farmers, who are being pinched by drought, tariffs, and rising fuel and fertilizer costs. Then, what's the UAE's departure from OPEC mean for oil prices? And later, from "Marketplace Tech," we hear how Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act opens the "backdoor" for warrantless searches.

There's been renewed interest in nuclear power in recent years, thanks in part to demand from tech companies in search of reliable energy to power their AI data centers. The startup Kairos Power has jumped on this opportunity. Its nuclear reactors are cooled by molten salt. They also use golf-ball sized nuclear fuel, instead of uranium rods cooled by water used by traditional reactors. Mike Laufer, co-founder and CEO of Kairos, says their reactors a bit like an upside down gumball machine.The company just started construction on its first power plant, located in eastern Tennessee, called Hermes 2. It will supply energy to the utility in the area, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and specifically to Google to power its data centers. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Laufer to learn more.

The U.S. Federal Reserve meets this week — so do central banks in Japan, England, Canada, and the European Union. Most will keep rates unchanged for now, as war in the Middle East shakes up the global status quo. But as other banks weigh imminent rate hikes, the U.S. may move in the opposite direction. More on why in today’s episode. Plus: Consumer sentiment crept up in April, Medicaid cuts slash pediatric care options, and five Big Tech firms post earnings this week.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Trump administration has reportedly been in talks to bail out Spirit Airlines, either with a big loan or by buying it. The budget airline had already been struggling, and now faces even tougher times with higher fuel costs. But does that justify bailing it out? Plus, an upstate New York toy and doll shop owner reflects on the stop-start jolts of U.S. trade policy and the challenges of the tariff refund process.

We've talked a lot about the rollercoaster of tariffs. But behind every economic story is a human one, too. This morning, we check in with Joann Cartiglia, who runs a toy and doll shop in upstate New York. She's looking at around $15,000 in tariff refunds. Still, uncertainty, precarity, and debt have put her in "the scariest financial situation" of her life and mean that retirement has “been kind of taken off the table.” But before that conversation: a Federal Reserve meeting and a royal visit with the president.

“Million Bazillion” listeners and brothers John and Peter want to know where game shows get their prize money. It’s the perfect opportunity to answer this question as Ryan and Bridget find themselves competing on a chaotic game show with a chance to win $1 million on the line. While they take on one challenge after another, the duo uncover the surprising ways game shows get the cash for those big prizes.If your family is interested in learning even more about today’s question, check out our website. We’ve got conversation starters and a tip sheet!Love the show? You can help make it happen. Donate what you can at marketplace.org/givemillion.

The International Math Olympiad is a yearly competition for students, most of them high school age, who compete to solve six difficult math problems. They're chosen from a pool of math problems submitted by different countries that participate in the competition. The problems that don't make the cut previously have mostly just been lost; there was no one place you could go to find them.But now a team at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab has gathered over 30,000 of those problems together in one dataset so both humans and AI models can look through and study them.Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Mark Hamilton, a visiting researcher at MIT CSAIL who has been part of the work to gather problems. He’s also a Research Scientist at Google's DeepMind laboratory.

It’s been a trend for a year now — home prices are up even though demand is sluggish. As Americans face growing economic uncertainty and rising costs, many are staying put. So why won’t home prices cool off? We’ll explain. Also in this episode: Tighter budgets mean fewer orders at Domino’s, air taxis take to the sky in New York City, and banks fret over new stablecoin legislation.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

In the United States, recidivism rate, or the likelihood that a criminal re-enters the prison system after being released, is among the highest in the world. The state with the highest reincarceration rate (within 3 years) is Delaware at 55.9 percent. While the lowest is Virginia at 17.9 percent. Earlier this month, Kimberly moderated the 2026 Second Chance Forum at Georgetown University on the importance of second-chance employment programs to lowering recidivism rates in the United States. She sat down with two top law enforcement officials from across the aisle: Delaware Attorney General and Democrat, Kathy Jennings and Pennsylvania Attorney General and Republican, Dave Sunday.Today’s podcast is an edited version of their conversation. To listen to the full panel discussion, click the link below:2026 Second Chance Forum: Barriers to Breakthroughs — How Second Chances Are Driving SuccessWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

As people look to plan their summer vacations, they're being price-conscious. While 60% of Americans plan on traveling, more people will drive instead of flying, and more are opting for shorter trips. Plus, with the end of the Justice Department's investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, successor Kevin Warsh looks poised for a successful confirmation. And later, we head to Maine to hear how a Maine sea urchin processing firm has survived for four decades.

The U.S. Forest Service is heading for a major restructure. Its headquarters are moving from D.C. to Utah, all regional offices are being eliminated, and dozens of research facilities across 31 states are being shuttered. This is all unfolding before what's expected to be a very active wildfire season. How do these changes affect our ability to fight wildfires? But first, we're digging into the latest economic impacts of war in the Middle East.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, allows government agencies to collect information about foreign nationals located abroad. That surveillance can happen without a warrant and the government can order email providers to turn over any messages of a particular foreigner, including those with a U.S. citizen.Section 702 is set to expire this week. President Donald Trump has called for its extension, but there are Congressional lawmakers in both parties who oppose the kind of surveillance the law allows for. Elizabeth Goitein at the Brennan Center for Justice has testified before Congress advocating for reform of the law. She says right now it lets agencies search through Americans’ sensitive data.

Companies are using AI tools more every day. Some, like Meta, are even encouraging employees to use as many AI tokens as possible. But companies also spending more to access the technology — most AI firms bill per token, and those costs add up. In this episode, there’s no such thing as free AI. Plus: Procter & Gamble posts strong earnings, Kai visits LA’s first women’s sports bar, and we discuss the latest Federal Reserve news.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Are you team camping or glamping? On today’s show, we’re checking in on the outdoor recreation economy in the Western United States. KUNC’s Mountain West News Bureau reporter Rachel Cohen joins Kimberly to unpack the pressures facing the industry, from climate change to Trump administration policies. Plus, will President Trump’s new $100 foreign tourist fee hurt national parks?Here’s everything we talked about today:"The Mountain West’s outdoor economy continues to grow – but pace may be slowing" from KUNC"Ski resorts gain year-round adaptability in Forest Service rule" from KUNC"Visits to national parks dipped slightly in 2025—after a record-breaking year" from KUNC"Forest Service plans to move D.C. headquarters to Salt Lake City" from KUNCWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Federal Reserve has two jobs: promote job growth and control inflation. To do that, it sets interest rates. It also buys bonds and securities to influence those markets, and is now sitting on a massive $6.5 trillion pile. President Trump's nominee for Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, wants to shrink that asset pile. We'll dig in. Also: optimism from one soon-to-be grad. Plus, how much longer can the standoff in Iran last before oil markets have to respond?

When we talk about who makes up the economy, we're often talking about workers a company formally employs. But a lot of people find themselves working in the informal economy — generally defined as economic activity that falls outside of official regulation. It's not taxed, not tracked, and is mostly invisible to official statistics. Today, we'll dig into its importance and risks. But first, marijuana gets a tax break.

This week, Meta is reportedly laying off 10% of its workers. But in the meantime, it's also capturing their mouse clicks to train its AI models. Plus, Roblox settles with states over child safety concerns. But first, Apple's CEO is stepping down. The company announced this week that CEO Tim Cook is moving on from that role after about 15 years. His successor is John Ternus, a senior vice president of hardware engineering at the company. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Anita Ramaswamy, a columnist at The Information, about all these headlines for this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Business activity growth soared in April, according to S&P Global’s purchasing managers index. The topline number might sound rosy, but experts think the growth spurt is really a sign of fear. In this episode, why businesses spent month two of the war in Iran stockpiling goods. Plus: Avis experiences a stock market “short squeeze,” business owners apply for the first round of tariff refunds, and we look back at the 1970s to understand the economics of oil price caps.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The labor force participation rate in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level it’s been since 1977 (aside from the during the height of the pandemic). One reason for the decline? President Trump’s immigration crackdown. University of Colorado Boulder economist Chloe East joins Kimberly to break down the unexpected ways restrictive immigration policies affect the labor market, and trends she’s paying attention to during this second Trump administration.

