Podcasts by Marketplace All-in-One

Tech companies want marketable web addresses. These island nations are selling them. from 2023-12-12T10:59:05

Since 1974, an international standard has governed the assignment of two-letter identification codes to every country and territory on Earth. When the internet came along, those codes were used ...

Climate-friendly food is a global issue from 2023-12-11T23:48:12

Food chain resiliency is a central topic at COP28 — the U.N.’s global climate conference. So far, countries have pledged $3 billion to address the issue. In this episode, why agricultural ...

Inflation expectations slowed in November from 2023-12-11T22:27:06

Stocks rise; inflation expectations at lowest level since April 2021; investor group offers to buy out Macy’s; Fed holding final meeting of the year.

It’s decision week for the Federal Reserve from 2023-12-11T15:30:07

Fed officials are widely expected to end the year by keeping interest rates at current levels; Occidental Petroleum is buying fracker CrownRock; holiday travel to increase this year, AAA says; N...

Disagreement over fossil fuels at COP28 from 2023-12-11T15:17:40

The latest U.N. climate conference is nearing an end with countries clashing over the reduction of fossil fuel use. Oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia are resisting that idea. With just...

When investing in workers means investing in child care from 2023-12-11T12:47:48

While affordable, accessible child care can help support a strong workforce, it can often be hard to find. As more companies may look to recruit and retain workers by offering child care plans —...

Argentina’s president promises economic“shock treatment” from 2023-12-11T11:53:31

From the BBC World Service: Javier Milei has been sworn in as president of Argentina and promised radical changes for the country. Also on the show: TikTok has announced an investment i...

Blue vs. green bubbles: tech’s color-coded caste system from 2023-12-11T11:08:58

Remember Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign from 2006? They featured actor Justin Long as the hip Mac computer personified in conversation with a noticeably less cool John Hodgman playing a PC. Sevent...

And that’s a wrap on 2023 from 2023-12-09T01:05:41

For our final episode of 2023, we’re throwing a holiday party with music, festive fascinator hats and drinks. We’ll also get to some big medical news: For the ...

Choo-choo! from 2023-12-08T23:37:49

The Biden administration announced it’s putting $8 billion toward expanding the U.S. rail system. Travel by train is climate-friendlier than flying or driving, and in parts of Europe and A...

Jobs market slows in November from 2023-12-08T22:20:25

Stocks rise; health care and government employment rise the most; unemployment rate falls; consumer sentiment jumps.

Unemployment rate falls to 3.7% from 2023-12-08T16:37:22

Employers added 200,000 jobs in November; consumer sentiment soars 13% higher; Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has grossed $1 billion in ticket sales, Pollstar says; Biden administration grants $8 bill...

It’s hard to survive the 2023 housing market from 2023-12-08T16:04:18

While mortgage rates have been on the decline recently, this year has been, on average, the least affordable time to buy a home since the housing site Redfin started crunching the numbers 11 yea...

Does being richer make you more self-interested? from 2023-12-08T12:50:14

As part of this month’s Econ Extra Credit series, we’ll look at a study about how likely d...

Finnish unions join actions against Tesla from 2023-12-08T12:00:11

From the BBC World Service: In a widening regional labor challenge for Tesla, the Finnish Transport Workers Union has joined an ongoing dispute in support of Tesla employees in Sweden. ...

Layoffs hit Spotify, Google launches its Gemini AI tool — oh, and an unexpected Cameo star from 2023-12-08T11:10:55

On today’s Tech Bytes: Google launches its AI tool Gemini into the public arena — finally. Plus, ousted congressman George Santos becomes a star on Cameo. But first, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek ...

This guy loves taxes! from 2023-12-08T11:00

Income taxes can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time filing on your own. But don’t worry, host Yanely Espinal sat down with the self-proclaimed sup...

Higher ed got its credit report card, and it’s not straight A’s from 2023-12-07T23:46:25

Fitch Ratings issued a warning this week that U.S. colleges and universities are likely to encounter economic headwinds — bond investors beware. Declining enrollment, higher wages for faculty an...

The battle over aid to Ukraine from 2023-12-07T22:12:16

President Biden has asked Congress to pass a hefty aid package for the war in Ukraine and other defense initiatives, but the funding can’t seem to get through ...

Mortgage rates fall this week from 2023-12-07T21:43:09

Stocks close higher; lower rates haven’t had a big impact on housing demand; unemployment claims rise; consumer credit growth slows down.

Free rent’s gonna cost you from 2023-12-07T18:00

What would you be willing to live with for free rent? No heat, mice in the walls, a toilet in the middle of an unfinished basement? Chris Badeker and Jake Daughert...

Biden administration proposes seizing some drug patents from 2023-12-07T16:34:50

New rules would allow seizure of some drug patents if prices are too high; initial unemployment claims remained steady last week; UAW claims progress in unionization effort at VW plant; National...

A falling mortgage rate makes a difference from 2023-12-07T14:56:17

Average mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest levels since August, cooling from nearly 8% to around 7%. While that may be more manageable for prospective homebuyers, rates are still signifi...

What does the new SAG contract say about AI use? from 2023-12-07T13:07:15

Members of SAG-AFTRA voted to ratify a contract with Hollywood studios following the recent months-long actors strike. A major concern for voting members was how and when artificial intelligence...

Italy withdraws from China’s Belt and Road Initiative from 2023-12-07T12:14:57

From the BBC World Service: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration is pulling out of China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative, the massive  infrastructure a...

Tired of trying to protect your data privacy? You’ve got “consent fatigue.” from 2023-12-07T10:59:41

If you use the internet, you have undoubtedly been asked to consent to cookies. They remember our log-in information and also track things like what we’re reading and buying. Trying to avo...

How the podcast bubble burst from 2023-12-06T23:34:39

Podcasting took off in a big way in 2015. But just eight years later, waves of layoffs and cancellations have made the future of the medium uncertain. In this episode, we’ll explore why po...

