Marketplace

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  We're stocking up 06.10.2026 25Min.

  We got fresh data showing imports and inventory levels are up. Is it a sign of a strong economy, or a sign businesses are bracing for impact? In this episode, AI remains a major driver of this strange economy. Plus: The U.S. is simultaneously importing and exporting a ton of semiconductors, the euro drops to a 17-month low, and monetary policy disproportionately impacts Black employment rates.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:Imports and inventories are rising. Does that mean the economy is strong?Semiconductor imports and exports have been rising all yearThe Black-white employment gap is growing. What's that say about the economy?Sometimes quitting a job is a "real sign of strength"France's debt pushes the euro to 17-month lowWorld Cup business keeps kicking after the final whistle
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  A tale of two deficits 05.10.2026 25Min.

  Despite Trump’s best efforts (a flurry of loosely targeted tariffs), the U.S. trade deficit is widening. But why is it widening? And what does it all have to do with foreign investment in government debt and the strength of the U.S. dollar? We’ll explain. Plus: Electric truck sales rev up amid record-high diesel prices, a 19th-century novelist popularized economic theory for her broad audience, and investors prep for upcoming Treasury auctions.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 exactly are investors looking for in this week's government bond auctions?The U.S. dollar is at its strongest in 18 monthsThe Regency-era novelist who popularized economics through her booksHere's why the trade deficit is growingAs diesel prices soar, so do electric truck salesThe algorithm knows you have a baby, and it will exploit that
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  Nike's not just doing it 02.10.2026 25Min.

  In Nike’s earnings report this week, the brand said it may begin shrinking its operations and laying off workers. It’s been losing market share for a while now. We look at what went wrong in the last decade. Also in this episode: the government-funded EV discounts that still remain, the business of affiliate links, and a former business owner’s mini retirement during fatherhood.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: An unsettling economic pictureCan Nike get its mojo back?A year after federal EV tax credits ended, a patchwork of state EV incentives remainsHere, take my link! The rise of affiliate linksHow becoming a dad brought this outdoorsman full-circle
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  Inflation held steady in August. Yay? 01.10.2026 25Min.

  The PCE price index (that's the Fed's preferred measure of inflation) held steady year-over-year in the latest report. Economists expected it to move up. So, why didn't it budge -- and why aren't we all celebrating? Also in this episode: Seasonal work is hard to find so far this fall, Trump's immigration crackdown weakens construction productivity in South Texas, and Kai explains the long-term implications of rising borrowing 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:The Fed's preferred inflation measure was lower than expected in August. Is that a good thing?Can the U.S. just grow its way out of debt?Immigration crackdown adds delays, costs to South Texas constructionMore people are looking for seasonal work this year. So far, it's hard to findThere are more private security guards than police. How much are they paid?
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  OpenAI is staying private (for now) 30.09.2026 25Min.

  OpenAI just announced it will delay its IPO due to ongoing AI safety concerns. But when you’re a company as big as OpenAI, where does your funding come from? In this episode, venture capital doesn’t cut it. Plus: Second quarter GDP was revised up thanks to all that corporate AI investment, Kai breaks down why the labor market is kinda like a bathtub, and farmers turn to agritainment as crop revenue shrinks.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:Second quarter GDP growth is brought to you by the letters A and IWhy full employment is like filling a bathtub with waterOpenAI delayed its IPO. That makes private investors happyCorn mazes, apple picking, and hayrides: More farms are leaning into "agritourism"Is your Dijon spicy? Heat and drought might be the causeHow "Neon Tom" made a 40-year career out of neon signs
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  Consumer confidence slides to 12-year low 29.09.2026 25Min.

  Consumer confidence fell to a 12-year low in September, according to The Conference Board. The index has been trending down for a couple years, but this latest decline was steep. One reason? Upper-middle class respondents are starting to feel the pressure, too. Also in this episode: The economic forces behind GDP growth might run out of steam soon, the low-hire low-fire labor market marches on, and high diesel prices keep some Gulf shrimpers on dry land.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 long can the economy keep growing?The latest JOLTS survey shows more of the same low-hire, low-fire economyConsumer confidence falls to its lowest level in 12 years, survey showsThe price tag might be an endangered speciesHigh diesel prices force some Gulf shrimpers to stay dockedNew career path, new baby, no problem
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  Nvidia's record-breaking stock buyback 28.09.2026 25Min.

  Apple used to be the leader in buying back shares. Now, Nvidia has broken the tech company’s record, announcing Monday that it would add $150 billion to its stock buyback program, on top of $80 billion pledged a few months ago. The chipmaker’s profits have continued to surge, as tech companies pour money into data centers and AI infrastructure. Is this a smart way for Nvidia to spend its money? More on Nvidia today, plus how a volunteer firefighter shortage is affecting a rural Wyoming county, why spending is predicted to soar this holiday season despite the energy crisis, and what economists are watching for in the jobs numbers coming out 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.Read the stories in today’s episode:It's a big week for economic data. Here's what labor economists will be looking for.Nvidia's record stock buyback funded by cash from the data center boomThere’s a national volunteer firefighter shortage. It’s on display in WyomingEarly retirement isn't always a choiceAdobe forecasts record U.S. spending online this holiday seasonThe mall isn't dead, yet
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  High interest rates could balloon the national debt 25.09.2026 25Min.