The Trump administration announced a big change in how people's credit is assessed when applying for mortgages. Instead of only using FICO scores to prove creditworthiness, prospective homebuyers can now use a separate score model — one that considers things like rent and utility payment history — when applying for loans from mortgage lenders, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Also on the show: discussions of the market's bullishness and plans for a graduate degree in a tumultuous job market.

Maybe it’s hoarding, or protectionist, or human nature. Whatever you want to call it, some countries have plenty of oil right now — especially wealthier ones with their own refineries and reserves — while others can't get what they need and are rationing fuel. Plus, "starting has always been hard. This era is making it harder," said New York Times bestselling author Jodi Kantor. Today, we hear her job-hunting advice for new grads.

As the U.S. immigration crackdown intensifies, some undocumented people are choosing to leave the country. But what’s the financial and emotional cost of leaving?Reema speaks with immigration lawyer Michael Foote, who is helping his clients navigate this process, as well as two undocumented immigrants at different stages in their departure: Javi (not his real name) is an undocumented college student saving up to move abroad, and Monsy Hernandez left the U.S. for Germany almost ten years ago and now supports others weighing the same decision.If you’re thinking about leaving the U.S., organizations like Onward provide toolkits with resources and information.If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU.Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Lawmakers around the U.S. are moving to restrict data center development. Maine, for example, recently passed what's being called the country's first statewide ban on data centers. The measure would prohibit building any new data centers until late 2027.As of this taping, Maine's governor, Janet Mills, was reportedly still undecided on whether she'd sign the bill. And 13 other states are also considering bans on data center development, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution talks more about how much of the pushback has to do with the speed with which data centers are popping up.

Boeing posted strong Q1 earnings Wednesday, and executives breathed a sigh of relief. The aircraft manufacturer survived several years of significant tumult, which included labor disputes, plane malfunctions, a production backlog, and shifting FAA restrictions. In this episode, how Boeing managed a comeback. Plus: Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket will start offering perpetual futures, carmakers push to follow Tesla’s direct-to-consumer sales model, and tariffs disrupt regular shipping cycles.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

We're less than a month away from graduation ceremonies at college campuses across the country. But the job market college grads are entering is an uncertain one, and the unemployment rate for young people with college degrees remains elevated. This morning, we hear one college senior's take on the slowing labor market and the emergence of AI. But first, the owners of a Brooklyn plant shop chat about navigating higher costs.

New research shows more than a third of workers and retirees don’t think they will have enough money for their retirement years — that’s the highest proportion since 2017. Lower savings rates, higher bills, and concerns over Social Security all constitute a perfect recipe for lower confidence. Also on this morning's program: a preview of Tesla's quarterly earnings and a look at why home prices are falling in Texas.

The social media company Snap recently announced it’s laying off about 1,000 workers — 16% of its employees. The company said these changes will reduce costs by more than half a billion dollars and help establish a path to net income profitability.This move comes after one of Snap's investors, Irenic Capital Management, wrote a public letter to the company outlining what it needs to do to “save” the company and cut costs.Snap has been a public company for nine years. It's had just a few non-consecutive profitable quarters. Sarah Kunst, a general partner at the venture capital firm Cleo Capital, explains more about when a company has to be consistently profitable.

Haven’t you always wished for robots to do menial labor? That’s sort of what agentic artificial intelligence is — rather than existing solely in a chat box, the technology can excecute complex tasks. These “helpers” have spurred a rat race in certain tech circles: With the help of personalized AI agents, just how productive can you be? Also in this episode: The U.S. dollar drags, budget airlines seek relief from high jet fuel prices, and consumers use credit to keep up with daily expenses.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

JD Vance is expected to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday for potential negotiations with representatives from Iran, but peace talks are still uncertain as the end of the ceasefire approaches. Markets, though, are nearing all-time records. “Marketplace Morning Report” Host Sabri Ben-Achour spoke with Ken Wattret, vice president of global economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, about the disconnect. Plus, we check in with two plant shop owners about how they’ve been dealing with tariffs, rent, and our broader economy in this installment of Economic Pulse.

President Trump’s nominee to head the Federal Reserve, former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, will testify on Tuesday for his nomination hearing. Warsh is expected to toe the line between maintaining Fed independence and heeding calls from elected officials. Also on the program: war in the Middle East has energy companies looking for ways to diversify their oil supply. Plus, a look into how “social capital” helped to rebuild morale, and economic growth, in Minneapolis following Operation Metro Surge.

While the United States’ workforce is aging out of its prime, some countries, like Vietnam, are just hitting their stride. On today’s show, Kai joins Kimberly to share his takeaways from reporting in Ho Chi Minh City for the “Marketplace” series “The Age of Work.” We’ll get into how Vietnam’s younger workforce is transforming the country’s economy for the future and the pressures it faces from all around the globe.

If you’re anything like “Million Bazillion” listener, Elijah, you may have noticed gas prices change from one day to the next, sometimes by a few pennies, sometimes by a lot more. Why does that happen? Ryan and Bridget’s search for answers turns into a much bigger adventure when a falling star and misplaced wish mean Ryan’s car suddenly comes to life and takes them on a wild road trip. Together, Bridget and Ryan learn what the price we pay at the pump has to do with global forces and crude oil's long journey to becoming gas in our fuel tanks.If your family is interested in learning even more about today’s question, check out our website. We’ve got conversation starters and a tip sheet!Love the show? You can help make it happen. Donate what you can at marketplace.org/givemillion.

The Wayback Machine is a project of the Internet Archive. It sends out web crawlers to take snapshots of the internet, creating a digital library of web pages. But now, some news publications are blocking its crawlers over concerns that AI companies will access the Wayback Machine’s publicly available archive and then train their AI models with the content.Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes talked about this with Andrew Deck at Harvard's Nieman Lab.

Rising gas prices, stemming from President Trump’s war against Iran, have frustrated drivers all spring. But diesel prices are up too, and diesel is the real engine of our economy. In this episode, small business owners face higher costs and uncertainty as diesel prices climb. Plus: Consumer sentiment reaches record lows even as spending remains stable, economists and farmers explain why tomato prices rose 15% in a month, and bond traders expect the Fed to hold rates steady all year.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Markets were hopeful on Friday after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to commercial vessels. Now, escalating tensions are bringing expectations back down. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Julia Coronado, founder and president of MacroPolicy Perspectives and a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, about how global economists at the National Association for Business Economics International Symposium in Rome, Italy, are grappling with the back and forth. Plus, later in the program: underemployment among recent college graduates and how we measure it.

The Strait of Hormuz has remained largely closed, with only three sanctioned tankers making it through the waterway according to Reuters. When asked about a potential timeline for lower gas prices on CNN, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said prices below $3 “might not happen until next year.” Also on the program, we discuss a New York State law limiting employers’ use of credit history and Germany’s plan to build military enlistment.

California became the first state to regulate embodied carbon in its building code. That’s changing the construction industry even beyond the state border. More than a third of planet-warming emissions come from buildings and construction. Marketplace’s The rest of it is what’s called embodied carbon. That’s the emissions that it took to make the steel, concrete, glass and insulation, and put them all together. Caleigh Wells looked into what California’s new regulations could mean for builders in this episode of Marketplace Tech, hosted by Stephanie Hughes.