Taking the pulse of the U.S. bond market from 2023-12-06T22:52:53

Today we’re geeking out over the bond market. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note has dropped from a few weeks ago and now sits close to 4.1%. We&...

Private employers add 103,000 jobs in November from 2023-12-06T22:13:01

Stocks close lower; government’s jobs tally due on Friday; imports rise slightly in October; exports fall.

McDonald’s is planning to supersize from 2023-12-06T16:00:37

The fast food giant wants to add 10,000 stores; Supreme Court justices appear unwilling to make broad changes to tax code; Hollywood actors ratify union deal with studios; British American Tobac...

At the intersection of politics and public health from 2023-12-06T15:52:20

The Biden administration may be delaying a long-discussed ban on menthol cigarettes, which have been heavily marketed in Black communities. Banning them in an election year could be politically ...

What to expect from HUD’s annual homelessness count from 2023-12-06T12:51:32

HUD is expected to release its annual Point-In-Time homelessness count later this month. High housing costs, an influx of asylum seekers and an end to COVID relief funds have strained resources ...

Cloud wars: Amazon and Google tackle Microsoft from 2023-12-06T12:10:20

From the BBC World Service: In the United Kingdom, Amazon and Google have called out Microsoft’s cloud computing practices, alleging that the tech giant is restricting customer op...

Rights of Rivers from 2023-12-06T11:00

The Colorado River has been carved up and relentlessly fought over for decades. But has anyone ever asked what the river wants? Until recently, that answer was ‘no.’

There’s a growing mov...

Meta’s pixel code tracks students from kindergarten to college from 2023-12-06T10:55:30

For years, Facebook, now renamed Meta, has offered a code called pixel to businesses. By embedding pixel on their websites, those businesses can collect information on users, then target them wi...

The ghosts of debt ceilings past from 2023-12-05T23:45:50

Despite all the angst over the national debt limit, extensions and last-minute compromises aren’t unusual — since 1960, Congress has fought over the debt ceiling 78 times. Although the U.S...

Job openings hit two-year low from 2023-12-05T22:17:40

Stocks close mixed; job openings fall the most in health care, social assistance; logistics sector shrinks in November; services sector expands.

What is MAGAnomics, actually? from 2023-12-05T22:06:44

We’re less than a year out from the 2024 presidential election. And former President Donald Trump is still leading the pack of Republican candidates, Listen

Employers post fewest job openings since March 2021 from 2023-12-05T16:10:19

There were 8.7 million job openings in October, as signs increase of labor market cooling; Supreme Court justices appear divided over Purdue Pharma settlement; Lamborghini agrees to 4-day workwe...

It pays to play on as you age from 2023-12-05T16:03:12

From the Rolling Stones to Bonnie Raitt and Dolly Parton, there are plenty of septuagenarians creating new, quality works. These performers are redefining “oldies but goodies,” but w...

Hillary Clinton says it’s time for insurance reform from 2023-12-04T12:34:33

As the global climate change summit COP28 continues, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling for changes to how properties are insured in the face of climate change. Insurers are al...

Why Spotify is laying off staff — again from 2023-12-04T11:43:45

From the BBC World Service: In its third round of job layoffs this year, Swedish music-streaming giant Spotify says it’s cutting 1,500 jobs, or 17% of its workforce. Plus, we look at why t...

A controversial U.S. surveillance program expires this month. Will it be renewed? from 2023-12-04T11:17:43

When Section 702 became law in 2008, the intelligence community argued collecting phone calls, texts, and emails of people outside of the U.S. could protect against terrorism. But the communicat...

Economics on Tap: Wastewater beer edition from 2023-12-02T01:17:36

The future of beer is here. “How We Survive” host Amy Scott is on the show today to help us taste test beer brewed from recycled water. And we’ll g...

Just keep it from 2023-12-01T23:39:04

Over half of major retailers now have a “return-less” refund policy — aka, they’ll pay you to keep not-quite-right items — according to a goTRG report. Returns cost retailers a...

Manufacturing sector contracts in November from 2023-12-01T22:17:58

Stocks rise; manufacturing production falls; new home construction spending rises; manufacturers investing in long-run projects.

That electric vehicle you’ve been eyeing could become more expensive soon from 2023-12-01T15:44:35

The Biden administration has released long-awaited rules limiting tax credits for certain EVs; OPEC+ extends oil output cuts; Tesla delivers long-promised pickup truck; federal judge blocks Mont...

The economics behind farewell tours from 2023-12-01T15:34:45

The band Kiss will play what it’s calling its last ever show this weekend in New York City. Thing is, the band has said farewell before — on a tour more than 20 years ago. Turns out, saying (or ...

What Fed officials are thinking — and saying from 2023-12-01T12:44:08

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks later today, after other Fed officials have been particularly chatty. This is before a quiet period that precedes the next meeting on interest rates th...

Germany’s economy got a break, but maybe not the kind it’s looking for from 2023-12-01T12:24

From the BBC World Service: Germany is looking at an $18 billion gap in next year’s budget because of a court decision last week on a German fiscal rule known as the debt brake. T...

One year of ChatGPT, fast fashion’s plan to go public and more trouble for Elon Musk from 2023-12-01T11:16:22

On today’s Tech Bytes: apologies, profanity and accusations of blackmail. It’s just another week in the life of Elon Musk. Plus, ultra-fast-fashion retailer Shein confidentially files for an IPO...

Making the workforce work for you from 2023-12-01T11:00

Every generation faces challenges when they enter the workforce for the first time, but Gen Z may have an especially tough time. Social media manager Listen

The urban-rural wage gap from 2023-11-30T23:57:27

People in cities have, on average, made more money than people in rural parts of America for decades. Now, that disparity seems to be widening. In 2023, urban dwellers are making 23% more than r...

COP28’s big question: who should pay for the climate crisis? from 2023-11-30T22:58:22

It’s day one of COP28, the global climate conference, and countries have already agreed on details for a fund to aid developing countries affected by climate d...