  What happens to government debt, the budget deficit, and the overall economy if interest rates stay elevated? For a new report, the Congressional Budget Office crunched the numbers. By 2056, public debt would grow to an eye-popping 222% of GDP. Plus: Trump administration cuts decimated soil conservation programs, a new report highlights the impact of private equity investments on climate risk, and an uneventful Trump-Xi summit ends with a promise of more talks to come.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:TTYL? Trump-Xi talks end without much to showWhat happens to the deficit and the national debt if interest rates stay high?U.S. farmers lost conservation experts in Trump’s federal cuts. Now they’re hurting for helpPrivate equity gets a grade on climate risks
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  Fed officials speak up on inflation 24.09.2026 25Min.

  As Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh attempts to limit forward guidance, analysts are zeroed in on other Fed officials’ public comments. Turns out, they’ve got plenty to say. In this episode, central bankers make their voices heard. Plus: Layoffs push workers to pivot careers entirely, catastrophe modelers warn a strong El Niño is brewing, and potato farmers struggle in the wake of an excellent growing season.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:Kevin Warsh is against forward guidance. But that hasn't stopped other Fed officialsLaid off? Odds are a change of job title's in your futureA "historic" El Niño is brewing and catastrophe modelers are mapping out the risksA spectacular 2025 growing season was not so great for potato farmers this year
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  Tension grows in the housing market 23.09.2026 25Min.

  Bad news first: Mortgage rates are topping 7% and, fittingly, mortgage applications are down. On the bright side, home prices aren’t completely frozen and listings are actually up. Question is, in this stuck housing market, when will things budge? Also in this episode: A running resurgence parallels popularity peaks in the aughts and ‘80s, Nashville-style hot chicken sees international success, and writer Robin Wigglesworth argues the bond market built the modern world in his new book, “A Fabulous Debt.”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. mortgage rates climb above 7% in another blow to housing marketBonds are like the “hidden wiring connecting the global economy”Why everyone is running all of a suddenLike weddings, concerts are now destination affairsThe global appeal of Nashville hot chicken
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  Time for a diesel export ban? 22.09.2026 26Min.

  Diesel costs have nearly doubled over the last year, breaking record highs. In fact, some lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to halt all diesel exports until they cool off. But experts say it's a recipe for price chaos that will leave us right back where we started. Also in this episode: A wide crude oil spread persists, butter and cheese become a bright spot on grocery receipts, and local bank consolidations leave customers frustrated.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 difference between the "paper" price of Brent crude and what refiners pay for itTrump and Xi meet this week. What can we expect?As grocery prices rise, cheese and butter get cheaper"Not such a good idea": How banning diesel exports to lower prices could backfireAs banks consolidate, some customers aren’t so sure they’re happy
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  The state of U.S.-China trade 21.09.2026 25Min.

  President Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, and AI safety is likely to define the agenda. But what about those pesky tariffs? In this episode, we lay out the fraught trade relationship between the U.S. and China. Plus: Airlines trim their flight schedules to combat high fuel prices, the price of copper may tell us less about global economic growth than it used to, and Ohio cities court recent grads looking for job opportunities and affordability.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:Trade tensions between U.S. and China simmer ahead of Trump-Xi summitIs "Dr. Copper" becoming less reliable?Starting a new career? Start in Ohio, report saysAirlines are trimming routes as fuel prices soarSorry brunch, but you're old news
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  Caught in the Canada trade war crossfire 18.09.2026 26Min.

  The Trump administration has doubled down on its trade war with our neighbors to the North — the U.S. is set to ban the import of several Canadian products, including beer and whey protein, in a few weeks. Small businesses on both sides of the border are caught in the middle. In this episode, we visit a few of them to understand how they’re coping. Plus: Banks stand to lose money as Treasury bond yields keep rising, Linkedin has changed the job hunt in this tight labor market, 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.Read the stories in today’s episode:The Fed makes a moveRising rates mean Treasurys are worth less. That's putting pressure on banksAs the U.S.-Canada trade war heats up, businesses find themselves caught in the crossfireDo you need to be a "LinkedIn lunatic" for your career?She sold her home, just to keep living in it
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  Home improvement stores feel the pinch 17.09.2026 26Min.