QVC, which pioneered live TV shopping shows, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. Leadership made the next step clear: a pivot away from television and toward something akin to social commerce, like livestreamed sales on TikTok Shop. But can the legacy brand compete with new, social media-driven shopping platforms? And after that, we wrap up Kai and Nela’s trip to Vietnam with visits to an AI startup and a neighborhood of expats.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Recently, Seattle’s tech workforce has been hit by wave after wave of layoffs. Some company execs say it’s AI’s fault. KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg joins Kimberly on today’s show to share what she’s hearing from tech workers. And, we’ll get into another side of the AI boom: the push to build more data centers and the pushback from locals. Plus, a round of Seattle trivia!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Booming" from KUOWWhy Seattle tech companies are still laying off workers from The Seattle Times"From coder to shuttle driver: Where Seattle's laid off tech workforce is now" from KUOW"A small town in Central Washington is Microsoft's answer to the data center backlash" from KUOW"What produce prompted the creation of the Market?" from the Pike Place Market Foundation"Seattle doesn't have many unicorns. Does it matter?" From GeekWire"Scents from a Mall: The Sticky, Untold Story of Cinnabon" from Seattle Met"Seattle area expected to generate $845 million from FIFA World Cup" from Fox 13 SeattleWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Iran declared on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened for all commercial vessels. While the news caused stocks to rally and oil prices to drop, it’s unclear yet whether or not the market reaction is premature. Plus, we take a look into the aging demographics of first-time homebuyers and their shrinking share of the housing market.

The head of the International Energy Agency warned on Thursday that Europe could run out of jet fuel in few as six weeks. The continent is the biggest consumer of jet fuel shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, and ongoing closures in the strait could lead to swaths of flight cancellations. Also on the program: we discuss shifting expectations for American universities, our aging first-time homebuyer population, and changes at Netflix.

This week, Spotify is letting its users buy physical books. Plus, Amazon acquires the satellite service provide Globalstar. But first, state lawmakers in Illinois are considering a bill that says developers of large AI models can’t be held liable for critical harms caused by those models, as long as the developer doesn't intentionally or recklessly cause the harm and has published a safety protocol on its website.A representative from OpenAI testified in favor of the bill; meanwhile, Wired reported this week that Anthropic is pushing for either major changes to the legislation, or for it to be killed completely. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, about all these headlines for this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Cautious employers are hiring more temporary workers, according to the Fed’s latest Beige Book. It's sort of a half-step toward creating permanent roles. The good news is temp jobs can be a leading indicator for overall job market strength. But contract work lacks the stability and benefits of full-time employment. Also in this episode: Kai visits a sprawling electronics street market and a tech startup in Vietnam, jet fuel shortages put Europe on edge, and we check in with a hog and soybean farmer in Illinois.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Will AI take my job? On today’s show, Anthropic’s head of economics Peter McCrory sits down with Kimberly to answer our burning questions about artificial intelligence’s effects on the labor market. We’ll get into what Anthropic’s research shows about how people are using the company’s chatbot Claude and what that could mean for the future of the global economy. Here’s everything we talked about today:"Snap's stock jumps on plans to axe 16% of its workforce citing AI efficiencies" from CNBC"Anthropic Economic Index report: Learning curves" from Anthropic"Labor market impacts of AI: A new measure and early evidence" from Anthropic "Anthropic Economic Index report: Uneven geographic and enterprise AI adoption" from Anthropic "Behind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath" from Axios"Estimating AI productivity gains from Claude conversations" from Anthropic"What 81,000 people want from AI" from AnthropicWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Federal Reserve is meeting at the end of this month to figure out what to do with interest rates. They have a tough task ahead of them: weighing the job market, inflation, and a war in the Middle East that is "roiling supply chains in ways that are similar ... to what we saw emerging from the pandemic," said KPMG's Diane Swonk. Also on the show: Rising health insurance costs are dragging down wage growth.

Power utilities plan to spend $1.4 trillion over the next five years on capital projects. A lot of that boils down to grid maintenance and projects to support additional power generation. That’s a 21% increase over what utilities were planning to spend a year ago — and it could drive up household utility bills. Then, it’s been a little over three months since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. How has Venezuela's oil industry changed since?

Would you feel comfortable telling your best friend how much debt you’re in? That was the last thing Jamie Feldman wanted to do, but when her credit card debt spiraled out of control, she knew she needed help. Together, Jamie and Rachel Webster tackled that debt and documented the process with their award-winning podcast “Debt Heads.”Reema is joined by Jamie and Rachel to talk about friendship, shame and how opening up about money changed their relationship with debt. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And if you have an experience with debt to share, we want to hear it! Call our hotline 347-RING-TIU and leave a message, or you can always email us at uncomfortable@marketplace.orgFollow us on Instagram and Tiktok.Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/tiu_mayfy26

The share of older workers is on the decline — about 37% of people age 55 and above are now active in the labor force. About a decade ago, it was around 40%.The pandemic chased some older workers out, and others can simply afford to retire. Another factor that's causing some to exit? The emergence of artificial intelligence. Learning how to interact with it as a tool, maybe even as a colleague, seems like a headache to some. So, they’re choosing retirement instead.Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Wall Street Journal reporter Lauren Weber, who’s been covering the phenomenon.

The results are in, and despite concerns that the war in Iran would dampen big banks’ earnings, they’re doing just fine, thank you. On earnings calls this week, several banks shouted out consumer “resilience” for keeping everything chugging along. How long might that resilience hold up? Also in this episode: Small business owners slog through tariff refund paperwork, China is well-positioned to ride out this oil price surge, and we’ve got more of Kai’s visit to Vietnam.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

We talk a lot about the price of oil on this show, but there are actually dozens of types of oil. On today's program, we're learning about where they come from, what they're used for, and why the price of oil futures differs from oil's on-the-spot market price. And later, as energy gets more expensive, governments around the world are asking people to try to conserve energy. How much of an impact do those moves have?

The Trump administration says it’ll start issuing refunds for tariffs the Supreme Court ruled were collected illegally next week. Customs and Border Protection's automated system will be able to process about 82% of the tariff payments, worth about $127 billion. More complicated claims will have to wait. Then, we'll discuss what the closure of the Strait of Hormuz means for U.S. oil producers. Plus, could a United Airlines-American Airlines merger be in the cards?

Routers, computers, web cameras — they all connect to the internet. And they can be infected with malicious software that lets someone else take over. The device becomes a bot, essentially.A group of these devices networked together then becomes a botnet. And these botnets can then be used for nefarious purposes, like distributed denial of service attacks, without the device owners even knowing about it.Cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs recently wrote about several large botnets including one called Kimwolf that compromised more than three million devices.

As the U.S. population ages, our economy will rely more on nations with younger workforces. Nations like Vietnam, where there are two working-age adults for every dependent. As part of our ongoing Age of Work series, host Kai Ryssdal and ADP chief economist Nela Richardson visit a garment factory and outdoor vendor market in Ho Chi Minh City to learn more about Vietnam’s economy. But first: Companies contend with higher transportation costs and the Fed faces oil industry demand destruction.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

In her book “The Second Estate,” Boston College Law School professor Ray Madoff argues that the tax code in the United States lets billionaires keep their wealth outside of the tax system, leaving the heaviest burden to lower- and middle-income, working Americans. On today’s show, Madoff joins Kimberly to explain the “tax avoidance playbook” and why Congress has let certain loopholes go unclosed for decades. Plus, why a wealth tax may not be the simple solution you think it is.

It's springtime, meaning the real estate market is supposed to be popping. But fresh data from the National Association of Realtors shows seasonally adjusted sales of existing homes are actually down 3.6%. What's going on? Also on the show, Chinese exports slowed sharply last month amid energy shocks, and a surge in the cost of petrochemicals — used in plastics, fertilizers, and more — is likely to translate to higher costs on supermarket shelves.

It's almost Tax Day. And while some of us may have waited till the last minute to do our taxes, the federal government sure won't be wasting any time spending them. This morning, we're unpacking how much of your tax bill goes toward services like defense, Social Security, health care, food assistance, the national debt, and more. Plus, there's been no net job creation over the last six months, which can make the economy more vulnerable.