Spending and inflation slowed in October from 2023-11-30T21:40:41

Stocks close mixed; services spending rises while durable goods spending falls; inflation mostly flat between September and October; unemployment claims rise.

Instrument of sabotage (rerun) from 2023-11-30T18:00

In the cutthroat world of professional classical music, Eric Abramovitz was headed toward a shining career. Until something — or someone — got in the way. <...

Inflation is receding faster than the Federal Reserve’s predictions from 2023-11-30T15:55:51

PCE price index receded to a 3% annual rate in October; continuing claims for unemployment benefits hit a 2-year high; New York Fed Chief Williams says interest rate hikes are likely done; Ford ...

EVs are having a reliability problem from 2023-11-30T15:21:30

Consumer Reports is out with a survey finding that EV owners had roughly 80% more problems than owners of conventional vehicles. Key problems included issues with charging and batteries. To the ...

How holiday advertising is different this year from 2023-11-30T13:07:03

We’re in the thick of holiday shopping season. But as companies compete for consumer dollars and distinguish themselves through advertising, they’re taking inflation into account and...

Can you be the president of a climate summit and the boss of a state oil company? from 2023-11-30T12:07

From the BBC World Service: The appointment of the COP28 summit’s president, Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, has been controversial, as he’s also the CEO of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company. ...

Big advertisers flee X as Musk spotlights antisemitic content from 2023-11-30T11:20:26

This time of year, companies tend to open their wallets and choose where they choose to advertise. Those ad dollars are the lifeblood of X, the former Twitter. In th...

Is GM feeling iffy about EVs? from 2023-11-30T01:10:48

General Motors is planning higher-octane cash returns for investors in an attempt to restore confidence in its main gig — making vehicles that are not elect...

An oil exec hosting COP28? Surprise! from 2023-11-29T23:52:06

The United Nations’ climate change conference kicks off tomorrow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where tens of thousands of global leaders, experts and activists will discuss how to reduce...

Economic growth revised higher from 2023-11-29T21:48:07

Stocks close mixed; GDP revised to a 5.2% annual rate; corporate profits grow; consumers growing more price sensitive.

U.S. economy grew faster than initially thought over the summer from 2023-11-29T15:52:07

GDP growth revised to 5.2%; Fed officials signal potential rate cuts; GM says strike cost $1 billion and new labor deal $9 billion.

The Munger, the myth, the legend from 2023-11-29T15:49:23

Charlie Munger, business partner to Warren Buffett and vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, died on Tuesday at the age of 99. Today, we look back at the wisdom and humor of the Oracle of Omaha&#...

One year on, how has ChatGPT changed the way we work? from 2023-11-29T12:30:20

It’ll be one year this week since ChatGPT was released to the public. While there was handwringing about waves of jobs being replaced by bots, that hasn’t quite happened. We’ll take ...

Could Uber and London’s black cabs merge lanes? from 2023-11-29T12:02:52

From the BBC World Service: Over 10 years ago, Uber shook up the United Kingdom’s taxi scene. Now, the company says it will open up its platform to London’s black cabs early...

The bust after the boom hits the video game business from 2023-11-29T11:06:19

This week, TikTok parent ByteDance said it’s retreating from mainstream video games altogether. Earlier this year, Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, a game th...

Water, water, everywhere from 2023-11-29T11:00

As water supplies in the west dry up, finding solutions is critical. The good news is that water is all around us, if you know where to look and how to treat it. In this episode, we’re going on ...

The circular economy and closing our resource loop from 2023-11-29T00:16:43

Americans consume a lot of stuff and in turn produce a lot of waste. The average American generated Listen

Are we there yet? How about now? from 2023-11-28T23:53:07

We’ve been talking about making an economic “soft landing” for over a year — but how will the Federal Reserve know we’re there? In this episode, Chicago Fed President Aus...

Consumer confidence rises in November from 2023-11-28T21:52:59

Stocks close higher; consumers lower inflation expectations; home prices rise; U.S. dollar’s relative value falls.

Could interest rates decline soon? from 2023-11-28T16:01:28

Deutsche Bank is predicting interest rate cuts due to a mild recession in 2024; consumer confidence improves despite recession expectations; home prices rose 4.1% in September, national index sh...

Need is up at food banks this holiday season from 2023-11-28T15:42:53

The weeks around Thanksgiving and Christmas are often some of the busiest times of the year for food banks. And demand is up this year, as holiday expenses compound the stress that inflation and...

The hottest new concert venue near you might just be a movie theater from 2023-11-28T12:49:23

If you couldn’t make it to some of the biggest concerts of the year, no problem. Beyoncé’s Renaissance film comes out this Friday, which follows Taylor Swift’s highly popular Eras Tour fil...

A flight powered by cooking oil takes to the skies from 2023-11-28T12:19:37

From the BBC World Service: The first transatlantic flight powered only by what’s being called “sustainable aviation fuel” is due to take off from London today. Plus, ...

Being an influencer sounds great, but is it really that glamorous? from 2023-11-28T11:08:49

From being your own boss to doing work you actually like, the perks of influencer life have drawn in plenty of creators to an industry valued at $250 billion. Take Sid Raskind, whose goofy lifeh...

OpenAI’s“breakthrough” from 2023-11-28T01:00:28

After being banned from talking about artificial intelligence at Thanksgiving, guest host Matt Levin is eager to chime in on the ongoing Sam Altman controversy and n...

Global trade may be back on track from 2023-11-27T23:24:16

After a yearlong slump, the World Trade Organization said the volume of global trade in goods is set to rebound in the coming year. Leading the charge will be auto parts and electronic component...

New home sales dip in October from 2023-11-27T21:41:05

Stocks fall; new home sales grabbing larger share of overall market; global trade volume could pick up; Black Friday spending rises.

Black Friday shoppers are spending cautiously from 2023-11-27T15:52:02

Black Friday sales rose less than inflation, while Cyber Monday is expected to turbocharge sales period; Biden directs investment in more domestic drug production; new home sales declined 5.6% i...