  Retail sales jumped 1.2% in August after falling in July. But building materials stores — think Home Depot or Lowe’s — still saw a dip. That’s because stretched consumers are putting off “nice-to-haves,” like home renovations. Also in this episode: The future of global energy demand will be driven by a mix of renewables and fossil fuels, high school students take a new AP class melding business and personal finance, and neighbors organize to cooperatively buy their mobile home park.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 countries driving energy demand growth can't wait for renewables to get cheaperKevin Warsh isn't a "data point-dependent guy"Home improvement stores take a housing market hitHigh schoolers take new AP business with personal finance classResidents of a mobile home park try to buy their community before someone else doesTurning a childhood home into a place to share with strangers
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  Bond traders take a turn in the spotlight 16.09.2026 26Min.

  The yield on 10-year T-notes climbed to its highest point since 2007 on Wednesday, as the Fed raised its key rate for the first time since July 2023. Swirling inflation and uncertainty have put all eyes on the bond market. So what’s it like to be a bond trader, suddenly at the center of attention? In this episode, we check in with a few of them. Plus: Higher borrowing costs will likely further stall the housing market, we explain “fiscal dominance,” and young people navigate “repayment avoidance.”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 it's like to work in the bond market these daysA Fed rate hike will make buying a home even more expensiveSurviving a stroke meant leaving her career behindWhat “fiscal dominance” would mean for the U.S. economyVenmo ghosting, just in time for spooky season
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  Imports are way, way up 15.09.2026 25Min.

  August marked the third-highest level of container imports to the U.S. on record. Sure, it’s usually a busy month for holiday shopping inventory, but there’s also that pesky looming inflation and ongoing tariff uncertainty. In this episode, why U.S. retailers are stocking way up. Plus: The stock market braces for a likely Fed rate hike, wildlife highway crossings save money and lives, and Carter’s undergoes a rebrand aimed at a new generation of parents.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:If the Fed hikes rates, here's how the stock market might respondFor those without a degree, the job market looks pretty goodImports boomed this summer in anticipation of higher costsWildlife use bridges and tunnels too, but it’s spendyCarter's big rebrand amid challenging children's clothing marketThe complicated history of New York's iconic Charging Bull statue
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  A cast of hawkish central bankers 14.09.2026 26Min.

  At this week’s FOMC meeting, it’s likely Fed governors will hike interest rates. They won’t be alone. The EU raised rates last week and Japan is expected to do the same at its upcoming meeting. These central bankers are all dealing with similar inflationary pressures, and hawkish rate-setters stick together. Also in this episode: The U.S. dollar rises in anticipation of a rate hike, diesel prices break records, the subscription-BNPL-rental economy reduces how much we really own. 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:Central bankers around the world are looking more hawkishThe U.S. dollar rises as investors anticipate an interest rate hikeWe don't own anything anymoreDiesel fuel hit a record high. Unlike gas, using less of it is not an optionShe built a tiny home in her aging mother's backyard
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  Inflation trumps wage gains 11.09.2026 25Min.

  The latest BLS data put real hourly wage gains at -0.3% last month, compared to last year. That’s thanks to inflation running hotter than pay raises. To make up for it, some workers are putting in extra hours or dipping into their savings. In this episode, how much longer can Americans cope with what are effectively inflation-driven pay cuts? Plus: The gender wage gap slows economic productivity, housing starts grow in the Northeast as they fall elsewhere, and we weigh the possible outcomes of next week’s FOMC meeting.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:Last call for Fed rate predictionsInflation has devoured pay gains over the past yearWhy the gender pay gap holds back productivityRetiring at age 37 to give back to the communityHousing starts are down in most of the country. Here's why the Northeast is the exception
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  What's the new normal for global oil? 10.09.2026 25Min.

  Oil industry analysts were hopeful earlier this year that Trump’s war in the Middle East would be short-lived. But it’s become clear that an open flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz will require sustained cooperation between the U.S. and Iran. S&P Global now expects dampered production and choppy prices to continue into 2027. Also in this episode: Trucking costs are pushed up by record-breaking diesel prices and a shortage of English-speaking drivers. And, is it a good idea to use AI to develop pharmaceutical drugs?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 oil roller coaster reaches new heights — and it's a bumpy ride aheadTrucking costs are rising fast. That could mean even more inflation for consumersThis audio affects business is still waiting on tariff refundsHow this Georgia factory is surviving America's solar policy whiplashIf AI helps speed up drug development, can the FDA keep up?The construction manager who quit his 9-to-5 to build something for himself
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  The case for healthcare price caps 09.09.2026 25Min.

  Healthcare affordability is top-of-mind for many Americans right now. And for a long time, state legislators’ only avenue for easing that burden was through care subsidies. But what about looking at the problem from a whole new angle? In this episode, two states, unalike in their political leanings, try out healthcare price caps. Plus: Rising oil prices push up short-term bond yields, more homebuyers look into adjustable-rate mortgages, and we try to predict Fed Chair Warsh’s next move.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:High oil prices are pushing up short-term bond yieldsWhat will Kevin Warsh do? He's not tellingMore states are trying price caps to tackle healthcare affordabilityAs mortgage rates rise, some homebuyers are choosing adjustable-rate loansOwning a home with a friend means learning how to talk about money