The 10th season of “Million Bazillion” is here just in time to mark Bridget and Ryan’s favorite holiday – Tax Day! There’s just one problem: Ryan hasn’t finished filing his taxes yet. With the clock ticking, Bridget steps in to help him out before midnight. Along the way, they tackle a great question from Kade: What exactly are tax returns? Will they figure everything out before time runs out?If your family is interested in learning even more about today’s question, check out our website. We’ve got conversation starters and a tip sheet!Love the show? You can help make it happen. Donate what you can at marketplace.org/givemillion.

State governments invest their money a lot like a person might. Some treasuries, some mutual funds, a dash of corporate bonds, all intended to grow over time. Now, some states are looking to cryptocurrency as an investment. In 2025, at least nineteen states considered laws allowing some state funds to be invested in digital assets. Three states — Texas, New Hampshire, and Arizona — actually passed laws around this, according to a review by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes talked about this interest from states with Liz Farmer, senior officer at Pew Charitable Trusts, who explained why crypto is appealing to some state investors.

Grocery prices rose less than 2% in March, according to the latest consumer price index. The cost of some staples, including eggs, butter, and cheese, fell from spikes last spring. Certain produce prices moved in the opposite direction. In this episode, how the global economy affects your grocery bill. Plus: The war in Iran ripples through big banks’ earnings, fuel economy regulations soften the blow of high gas prices, and Kai visits Southern California’s Little Saigon ahead of a trip to Vietnam.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The U.S. has threatened a blockade of Iranian ports set to go into effect this morning. That means the supply of oil will be even more restricted than it was before. We'll dig into what all this means for oil markets. Plus, the economic consequences of the war are reshaping businesses' hiring plans stateside, too. And, there's a parade of banks releasing results this week. Investors are paying close attention.

Grocery prices on average are up about 2% compared to this time last year. But split up the food groups, and we start to see some bigger numbers. Tomatoes, lettuce, and nonalcoholic beverages (especially coffee) led the way for price increases. Meanwhile, the cost of meat and dairy declined. Why? Also: a Straight of Hormuz blockade courtesy of the U.S., and a look at how Trump's tax and spending law could impact charitable giving.

Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes was shopping recently with her seven-year-old who was drawn to a “Relaxolotl,” a tea infuser shaped like an axolotl. And it had a label: “designed in Rhode Island, by people.” Genuine Fred makes the relaxolotl. President Jason Amendolara told “Marketplace Tech” the company adopted the saying over a decade ago, before artificial intelligence was really in the conversation. It was meant to signal there were real humans behind the ideas. But now, the phrase has taken on new meaning. Genuine Fred does use AI as a tool, but Amendolara says people are still at the center of its design process. That made us wonder: Could human involvement be highlighted more by brands in the future? Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes discussed that with New York Institute of Technology professor Colleen Kirk, who has studied how people respond to marketing messages created by AI.

Nearly 600 Marketplace fans gathered at the Aratani Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to watch Kai Ryssdal present Marketplace Live, in partnership with LAist.Kai was joined onstage by economics author, educator, and content creator Kyla Scanlon to talk about AI, prediction markets, Federal Reserve independence, and the war in Iran. Later, former “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio joined Kai to discuss his experience rebuilding after the LA fire and his new job as Marketplace senior correspondent covering future effects.Note: This show was recorded on March 29, and the situation in Iran has changed since then. Follow our latest coverage here.

Overall unemployment measured 4.3% in March, which is a sign of a fairly strong economy. A contradicting data point? The number of Americans who have been unemployed for more than six months grew 300,000 year-over-year. In this episode, a job hunt with no end in sight. Plus: The CPI shows still-high shelter inflation, composting finds its place in a trash-import state, and we recap the week’s economic data.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

A lot of sci-fi is dystopian. Solarpunk flips that on its head. The subgenre imagines a brighter future where humans have fostered a better relationship with technology, the environment, and each other, in spite of climate disaster. On today’s show, writer and academic Phoebe Wagner joins Kimberly to make us smart about solarpunk, its connection to the green energy transition, and why you should check it out if you want to shake off climate doom.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Solarpunk: A Container for More Fertile Futures" from Solarpunk Magazine"Tired of Dystopian Sci-Fi? You Might Like Solarpunk." from Mother Jones"Sunshine and Seedlings" from Hydroponic Trash"Underground" from Tractor BeamChobani ad on YouTubeWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

David Brancaccio has hosted an estimated 16,925 morning shows over 13 years. Now, for his final time in the host chair, David shares snippets of discussions he's had throughout the years, including with experienced local Del Rio, Texas-based reporter Karen Gleason, Nobel laureate Paul Krugman, and actor and entrepreneur William Shatner. Also on the program, Princeton's Burton Malkiel addresses concerns and gives advice about a potential AI bubble.

For his second-to-last time hosting an episode of "Marketplace Morning Report," David Brancaccio spoke with the author of arguably the most influential book on personal finance and investing of all time. First published in 1973, "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" argues that it’s super hard to beat the stock market. Its author, Burton Malkiel, is a Princeton professor emeritus and still going strong at 93. We have that conversation, as well as a preview of March's consumer price index.

This week, a Wisconsin city votes to restrict future data center development. Plus, the astronauts on Artemis II take their journey to social media. But first, Anthropic announced this week it has a new AI model called Claude Mythos Preview.The company says it’s extremely good at finding security vulnerabilities. So good that Anthropic is not releasing the model to the general public. Instead, it is granting access to a group of over 40 companies and tech organizations, a collaboration called Project Glasswing.Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Joanna Stern, founder of the media company New Things, to discuss all these topics and more.

The personal consumption expenditures report, which is the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, showed costs rose 2.8% year-over-year in Feburary. That’s above the target, but never fear: Resilient consumers keep on spending, despite rising prices. What’ll it take to shake things up? Also in this episode: A war-driven plastic shortage costs U.S. manufacturers, we give that GDP revision some context, and Kai visits a nuclear reactor.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

A series of suspiciously well-timed Iran war bets placed on Polymarket have revived concerns about insider trading on prediction markets. But enforcement is something of a gray area. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino joins Kimberly to explain the relatively recent history of insider trading laws at the CFTC and what it could mean for prediction market platforms. Plus, the debate over whether insider trading on these markets is actually a good thing.

Today, we're returning to our 2019 Brains and Losses series, which investigated the financial exploitation of older Americans. In the years that have followed, AI has only made scams more convincing and easier to conduct. This morning, we're joined by an elder law attorney in Florida to hear how some pioneering laws there are aiming to stop scammers who prey on older people mid-swindle. Also, we’re digging into the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, which remains stubbornly elevated.

In the 1960s, the German government put a tariff on American chickens. President Lyndon B. Johnson then retaliated with a tariff on light-duty commercial vehicles and trucks. The back-and-forth has come to define the U.S. auto sector. On this morning's show, why a veteran automotive CEO calls this chicken tax "one of the most important, formative aspects of how the U.S. industry has evolved." But first, markets try to guess whether the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will hold.

Would you share your children’s most intimate moments on social media if it meant you could make millions? Family influencers are building businesses around their kids, sharing everything from toddler meltdowns to puberty talks. For some families, that income is a lifeline. But it also raises difficult questions about privacy, money and parenthood.Reema talks with journalist Fortesa Latifi about her new book, “Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online.” Plus, we want to hear from you: as child care costs keep rising, have you or your partner considered becoming a stay-at-home parent? If so, what kind of financial factors are going into that decision? Let us know by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.orgFollow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

For years, consumers have worried about how the private sector — namely, big tech — handles their personal data. Now a new survey from the Center for Democracy & Technology suggests a large majority are also concerned about how the federal government uses their data.Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Elizabeth Laird, director of equity in civic technology at CDT, to learn more.