A“breakthrough”in AI safety guidelines from 2023-11-27T14:33:58

Many of the world’s biggest economies have agreed to non-binding safety standards for artificial intelligence. While the joint guidelines address cybersecurity, they don’t extend to ...

What to watch for at COP28 from 2023-11-27T12:30:08

The United Nations’ annual climate summit, COP28, will kick off in Dubai later this week. Government and private-sector leaders will convene to outline steps to curb emissions and limit th...

UAE planned to use climate talks to strike oil deals from 2023-11-27T11:48:19

From the BBC World Service: Leaked documents obtained by the BBC suggest that the United Arab Emirates has been using its role as host of COP28 as an opportunity to strike oil and gas a...

Menopause technology could finally be having its moment from 2023-11-27T11:02:23

Despite half the world’s population being female, there are still few technologies on the market to help manage the symptoms of menopause. Why is there a reluctance to invest in “men...

Shoppers love easy returns. But retailers aren’t sold on’em. from 2023-11-24T22:49:42

Americans will drop $37 billion online this long holiday shopping weekend, according to Adobe Analytics. A lot of those consumers are counting on free, easy returns if their items don’t wo...

Some housing hope courtesy of new homes from 2023-11-24T14:48:22

Earlier this month, the Commerce Department reported that construction of single-family homes was up 13% from October of last year. All that new construction is supporting both the housing marke...

How different generations are spending this holiday season from 2023-11-24T12:55:17

More than 180 million people are expected to shop either in store or online this holiday weekend, according to the National Retail Federation. While nearly everyone regardless of age is likely t...

Strikes in Sweden against Tesla are“insane,”Elon Musk says from 2023-11-24T12:28:47

From the BBC World Service: Several trade unions in Sweden are striking against Tesla over the company’s refusal to sign a collective agreement on pay and conditions for its staff. Other u...

What venture capital is thinking after a week of high drama and shakeups in tech from 2023-11-24T11:15:03

This week, the shakeups and confusion at OpenAI have come to a conclusion. Sam Altman returns to his position as CEO at OpenAI after its board fired him, which upset most of the company’s ...

What you need to know about crypto from 2023-11-24T11:00

With all the hype about cryptocurrency, how can you tell a good investment from bad? Yanely Espinal sits down with college student and crypto investor Listen

It’s all about that holiday spending from 2023-11-23T21:34:40

It’s not just you: The holiday shopping season really did start sooner this year. Retailers are competing for consumer dollars with sales and discounts, early and often. Plus, tomorrow is ...

Are they serious? from“Tiny Huge Decisions” from 2023-11-23T18:00

We have a special treat for you today! We’re sharing an episode of the new podcast from APM Studios and Chalk + Blade called “Listen

Barriers for Indigenous workers in tech start early from 2023-11-23T15:01:11

A recent report finds that Native people in tech are underrepresented in the high-paying sector. Just 20% of high schools on reservations offer computer science courses, the research finds. What...

What’s going on at the FDIC? from 2023-11-23T14:17:12

The chair of the FDIC was grilled during Congressional hearings last week following reports by the Wall Street Journal on allegations of sexual harassment and racial discrimination at the agency...

Is the Netherlands heading for Nexit? from 2023-11-23T11:49:52

From the BBC World Service: In the Netherlands, far-right politician and EU critic Geert Wilders has claimed a shock election victory; immigration and the economy were major factors. Also on the...

Older video games are in danger of going extinct (rerun) from 2023-11-23T11:08:52

For the most part, it’s not too hard to get access to movies from the last decade or even the last century. But if you want to experience a video game from before, say, the ancient era of ...

Who wants to work in Congress anymore? from 2023-11-23T00:43:04

This month, at least 12 members of Congress have announced they won’t seek reelection at the end of their terms. We’ll get into the record number of reti...

Grocery prices are a little less stuffed this Thanksgiving from 2023-11-22T23:43

The Farm Bureau says Thanksgiving meals will cost a bit less than they did in 2022. But everyone experiences the economy differently. So we talked to last-minute grocery shoppers in Houston abou...

Durable goods orders unchanged from 2023-11-22T22:08:35

Stocks rise; durable goods orders unchanged; mortgage rates fall; unemployment claims tick down.

What’s next for OpenAI? from 2023-11-22T15:10:19

Altman to return as CEO as board is reshuffled; online holiday shopping off to strong start, Adobe Analytics says; initial jobless claims fall to 209,000; CEO Zhao pleads guilty as U.S. fines Bi...

More Americans dip into retirement funds for emergencies from 2023-11-22T14:20:21

Fidelity Investments reports that workers taking out a so-called “hardship withdrawal” from their retirement accounts — one used to cover emergency expenses — ticked up in the third quarter. Thi...

Why an Andy Warhol sculpture bombed at auction from 2023-11-22T12:48:35

Last week, an Andy Warhol piece up called Bomb — literally a silver-painted bomb — failed to sell because its reserve wasn’t met. Why couldn’t it fetch a higher price? We’ll di...

Sam Altman returns to OpenAI from 2023-11-22T12:12:02

From the BBC World Service: The drama continues at artificial intelligence business OpenAI, where co-founder Sam Altman is set to return as boss just days after he was fired by the board. And, i...

Betting on Conservation from 2023-11-22T11:00

Las Vegas is a fantastical Disneyland for adults in the middle of the desert. It features fabulous displays of water — like the thousand dancing fountains of the Bellagio Hotel or the winding ca...

Kids prep for YouTube careers at content creator camp from 2023-11-22T10:58:47

Do you remember what your dream job was as a kid? We’re guessing that “YouTuber” was not on the list. Well, turns out vlogger/YouTuber was the top career choice for almost 30% of 8-to-12-year-ol...

The origins of America’s consumer-driven economy from 2023-11-22T00:23:49

The holiday shopping season kicks off this week with Black Friday, and American shoppers are expected to Listen

Happy birthday, ChatGPT! from 2023-11-21T23:38:31

Next week marks one year since ChatGPT debuted, kicking off a surge in generative artificial intelligence products. In just a year, AI has gone from a futuristic concept to a tool tons of compan...

Existing home sales fall in October from 2023-11-21T22:03:15

Stocks fall; housing demand outweighs inventory; Fed will watch data over the coming months; economic risks persist.

The forecast calls for … more changing forecasts from 2023-11-21T15:59:16

The Index of Leading Economic Indicators is supposed to give insight into where the economy’s headed. It’s been pointing to a recession for 19 months, but that economic slowdown has yet to...

Travel during the Thanksgiving holiday could set a new record from 2023-11-21T15:44:37

Millions are expected at airports and tens of millions on the roads; X sues Media Matters over ad report; Moderna mRNA patent invalid, European agency rules; Las Vegas hospitality workers approv...

X sues Media Matters over antisemitism report from 2023-11-21T13:05:34

Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has filed a lawsuit against nonprofit Media Matters after it released an analysis showing that ads on the platform appeared ...

Is fashion waste making Cambodian workers sick? from 2023-11-21T12:47:36

From the BBC World Service: A human rights group in Cambodia says that clothing waste from big brands like Adidas, Walmart and others are being burnt as cheap fuel in factories making bricks. Pl...

The Federal Reserve isn’t setting your mortgage rate from 2022-04-21T00:34:18

It’s Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, that time of the week when our hosts answer your questions! We’ll start with a couple of questions about the Fed’...

Power to the…homeowners association? from 2022-04-20T22:57:24

Homeowners associations aren’t just making rules about lawn ornaments and holiday decorations. HOAs are increasingly leveraging their authority to restrict investors from buying up houses ...

Biden offers a financial power-up to nuclear plants from 2022-04-20T14:26:31

The Biden administration is extending a financial lifeline to nuclear power plants in danger of closing before their licenses expire. A recent report from an advocacy group has detailed the peri...

Netflix and…cancel? That’s what more people are doing. from 2022-04-20T11:30:10

The streaming service that became a way of life for most people during the height of the pandemic just announced that it lost about 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year – an...

Grubhub to be offloaded by its European owner from 2022-04-20T11:00:11

Today European delivery giant Just Eat Takeaway.com announced it’s looking to offload its American subsidiary Grubhub, which it purchased less than two years ago for more than $7 billion. ...

Preventing online abuse against women requires more than a“block”button from 2022-04-20T09:41:32

The internet can be a scary place for women, from mansplaining and unwanted advances to coordinated harassment campaigns, doxxing and physical threats. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino ...

The economic case for taking in refugees from 2022-04-20T00:10:56

The U.S. has a long history of resettling refugees who are fleeing war and persecution. The current program goes back to the ’80s, after the Vietnam War.

Uncertainty is the only certainty in economic forecasting right now from 2022-04-19T22:39:41

The International Monetary Fund slashed its prediction for global economic growth in 2022. Some big reasons: the war in Ukraine, fallout from sanctions on Russia, and the pandemic. Those factors...

Could inflation lead to another big shift in our behavior? from 2022-04-19T14:55:44

Consumers changed their behavior during the pandemic. They ate more of their meals at home and spent more time streaming shows and movies. And now that they’re...

How the demand for bigger homes weighs on the housing market from 2022-04-19T11:19:25

One of the trends that’s been seen in the housing market has been the demand for larger houses. It’s a result of the pandemic, which funneled more people to carry out chunks of their...

IMF to release a gloomy world economic outlook from 2022-04-19T10:47:57

From the BBC World Service: The International Monetary Fund is set to release a pessimistic economic outlook. Argentina’s government plans on imposing higher levies on businesses it percei...

What does it take to be an effective mental health app? from 2022-04-19T09:29:26

Accessing mental health care has long been difficult  and the pandemic has further increased the strain. And there are thousands of mental health apps — about 20,000...

Treasury Department issues“cry for help” from 2022-04-19T01:15:26

Today is Tax Day, the deadline for filing taxes (or an extension, gulp). To mark the occasion, the Treasury Department called on Congres...

Get ready for clogged supply chains when China’s COVID lockdowns end from 2022-04-18T22:52:15

China’s strict zero-COVID-19 policy has left workers stuck at home and goods stuck at docks or warehouses. When those measures are lifted, a tidal wave of consumer goods could flood back i...

Housing supply is struggling. Once again, we can blame the supply chain. from 2022-04-18T14:23:40

Housing supply can’t keep up with demand, thanks to an old foe: the supply chain. We look further into what the holdup is. The odds of recession are low – bu...

Let’s air out the misconceptions about inflation from 2022-04-18T11:24:01

Inflation and tales of its constant rise have been part of the economic reality for a while, long enough for there to be plenty of misunderstandings about what the term and concept actually mean...

Sri Lanka warns catastrophe looms without financial support to ease worst crisis in 70 years from 2022-04-18T10:38:56

From the BBC World Service: China’s economy grew more than expected in the first quarter, but with strict lockdowns in place, optimism fades for Q2. Plus: Russia launched fresh attacks on ...

Will Netflix’s video game gamble pay off? from 2022-04-18T09:32:21

Netflix will give investors a glimpse of its growth Tuesday with the release of its quarterly earnings report. It’s been hard to sustain the pace of 2020, when the w...

Layoffs reach record lows, and other thoughts from 2022-04-16T01:16:52

Listen

Twitter uses a poison pill to fend off Elon Musk from 2022-04-15T23:06:24

Elon Musk has a 9% stake in Twitter and offered to buy the company Thursday. Now, Twitter has countered by activating a “poison pill,” a move that gives other shareholders the opport...

Supply chain problems, inflation force the advertising world to rethink messaging from 2022-04-15T14:55:32

How do you advertise things that either might not be available or just cost too much now? That’s the question for brands everywhere as they wrestle with a constantly locked supply chain an...