The share of U.S. debt held by foreign countries has been shrinking. Foreign investors currently hold about 30% of federal public debt, down from nearly half. In today’s episode, we explain why the rest of the world isn’t picking up the U.S. tab anymore, and how that’ll impact American consumers and businesses. Plus: Three tech giants are eyeing initial public offerings this year, and Delta Airlines reported high earnings — and higher fees. Also, before inflation reports drop this week, learn why the PCE is slower than CPI. And finally, discover this hidden driver of the music industry.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

As David Brancaccio winds down his tenure as host of the "Marketplace Morning Report," he's speaking with places of work he might have ended up at if he weren’t a broadcast journalist. On today's show, we head to Bike Oven in Los Angeles, a co-op that aims to give you everything you need to learn how to fix your bike yourself. But first: an examination of oil prices and potential tariffs on countries sending weapons to Iran.

We are now into the first hours of a two-week ceasefire in the U.S.-Iran conflict. The wholesale price of oil has plunged nearly 16%. The New York price was pushing $118 yesterday; this morning, it's below $95 a barrel. While the war certainly isn't over, markets are celebrating the momentary relief. Then, we'll check in with both a New Mexico nonprofit and an AI firm to understand the region's K-shaped economy.

As humans have integrated artificial intelligence into their daily lives, there is growing concern that AI is doing the bulk of the thinking.According to the paper: “Thinking—Fast, Slow, and Artificial: How AI is Reshaping Human Reasoning and the Rise of Cognitive Surrender,” by Gideon Nave and Steven Shaw of the Wharton School of Business, they’ve deemed it a “cognitive surrender.”“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Shaw, a postdoctoral researcher at Wharton, about their findings and the possible impacts for the future human cognition.

Laws prohibiting insider trading in commodities markets — which could be applied to prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket — are more recent and untested than you might think. In this episode, we dig into two conflicting viewpoints: prediction markets as forecasting tools and prediction markets as regulated betting platforms. Plus: Durable goods orders continue a downward trend, the air travel industry weighs the role of small airports, and consumer inflation expectations rise. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Doorbell cameras, license plate readers, and social media platforms are just a few of the tech products that make up an ever-growing surveillance network in the United States. ICE’s use of surveillance tools as part of its immigration crackdown has brought that into focus. On today’s show, Kimberly talks with investigative journalist and co-founder of 404 Media Joseph Cox about the growth of the American surveillance state and simple steps you can take to protect your privacy.Here’s everything we talked about today:"With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet" from 404 Media"Surveillance company Flock generates controversy, and L.A. customers" from The L.A. Times"Ring Ends Deal to Link Neighborhood Cameras After Backlash to Super Bowl Ad" from The New York Times"All the Ways Big Tech Fuels ICE and CBP" from Wired"Inside a Powerful Database ICE Uses to Identify and Deport People" from 404 MediaWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, put out his annual letter to shareholders this week. In it, the leader of the largest bank in North America outlined worries about persistently elevated inflation and the growing role of private credit. We'll unpack. Then, as part of our “Business Envy” series, we'll have a chat with the founder and CEO of a Maine-based rocket company looking to support research missions and a growing space economy.

Billionaire activist investor Bill Ackman is making a play for Taylor Swift’s record label in a deal that Reuters values at around $64 billion. Ackman wants his investment firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, to take over Universal Music Group. This morning, we'll dig into the news. Then, we continue our trip along Route 66 and visit Northern Arizona University, which has designated this academic year the “Year of AI Empowerment.”

Hello, Million Bazillionaires, we’ve got a new season of “Million Bazillion” coming your way on April 14!To mark the 10th season, Bridget and Ryan are going all out to answer your money questions. If you’re wondering why gas prices keep going up? We’ve got answers. Curious what the fuss is about Tax Day? We’ve got that covered too. Plus, a special episode about the gold standard, recorded in front of a real live audience. If you’re in or near the Boston area come see us live. Check our events page for ticket information.Don’t forget to sign up for the “Million Bazillion” newsletter so you never miss an episode and get access to episode extras, including conversation starters for grownups and kids.New episodes drop every Tuesday starting April 14. Listen to a sneak peek above, get caught up on any episodes you may have missed and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!

In the U.S., battery electric and plug-in hybrid cars have been more expensive than their gasoline-powered counterparts, costing about $8,000 more on average. Experts say EVs are poised to achieve price parity with internal-combustion engine vehicles in just a few years though, because the single costliest part of an EV — the battery that powers it — is getting cheaper.

We've got the first whiff of price growth as a result of President Donald Trump's war in the Middle East: A services sector purchasing index registered its highest reading since October 2022. Experts expect federal data out later this week to show a similar uptick in prices from February to March. And even if the war ends soon, that inflation could stick around. Also in this episode: The U.S. isn’t likely to institute an oil price cap, HSAs remain an imperfect savings tool, and more shoppers opt for secondhand clothing.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The price of crude oil is fluctuating this morning. This comes after oil producers at OPEC+ agreed to slightly increase production over the weekend. We give you the facts. Plus, a preview of Thursday’s GDP revision. Also, “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio speaks with the majority owner of a coffee roasting company.

To see the U.S. economy in 3D, you gotta hit the open road. 100 years after the iconic highway was built, “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio kicks off his final week in the host chair with his journey on Route 66. His trip begins in Santa Monica, California. Along the way, he speaks with local business owners about the precarious job market, changing landscapes, and why one particular stop is a hit with French tourists.

Four months after Australia’s landmark law that banned all minors under the age of 16 from creating or owning social media accounts, the California legislature is trying to follow suit.But free speech advocates worry that these laws will infringe on the First Amendment rights of many kids and even adults. However, Aaron Mackey, the free speech and transparency litigation director at the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, says there is growing sentiment to regulate and protect children from the harms of social media. “Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Mackey about how we can still protect kids and consumers without restricting free speech.

The war with Iran has driven up the price of gas — as in, the gas we put in our cars. But what about natural gas, like the kind we use to heat and cool our homes? The U.S. is pretty well insulated from a natural gas price spike. Countries across Europe and Asia ... not so much. Also in this episode: Wage growth slows as the economy adds jobs, historic New England country stores pivot to stay afloat, and crude oil futures look a bit funky right now.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

This week’s launch of Artemis II marked the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years. This time around, the spaceflight industry looks pretty different, with private companies playing a more dominant role. On today’s show, Kimberly gets into the future of NASA and the commercial space sector with Ars Technica’s senior space editor Eric Berger. Plus, why are we going back to the moon, anyway? Here’s everything we talked about today:"Artemis II is unlikely to be the cultural touchstone Apollo 8 was, and that's OK" from Ars Technica "Isaacman aims to reinvigorate NASA’s image, starting with the moon" from Politico "Trump FY2027 NASA Budget Supports Moon Missions, But Cuts Everything Else" from SpacePolicyOnline.com "Big Banks Seeking a Piece of SpaceX’s I.P.O. Must Subscribe to Elon Musk’s Grok" from The New York Times"SpaceX quietly files for big bang IPO" from SpaceNews "Artemis II: What's on the Menu?" from NASA"Astronaut Reid Wiseman was wrong about how rockets get to space" from MarketplaceWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The U.S. economy added 178,000 new jobs in March, and the unemployment rate went down. That’s a big improvement from last month’s disappointing jobs report, but there’s more than meets the eye to these numbers. We’ll explain in today’s episode. Also: SpaceX filed paperwork for an IPO, and the company’s high predicted valuation isn’t the only thing making waves. Plus, some food for thought before this weekend’s Final Four basketball games and inevitable betting ads: “This Is Uncomfortable” host Reema Khrais explains the effects of prediction markets on our wallets and our brains.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday that threatened tariffs of up to 100% on imported medications. The executive order also overhauls steel, copper, and aluminum tariffs. We’ve got all the details. Also in this episode: a breakdown of the new March jobs report. Plus, David Brancaccio speaks to a vintage car converter who turns old cars into electric vehicles.