COVID-19 era leaves lasting imprint on how businesses handle staffing from 2022-04-15T11:29:22

We look into how the pandemic has altered the way businesses function going forward, especially when it comes to dealing with the possibility of sick staff members or another shutdown as cases s...

The chocolate-coated history of Africa’s smallest economy from 2022-04-15T11:21

From the BBC World Service: Chinese companies warn of the impact Shanghai’s lockdown will have on the wider supply chain and economy. Plus, why Emirates is still taking passengers and carg...

Etsy transaction fee spikes and vendors strike from 2022-04-15T09:25:28

Thousands of vendors on Etsy are staging a strike this week after the company announced it would hike transaction fees for sellers by 30%. It’s the latest in a series of changes that Etsy ...

EU looks to break from Russian energy from 2022-04-14T23:59:10

The European Union is trying to end its dependence on Russian oil — but that may be costly and complicated. This Thursday, we talk about how Western countries are pr...

The she-cession meets she-flation from 2022-04-14T23:11:57

The pandemic sidelined millions of working women. Now, women — who often earn less than their male counterparts, yet spend more for similar products — are feeling the sting of inflation more acu...

Elon Musk wants to buy Twitter from 2022-04-14T14:37:01

Tesla and SpaceX leader Elon Musk is offering to take the social media company private in a takeover bid valued at about $43 billion dollars. He’s already Tw...

What can the European Central Bank actually do about soaring inflation? from 2022-04-14T11:20:43

From the BBC World Service: While inflation in Eurozone countries reached a record annual high of 7.5% in March, economists don’t expect an interest rate increase from the ECB. We hear why...

The idea of college prestige, examined from 2022-04-14T11:16:39

One of the takeaways from the 2019 college admissions scandal is the enormous cultural weight placed on college prestige. Does going to a more prestigious school really make a difference your li...

Digital currencies are popping up everywhere, and that means competition from 2022-04-14T09:28:44

We’ve got bitcoin, dogecoin, litecoin. Every day a new coin. These are known as cryptocurrencies, unregulated digital coins that live outside the banking system in blockchain technology. R...

Russia’s ruble is strong…for now. from 2022-04-14T00:31:09

The strength of Russia’s ruble even in the face of sanctions from the West has surprised some. This Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, ...

How high will interest rates go? from 2022-04-13T23:20:48

There’s a monetary policy principle that says for every percentage point of inflation,  interest rates should rise a percentage point or more. But could rates north of 8% actually be in th...

How NFTs are bringing artists and communities together from 2022-04-13T14:25:11

We check in with an Atlanta muralist to kick off a story of how visual artists are finding ways to utilize NFTs as a way to not only connect with their followers, but also rethink the value of t...

Are banks in a prime position for more lending? from 2022-04-13T11:31:34

Rising interest rates and an influx of stashed cash built up over the pandemic era could have banks more willing to push loans to people and businesses. Consumer prices hit a 40-year high in Mar...

Spain is trying to deal with soaring energy costs and raging inflation from 2022-04-13T10:54:34

From the BBC World Service: Significant price rises across Europe and the impact of the war in Ukraine are likely to be on the agenda when European Central Bank policymakers meet this week. Plus...

App stores are — slightly — relaxing control over payment systems from 2022-04-13T09:19:07

Google and Apple have been slow to relinquish the hefty commissions they charge on app payments. Developers have been pushing for alternatives to the payment systems...

Cities are chasing crypto. But why? from 2022-04-13T00:59:08

Government leaders all over the world are taking a hard look at cryptocurrencies.

Listen

Inflation, inflation everywhere… from 2022-04-12T22:45:38

… and not a drop of relief, at least for a while. Inflation clocked in at 8.5% year over year in March, but the economic cooling effects of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes ...

Inflation reaches heights not seen since 1981 from 2022-04-12T14:25:12

Consumer prices are up 8.5% compared to a year ago. That’s a four-decade high, according to the government’s latest reading of inflation: the consumer price index....

The future still appears murky for small business owners from 2022-04-12T11:25:03

Small business owners’ optimism about the economy fell in March, according to a new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business. It found that small businesses are continuing to ...

What’s it like in the German town home to the Nord Stream pipelines? from 2022-04-12T11:06:58

From the BBC World Service: The U.S. orders non-emergency staff to leave its consulate in Shanghai as COVID-19 infection rates rise and lockdown measures continue. Plus, Sri Lanka is suffering i...

The doctor will see you now…in the metaverse? from 2022-04-12T09:21:47

The metaverse is coming — so we’re told — though it’s hard to know exactly what that means. There are companies using virtual reality to recreate office life down to the conference r...

Don’t put your mask away yet from 2022-04-12T00:42:22

A month after lifting its mask mandate, Philadelphia is reinstating indoor mask requirements beginning next week as COVID-19 cases there...

Russia may be forced to default on its debt from 2022-04-11T23:06:38

According to Standard & Poor’s, Russia is in “selective default,” or default on specific debt payments. The country has plenty of money, but Western sanctions could make it unabl...

An omen reveals itself in the U.S. Treasury market from 2022-04-11T14:28:08

The yield on the 10-year treasury note has been moving up in the past month and approaching pre-pandemic levels. What does this mean? Investors want a higher payoff for putting their ...

Is Europe inching closer to a ban on Russian oil? from 2022-04-11T11:23:20

Though the prospect of Europe banning Russian oil seems far away, the executive office of the European Union is drafting proposals for an embargo to be part of the next wave of sanctions on Russ...

Pakistan’s parliament voting on new PM after ousting Imran Khan from 2022-04-11T10:36:37

A vote to elect a new leader is underway in Pakistan’s parliament. Imran Khan was ousted in a long-awaited no-confidence vote over the weekend. The BBC’s Farhat Javed is watching tha...

Online shopping comes to federal food assistance programs, but it’s complicated from 2022-04-11T09:40:32

The pandemic sent grocery shoppers online like never before, and federal food assistance programs are trying to keep up. The main food stamp program, known as SNAP, rolled out online shopping pr...

The wave of anti-transgender legislation is an economic story from 2022-04-09T01:35:10

Alabama’s governor signed two bills into law on Friday: One criminalizes providing gender-affirming care for transgender youth, an...

War-fueled inflation is felt more keenly in developing countries from 2022-04-08T22:51:20

Prices were already on the rise before the war in Ukraine, but the United Nations finds that global food prices have reached an all-time high. Now, people in developing countries, who spend prop...

Bonus: Music Submissions From Our Listeners from 2022-04-08T16:19:05

We invited you, valued listeners, to share your suggestions for what music we should include in our shows. You know, the bits of songs that we run as bridges or grace notes. (They’re not r...

Walmart is offering new truck drivers six figures. What does that mean for the industry? from 2022-04-08T14:29:17

Walmart has announced it’s raising the starting salaries for its long-haul truck drivers to as much as $110,000 per year. This comes amid ongoing supply chain problems, a strong labor mark...

Congress votes to restrict Russian trade and block oil imports from 2022-04-08T11:29:04

The House and Senate have passed legislation to strip Russia and Belarus of their “most favored nation” trade status. Congress has also affirmed President Biden’s order banning...

German leader Scholz in London for talks with British PM Johnson from 2022-04-08T11:24:24

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in London today, meeting British prime minister Boris Johnson. The two leaders are expected to discuss strategies for ending Europe’s reliance on Russian f...

Software in some Google Play apps opened paths for extracting user data from 2022-04-08T09:29:28

Security researchers revealed this week that dozens of apps in the Google Play Store had secretly gathered data on tens of millions of users and sent it to a company linked to a U.S. defense con...

Buying a house? In this economy? from 2022-04-08T01:07:21

Listen

The economy is already responding to higher interest rates from 2022-04-07T22:28:28

The goal of Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes is to cool demand and curb inflation, and it turns out they’re already working. Mortgage applications and refinancing of home loans ...

U.S. officials disclose successful effort to foil“Sandworm”cyberattack from 2022-04-07T14:37:32

Law enforcement officials say Russia was plotting cyberattacks against critical infrastructure targets as a way to retaliate against sanctions, and that led the U....

Presence of COVID still lingers over the economy from 2022-04-07T11:25:40

Recent polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that in spite of relaxed mask mandates and much lower number of daily cases, many Americans still perceive they and their loved ones are at...

Shell says exiting Russia could mean a $5 billion hit from 2022-04-07T10:57:47

From the BBC World Service: Energy giant Shell says its decision to exit Russia after the Ukraine invasion will have an impact of as much as $2 billion more than originally thought. Plus, Russia...

Will Amazon’s first union have something to say about surveillance tech? from 2022-04-07T09:41:13

It’s going to be a minute before the contours of an actual collective bargaining agreement come into focus for workers at the Amazon fulfillment center in Stat...

More money, more problems? from 2022-04-07T00:47:20

• With a dozen states considering sending payments to taxpayers to ease the sting of inflation, one listener is wondering whether more check...
  Listen

The Fed’s plan to shrink its balance sheet from 2022-04-06T22:45:50

Today, the Federal Reserve released its March meeting minutes. While many Fed officials are keen on half a percentage point interest rate hikes going forward, the central bank is also planning t...

Spirit Airlines and Frontier announced they were together. Now JetBlue is speaking up. from 2022-04-06T14:16:12

A bidding war may be taking off in the airline industry. In February, Spirit Airlines and Frontier announced a merger – two budget carriers becoming one. JetBlue h...

What could Twitter expect with Elon Musk on board? from 2022-04-06T11:41:35

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is now jumping with both feet into social media: He has acquired a 9.2% stake in Twitter and will join the company’s board of directors. As one of Twitter’s ...

Europe under increasing pressure to cut off Russian energy sources from 2022-04-06T11:30:09

From the BBC World Service: As European Union leaders discuss a fifth round of sanctions against Russia, they’re under mounting pressure to take a hard look at their oil and gas imports. P...

The vast emptiness of space is filling up with junk from 2022-04-06T10:00

Folded among the big-ticket programs in President Joe Biden’s latest budget proposal is a small sliver — $88 million — to study and track space junk. That includes everything from defunct ...

How the Fugitive Slave acts and new“bounty hunter”bills are alike from 2022-04-05T23:51:58

It’s been more than six months since Texas’ anti-abortion law went into effect. SB8 let...

How the ruble rebounded from 2022-04-05T22:42:22

The value of the ruble tanked under international sanctions after Russia invaded Ukraine. It’s since recovered, at least on paper. Today, we look into how the Kremlin manipulated supply an...

U.S. turns attention to Russia’s ability to make bond payments from 2022-04-05T14:29:10

The U.S. is ratcheting up the economic pressure on Russia by targeting its ability to make bond payments. So far, Russia has managed to avoid a default on sovereig...

Study illustrates pandemic’s impact on America’s disconnected youth from 2022-04-05T11:15:35

The term “disconnected youth” covers people from the age of 16 to 24 who are neither working nor in school. The U.S. actually had a declining youth disconnection rate over at least 1...

U.S. and Europe draw up new sanctions against Russia over war in Ukraine from 2022-04-05T11:00:24

From the BBC World Service: Four rounds of sanctions measures have already been approved against Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine. Plus, Sri Lanka’s newly appointed finance min...

One small step for astronaut gloves, one giant leap for the space economy from 2022-04-05T09:17:33

Microsoft and Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced Monday that they’ve partnered up with NASA to bring artificial intelligence to the International Space Station. The AI will be used to ch...

Everything comes back to politics from 2022-04-05T00:53:40

The Senate approved an agreement for a new round of COVID-related funding today. The $10 billion package includes money for COVID testing and treatment as well as va...

To tackle inflation, it helps to know what’s causing it from 2022-04-04T22:55:21

Why are prices rising so quickly? The pandemic, supply chain snarls and war in Ukraine are obvious culprits. But, c’mon, what about corporations padding their profit margins? Or just-in-ti...