On this week’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” Big Tech operations in the Middle East from companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft could be targeted by Iran. And California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new AI executive order with a not-so-thinly veiled message to the Trump administration. But first, Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX reportedly took a first step towards a highly anticipated initial public offering this week. The company made a confidential filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that potentially puts it on track to go public at a more than $2 trillion valuation in June. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Paresh Dave, senior writer at WIRED, to learn more.

President Trump said last night that military attacks on Iran will end in two or three weeks. But the effect on the global oil market will last much longer. In this episode, what it will take to stabilize oil supply and reserves — and how long gas prices will stay high. Plus: Hospitality groups make up a growing share of restaurant ownership, high oil prices haven’t pushed Permian Basin rigs to “drill, baby, drill,” and corporations take small steps to save the Colorado River basin.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Happy first tariff-versary? Despite the fact that many of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were recently struck down, small businesses across the country are still dealing with the aftermath. On today’s show, Kimberly talks with two small business owners: Justine Kahn, founder of Botnia Skincare in Sausalito, CA and Will Sissle, owner of Sissle & Daughters Cheesemongers & Grocers in Portland, ME, about how they’ve navigated a year of tariffs.

The president made the case for the Iran war, and markets were not impressed. After President Donald Trump's address to the nation last night, the price of oil went up, and stocks went down. This is a total reversal of what markets were doing going into the speech, when stocks rallied, and oil prices fell. We'll get into it all and provide some key takeaways. Then, Marketplace’s David Brancaccio takes a trip to a West Hollywood pawn shop.

A year ago today, the president pulled out a chart in the now paved-over Rose Garden and set the global economy on fire. He announced his so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs, which changed a bunch of times before being deemed illegal by the Supreme Court earlier this year. And those tariffs were mostly paid by us — consumers and small businesses. Plus, just how worried should we be about jitters in the private credit market?

What happens to your retirement savings when you leave a job? And if you’ve forgotten about an old 401(k) account, how do you track that money down? That’s the mystery Reema is trying to solve this week, as she confronts her own financial anxiety and goes searching for retirement accounts left behind at previous jobs. Along the way, she talks with retirement expert Geoffrey Sanzenbacher about just how common this is -- only about 15% of people roll their retirement savings over to a new employer's plan! And she asks behavioral economist Katy Milkman why this kind of chore feels so hard. Plus, brain hacks that will help you get through that daunting financial to-do list. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend. And let us know what you think by emailing uncomfortable@marketplace.org or calling 347-RING-TIU.And follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

It is day 34 of the internet blackout in Iran. But while it is the longest in their history, it does not mean that Iranians are without internet.In Iran, there is the global internet, and then the intranet, or National Information Network, which is controlled by the Iranian government. Right now, only the NIN is available, and Iranians have been digitally isolated from the outside world, according to Amir Rashidi, the director for digital rights and security at the Miaan Group, a human rights nonprofit.“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Rashidi about the current status of internet connection in Iran.

Thursday marks one year since President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on basically all imported goods — how time flies! The name of the game was uncertainty: U.S. small businesses pivoted from growth plans to stay-afloat plans, consumers grew gloomy but kept spending, and the U.S. manufacturing sector shed jobs. All while the rest of the world sorta shrugged and moved on. In this episode, we reflect on the year of the tariff.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD told analysts it's confident it can sell 1.5 million vehicles outside of China this year. Chinese EVs are advanced and affordable, making them increasingly popular in the global auto market. That can't be said for the U.S., however, which is effectively shutting out Chinese EVs with 100% tariffs. This morning, what does the U.S. economy stand to lose if we don't let Chinese cars in? But first, markets are feeling confident despite ongoing fighting in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the nation about Iran tonight. He told reporters yesterday that the war could wrap up in two to three weeks. Meanwhile, Iran has issued a new threat against 18 U.S. businesses operating in the region, including Microsoft, Google, Intel, Tesla, and Boeing. The war is also having dire effects on energy in South and Southeast Asia. Plus, how much is air travel being impacted by rising jet fuel costs?

In rare verdicts, juries in New Mexico and Los Angeles sided against multiple Big Tech companies last week.In Los Angeles, Meta and Youtube were found liable for intentionally creating addictive products, while in New Mexico, Meta was found to have violated state law and misled consumers on child safety guardrails.The result of these two cases will ripple to the thousands of pending cases against Big Tech companies across the country and could impact future legislation. “Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Eric Goldman, co-director at Santa Clara University’s High Tech Law Institute, about the verdicts.

One glaring result of President Trump’s war on Iran, one month in? High oil prices. If fuel stays expensive, the cost could ripple through the global economy. Analysts think the market for electric vehicles in the U.S. could see a boost, for example, as gas prices shoot up. And countries in Asia may reopen coal production plants as crude oil becomes scarce. Also in this episode: Aluminum prices spike, Unilever sells off its food brands to a spice giant, and plasma centers see more middle-class donors.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Last week, at a time when the war with Iran has been roiling global energy markets, executives from energy companies all over the world gathered for CERAWeek, the “Super Bowl” of energy conferences. But as Marketplace’s Elizabeth Trovall tells us, conflict in the Middle East wasn’t the only hot topic there. Trovall joins Kimberly to discuss how the energy sector is confronting a wide range of disruptions, from geopolitics to technology.Here’s everything we talked about today:"At "Super Bowl of the energy industry," war in the Middle East is the hot topic" from Marketplace"Gas prices eclipse $4 a gallon in the US, the highest since 2022" from AP News"How Blocking Oil and Gas From Leaving the Strait of Hormuz Ripples Around the World" from The New York Times"Venezuela oil production has reached 1.1 mln bpd in March" from Reuters "Energy demand from AI " from the International Energy Agency Got a question about the Iran war and its impact on the global economy? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The United States is finally allowing Russian oil to be delivered to Cuba after months of what has basically been an energy blockade imposed by the U.S. The blockade has caused nationwide blackouts, severe fuel shortages, and shutdowns of schools and nonessential businesses. The BBC's Will Grant joins us for more. Then, we head to Boston, where one of the oldest trade schools in the country is teaching students skills like piano-tuning, locksmithing, and violin-making.

The average price of gasoline is now above $4 a gallon for the first time in three years. Some analysts say that's a key psychological barrier, above which consumers begin to shift behavior and cut back on spending. Plus, the spike in oil prices we’ve seen may more than completely offset the fiscal boost from this year’s tax refund, and roughly a third of people trading in their old cars are underwater on their car loans.

The promise of artificial intelligence is that it will take on all the boring tasks we don’t want to do and free us up to do the fun, high-level work. But managing the AI tools can be its own kind of work. A new study from the Boston Consulting Group found that when workers have to closely monitor and manage their AI tools can cause cognitive exhaustion, which they dubbed “AI brain fry.”Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Matt Kropp, managing director and senior partner at BCG and one of the co-authors of this new study.

The cost of a barrel of crude surpassed $100 over the weekend, as war in the Middle East continues to block oil shipments. In simpler, car-commuter terms, gas prices have risen to $4-ish per gallon. But even if the conflict ended tomorrow, they would be slow to fall. Also in this episode: Small business owners remain cautious to hire, community banks struggle to win deposits, and some sectors could see job cuts if the war in Iran continues.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Today we're resharing an episode from our archive that might feel more relevant with gas prices up. We're going to dig more into those gas prices in the new season of “Million Bazillion: (coming soon). But this is a good time to learn about something called "inflation." After traveling back in time to stock up on snacks, Bridget and Ryan get a chance to try to control runaway inflation … but their ideas don’t quite go as planned.

Domestic migration in the U.S. has been declining for decades. This morning, we'll look into who's still moving, what factors drive their decision, and what's behind the shift. Plus, do wealthy people really flee to tax-friendlier pastures when their taxes go up? But first, there's a sort of backup plan for the oil supply, but the ongoing war in the Middle East means it could soon be under threat, as well.

Oil prices continue their upward climb amid conflict in the Middle East. The international benchmark Brent crude is now $115 a barrel; on Friday, it was $105. Brent is headed for its biggest monthly climb ever, and this morning, there are concerns about additional disruptions to oil shipments through another key route. We’ll unpack. Also: a looming helium shortage and a search for ways to mitigate threats to humanity.

In baseball, calling balls and strikes is a kind of art form. Now, a little more science is being added to the artistry. Major League Baseball has introduced the automated ball-strike, or ABS, challenge system. If a batter, catcher, or pitcher disagrees with the human umpire's call, he can tap his hat. Then, the ABS system uses cameras to say whether the pitch was indeed in the batter's strike zone. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Nola Agha, professor of sports management at the University of San Francisco, to learn more.

A growing number of farmers can’t afford to plant their crops this year. It’s because of rising costs for diesel, fertilizer, and equipment parts — coupled with low crop prices. On today’s episode, we talk to an Ohio soybean and corn farmer. Plus, how our economic landscape has changed after four weeks of war. Also, we break down the new consumer sentiment survey. And finally, a New York City artist shares his experience with the job market and gig economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

It’s peak bloom in Washington, D.C.! Cherry blossom viewing is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and it goes hand-in-hand with enjoying Japan’s national beverage: sake. On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by Reiko Hirai, founder of D.C. Sake Co., to talk about the ins and outs of the sake industry and why more breweries are popping up in the United States. Oh, and we’ll taste some sake too!Here’s everything we talked about:"Hanami - Cherry Blossom Festival" from the U.S. National Park Service"Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales" from BBC News"American Sake Is Having a Major Moment" from Bloomberg"How to Drink Sake, According to Pros" from Wine Enthusiasthttps://www.instagram.com/p/DI0C02mRKbB/ If you count on this show to bring a little clarity to the chaos, consider pitching in. Donate now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

The U.S. national debt crossed $39 trillion last week, and it’s growing fast. Racking up the most recent $5 trillion of that total only took two years. Now, a new survey finds that Americans' fiscal confidence is the lowest it’s been in a couple of years. Also on this morning's show: Anthropic gets a (temporary) win in its fight with the Pentagon, and commuters reflect on two years without Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The Trump administration is reviewing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which comes up for renewal this year. The USMCA replaced NAFTA, was an economic cornerstone of President Donald Trump's first term, and accounts for more than $4 billion worth of cross-border trade. Thing is, it didn't live up to its promises of spurring manufacturing jobs. What might come next? But first, we dig into the anxiety that comes with surviving multiple rounds of layoffs.

The prediction market platform Kalshi announces new rules this week. Plus, the Department of Labor introduces an AI literacy course. But first, a jury in Los Angeles this week found that Meta and YouTube were negligent in what’s being called a landmark case.The social media companies were accused of intentionally designing their platforms to be addictive, which caused harm to a young user’s mental health. The companies were ordered to pay $6 million in damages — and they’ve told media outlets they disagree with the verdict and are exploring their legal options.Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, about all these headlines for this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Two years ago, a shipping container crashed into the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore. Now it’s being rebuilt to be bigger and better. In today’s episode, we take you into the construction site. Plus, a new estimate on global inflation, a concerning trend with unemployment claims, and why the Federal Reserve usually looks past energy shocks. Also, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal speaks with Janti Soeripto, president and CEO of Save the Children U.S., about how war is complicating the organization’s work.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

People in the U.S. send a lot of money abroad: In 2024 alone, about $93 billion in formal remittances were sent overseas. However, a new federal remittance tax imposes a 1% levy on certain transfers. While a 1% tax may not sound substantial, it can drive up the price of sending money and hit unbanked individuals hard. We dig in. But first, the U.S. dollar has been gaining strength. Why is that happening?

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war with Iran is having all sorts of effects on energy markets and the flow of other commodities—like fertilizer. Roughly one third of the world’s fertilizer passes through the narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf. On today’s show, the Council on Foreign Relations’ Michael Werz joins Kimberly to make the case that the ongoing disruption to the fertilizer trade is causing a chain reaction that could raise food prices and intensify humanitarian crises across the globe. Here’s everything we talked about today:"The Iran War’s Hidden Front: Food, Water, and Fertilizer" from the Council on Foreign Relations "The Iran War’s Other Energy Shortage—Food" from The Wall Street Journal "Energy shock talk grabs headlines but the Iran war is also driving the world towards a food crisis" from The Guardian "Russia reaps fertiliser windfall from Iran war" from The Financial TimesIf “Make Me Smart” adds something meaningful to your week, we’d love your help keeping it going. Donate now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

Population growth is slowing in most counties in the U.S., according to new population estimates from the Census Bureau. During that time, 310 of the 387 U.S. metro areas had slower population growth, with dramatic declines along the U.S.-Mexico border. This largely has to do with a big decrease in net international migration. Then, later in the program, we have a deep dive into the current state of the pawn shop economy.

Betting used to mean going to a brick-and-mortar casino or placing a wager with a bookie. Now, with the rise of prediction markets, people can bet online on real-world events — from elections and the weather to cultural moments and global news — but at what cost? In this episode, Reema talks with clinical psychiatrist Dr. Timothy Fong and financial psychology expert Hanna Horvath about how gambling is becoming more normalized and woven into everyday life. What does that shift do to how we think about money, how we understand risk, and how we relate to the world around us?Even if you don’t gamble, we’re curious to hear more about the connection between loneliness and spending. What does that look like in your life? Give us a call at 347-RING-TIU or send us an email at uncomfortable@marketplace.org.And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, professional help is available in every state. You can call The National Problem Gambling Help Line at 1-800-GAMBLER.

It's been two years exactly since the Francis Scott Key Bridge here in Baltimore was hit by a container ship, the Dali, causing it to collapse. When it fell, the state lost a well-traveled highway that served commuters as well as truckers moving goods around the port of Baltimore. Now, the state is rebuilding the bridge. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Jim Harkness, chief engineer for the Maryland Transportation Authority, about how the new bridge will incorporate new technology.

This morning, we learned that import prices rose 1.3% in February. That’s way more than expected — and that data is from before the war. In today’s episode, we dig into the price boost and what it means for inflation. Also, rising mortgage rates could spell trouble for the housing market, and a jewelry designer explains how gold and silver prices are affecting her work. Plus, a deep dive into the “sleepcation.” And finally, don’t strike out when you’re searching for tonight’s Opening Day baseball game — it’s on Netflix, and here’s why.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

TSA agents have been working without pay for more than a month, while ICE agents have started arriving at airports to assist with security lines. Today, we'll hear what reps for TSA agents have to say. Plus, from "Marketplace Tech," the Commodities Futures Trading Commission is looking at new rules for prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. Then we'll help you make sure you're not leaving money on the table when doing your taxes this year.

Fuel costs can be vulnerable during geopolitical conflict. The war in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through energy markets. Over the past two weeks, oil and gas prices have been on a bit of a rollercoaster. This morning, we'll delve into what vulnerability and the lack of price stability for oil could mean for countries' renewable energy investment. Then, new data shows rent prices edging up after months of falling.

There are few worse feelings for a radio journalist than when you realize some tape you thought you had nicely stored is actually gone. And when we say tape, we mean the digital sound recording. All digital files are stored on physical media, such as hard drives or what's called in the industry of digital archiving, "LTO data tape." And anything physical can fail. So, some companies and libraries and public radio stations turn to digital archivists. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Linda Tadic, who leads the company Digital Bedrock, about her horror stories about tape that just seemed to be gone and why it’s important to maintain your digital work even after you’ve backed it up.

As climate change drives hotter, drier summers, vineyard owners have to adapt. They’re turning to grape varietals more suited to warmer weather. Today, we take a trip to an Oregon vineyard and learn about its preparations for the new season. Also in this episode: Check-ins on the copper market and the barge industry. Plus, why investors are pulling out of private credit, and why labor productivity revisions aren’t too shocking. And finally, FedEx is giving same-day delivery another shot.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Primary season for the 2026 midterm elections is underway. And the money from super PACs is already flowing. But how well is it working? On today’s show, Kimberly talks with democratic strategist Tim Lim about how spending from outside groups is shaping this year’s races so far and why strategists are waiting on the outcome of an under-the-radar Supreme Court case that could loosen the rules on how parties can coordinate with candidates.Here’s everything we talked about today:"MAGA Inc.’s $300 Million War Chest Waits for Go-Ahead From Trump" from Bloomberg "Super PAC spending passes $200M, with some groups hiding their cause" from The Washington Post"Big-spending Democratic PACs see mixed results in Illinois" from Semafor"This Supreme Court decision could upend millions in political spending ahead of the midterms. Here’s how the parties are preparing." from Politico "Pivotal U.S. Supreme Court Case Could Further Reshape Federal Campaign Finance Law" from Bernstein Shur Got a question about the Iran war and its impact on the global economy? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

The Treasury Department is holding several government bond auctions this week. Treasury auctions can tell us a lot about the interest rates investors are demanding to be paid, which in turn can tell us about what investors expect the economy to do in the future. We'll also learn about a ban on foreign-made consumer routers. Plus, from Marketplace's "This Is Uncomfortable," should I turn my hobby into a side hustle?

Starting in mid-June, soccer fans will flock to 16 cities across North America for the World Cup. Each match will draw tens of thousands of fans, many of whom will take public transit. That’s spurred transit agencies in host cities to expand service or finish big infrastructure projects. We'll learn more. But first, a quick update on the Middle East and a look at changes to the state and local tax deduction.

Marketplace's Meghan McCarty Carino takes a look at how platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are allowed to function in states with varying gambling restrictions, plus what the CFTC is looking at to try to rein such platforms.

The war in Iran has cost the global oil supply roughly 15 million barrels a day so far. Today, International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol said the war’s impact on oil is worse than the two oil shocks of the 1970s, combined. On today’s episode, a look at how long this shock could last. Plus, how skyrocketing natural gas prices will impact U.S. data centers, and why the stock market isn't “baking in” the long-term impacts of the war with Iran. Also, a journey to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, a former steel hub looking toward a different kind of industry — with middling results.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

It's tax season. Therefore, it's also tax scam season. A new McAfee survey finds nearly one in four Americans has been a victim of a tax-related scam, and AI is only making scams more convincing. This morning, we'll share what to look out for and how to stay safe. Also, the uncertainty of war in the Middle East means that safe haven investments aren't acting all that safe, and a San Francisco jury decided that Elon Musk defrauded Twitter shareholders during takeover negotiations.

Top brass at the most consequential energy companies in the world are meeting in Houston this week for the annual CERAWeek. Energy industry leaders are meeting at a time when war in the Middle East has caused a major disruption in the global supply of oil and gas. We'll hear more. Then later, exactly how concerned should we be about artificial superintelligence? We'll jump in with the president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute.

More than 60% of middle, high school, and college students in the U.S. are turning to AI for homework help, according to a new study from Rand. Some use it to help them brainstorm or like an encyclopedia. Others do it to get answers. But while kids are relying more on AI, about two-thirds of students surveyed in the study also believe that this AI use will hurt their critical thinking skills. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Heather Schwartz, co-director of the American Youth Panel at Rand and one of the authors of the report, about why students are worried.

Looking for an exclusive pastel Trader Joe’s mini tote? How about the latest Labubu? Once a staple of sneaker and streetwear, the “limited drop” release model is popping up all over the place. In this episode, find out why every brand seems to be chasing the “drop.” Later, we spill the tea on office gossip and what it’s like to run a dance studio. Also: A new survey shows 9% of Affordable Care Act enrollees are now uninsured after subsidies expired.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

From the success of “K-pop Demon Hunters” to the return of BTS, K-pop is having a moment. But the rise of Korean culture was no accident—it has a decades-long backstory of investment by the South Korean government. On “Economics on Tap,” Kimberly talks with Michelle Cho, researcher of East Asian pop cultures at the University of Toronto, about the history behind the spread of Korean culture and how it’s shaped industries from entertainment to beauty. Speaking of K-beauty: sunscreen or sheet masks?Here’s everything we talked about today:‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Leads the Wave Back to Korea from Foreign PolicyBTS Is Back With ‘Arirang,’ but the K-Pop Landscape Has Changed from The New York TimesK-everything: the rise and rise of Korean culture from The Guardian "Americans Are Learning Korean Because of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’" from The New York Times"What’s So Special About Korean Sunscreens?" from Vogue"How K-pop Stars Are Leading Mental Health Conversations for AAPI People and Beyond" from Teen VogueWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

If you're traveling in the next week or so, get to the airport early. Airport security lines are growing as workers with the Transportation Security Administration go without pay during the partial government shutdown. Nearly 50,000 TSA workers missed a paycheck last week, and if Congress doesn’t act, they could miss another one next Friday. Then, we'll dig into how wide salary ranges on job postings can influence an applicant's approach to negotiation over pay.

The Postal Service says it's facing a "severe financial crisis." Postmaster General David Steiner testified before a House subcommittee this week and said that the USPS was struggling and could “be out of cash in less than 12 months” unless something changes. Today, we check the finances of the postal service. And later, war in the Middle East is driving up fertilizer and diesel costs, worrying U.S. farmers during planting season.

This week, Amazon speeds up delivery even more. Plus, will BuzzFeed stay in business?But first, Gecko, a robotics startup, landed a $71 million contract with the U.S. Navy. The 13-year-old Pittsburgh-based company says it'll be using its drones and wall-climbing robots to help find defects on ships. Then, it will use artificial intelligence to model current and future structural issues.Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Anita Ramaswamy, financial analysis columnist at The Information, about all these headlines for this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Newport, Oregon is a small town on the coast with beautiful beach views. After the town’s rescue helicopter was taken to the southern border, the community came together against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In this episode, we talk to a local reporter who covered the story. Plus, we check on lower-than-expected January home sales numbers and jobless claims. Later, a drugstore owner in a “pharmacy desert,” and a look at the climate cost of war in Iran.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

In line with the Pentagon’s ambitions to build an “AI-first warfighting force,” earlier this year, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded unrestricted use of Anthropic’s Claude model. Anthropic had concerns. Now the two parties are engaged in a legal battle that could shape the future of AI safety. Kimberly talks with Justin Hendrix, CEO and editor of Tech Policy Press, to explain Anthropic’s lawsuit and why this could signal a turning point in the tech industry’s chummy relationship with the Trump administration.

Iran attacked critical liquefied natural gas and oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, including a major source of gas for Europe. It was retaliating in response to Israeli strikes on a gas field that supplies a lot of Iran's domestic energy. This morning, we delve into what it means for the price of oil, precious metals, government bonds, and more. Plus, we learn how China’s entry into the World Trade Organization impacted local U.S. banks.

War continues to rage in the Middle East, and energy infrastructure is being targeted. The price of oil has surged to $115 a barrel, and gas in the U.S. is now averaging $3.88 a gallon — up almost a dollar from before the war. President Trump recently waived the Jones Act in an attempt to lower oil prices. Will it work? Also: what's next for the Federal Reserve, and where U.S.-China relations currently stand.