Some Amazon workers have a union. Next up is a contract. from 2022-04-04T14:43:55

It’s the difference between getting the right to collective bargaining and coming up with an actual contract. After the first successful union drive at Amazon, we speak with a labor expert...

Starbucks suspends stock buybacks from 2022-04-04T11:45:40

Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz is returning to the company. He says a pause on repurchasing shares will give the company more room to invest in staff and stores. Plus, an effort by the Bid...

War in Ukraine worsens Turkey’s cost-of-living spiral from 2022-04-04T11:42:35

From the BBC World Service: Inflation in Turkey soared to 61.1% in March, a new record high. We take you to Istanbul to hear why higher commodity prices resulting from Russia’s war in Ukra...

President Biden says we need more batteries, and we should make them here from 2022-04-04T07:38:18

President Joe Biden is pushing for more green energy storage to get us out of the gasoline crisis. He’s encouraging the American special minerals industry to increase production. Biden wan...

Amazon workers vote to unionize in Staten Island from 2022-04-02T01:06:47

Happy Friday, Smarties! Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York, elected to unionize today. That’s a historic win, and we’ll talk more ...

Job market recovery continues apace from 2022-04-01T23:01:09

Employers are on hiring sprees and they’re offering higher wages. Workers are coming off the sidelines in in-person, professional and business services. At the current rate of job growth, ...

More competition could help with inflation. How would that work? from 2022-04-01T14:24:09

Economists say inflation is being driven by a number of factors, from supply chain disruptions to higher wages. But what about competition? In the food industry, restaurants that face more indus...

A German perspective on the effects of Russia’s gas-or-rubles stance from 2022-04-01T11:26:17

This week, Germany has begun the early part of an emergency plan that could lead to the rationing of natural gas. The Kremlin is demanding payment for gas in rubles from countries sanctioning Ru...

Russia’s Foreign Minister visits India to shore up long-standing friendship from 2022-04-01T11:04:49

A meeting between Russia and India’s foreign ministers has just wrapped up in New Delhi. The BBC’s Rajini Vaidyanathan in Delhi says that top of the agenda was how India, which has r...

Tech competition heats up at the checkout from 2022-04-01T09:33:07

Supermarkets are increasingly becoming testing grounds for some of the latest technology. At Walmart’s subsidiary, Sam’s Club, customers can use an app to scan and pay for items whil...

The lowdown on our backup oil from 2022-04-01T00:22:55

As energy prices soar due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. is drawing on government petroleum reserves. But getting the oil flowing and to market isnR...

In Texas, parents of trans kids face a costly choice: stay or go? from 2022-03-31T22:56:07

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently ordered state agencies to investigate families that provide gender-affirming medical care to transgender kids for child abuse. Some parents are now looking to mov...

Putin: For gas, it’s rubles or nothing from 2022-03-31T14:18:31

The Russian president said he has signed a decree that will force foreign buyers of his country’s natural gas to pay in rubles. Starting Friday, Vladimir Put...

Is it time to crack open the U.S. oil reserves? from 2022-03-31T11:32:10

President Biden is ready to order the release of up to a million barrels a day of oil from the United States strategic petroleum reserve in an effort to battle ris...

Pakistan’s PM faces tough no-confidence vote from 2022-03-31T10:44:27

From the BBC World Service: Russia is saying it will require payments for energy exports in its own currency, the ruble, rather than via the current euro-denominated contracts. But the BBC’...

Artificial intelligence expands its terrain as legislation and ethics rules try to catch up from 2022-03-31T09:20:55

Private investment in artificial intelligence more than doubled last year, according to Stanford University’s AI Index Report. The research tracks and visualizes data about this tech, including ...

The reason inflation is so hard to solve this time from 2022-03-31T00:29:41

This week on Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday, we answer your questions about why everything is so expensive and who’s going to fix it. So first, does the Federal ...

Let’s talk about energy from 2022-03-30T23:00:33

The war in Ukraine has threatened the global supply of all sorts of commodities. Today, we’re zooming in on three key parts of the global energy industry: Russia’s role in nuclear po...

Private payroll data shows job market strength in the face of inflation from 2022-03-30T14:21:43

Susan Schmidt of Aviva Investors dives into the latest data from private payroll processing firm ADP with us. A report from the NAACP and the Kapor Center reveals a lack of diversity in several ...

Russia wants Europe to pay for gas in rubles. Why? from 2022-03-30T11:25:08

This week, the G7 nations rejected a demand from Russian President Vladimir Putin that they pay for Russian natural gas in the country’s own currency, which is the ruble. We look into what Putin...

Russia paying Syrian mercenaries $7,000 a month to fight in Ukraine from 2022-03-30T10:56:17

From the BBC World Service: Germany is activating an emergency plan for a potential natural gas supply disruption from Russia. The BBC has learned Syrian mercenaries are being offered $7,000 per...

The patent history behind GIFs, and the fight to make them free of fees from 2022-03-30T09:20:50

Steve Wilhite, inventor of the graphics interchange format, also known as GIF, died this month at the age of 74. Animated or not, GIFs may now be a common, free feature of the internet, but the ...

Is our economy ready for long COVID? from 2022-03-30T00:00:07

At the start of the pandemic, there was an overwhelming sense that once there were vaccines, you’d be less likely to die from COVI...

The view from the ground in Poland and Shanghai from 2022-03-29T22:37:22

We have two stories today of what it’s like getting by when a global crisis is playing out around you: First, our China reporter tells us about life in locked-down Shanghai. Then, a 75-yea...

Curious about what companies are in or out of Russia? We look into a list of them. from 2022-03-29T14:20:46

More than 450 companies, from Exxon to Starbucks to H&M, have partially or fully withdrawn from Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine began, but many Western companies have yet to a...

Russia-Ukraine war leads to morality play for business from 2022-03-29T11:12:45

Hundreds of Western companies have cut ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, marking a critical moment for business leaders who must decide whether to abandon their Russian operations ...

Democratic Republic of Congo joins East African common market from 2022-03-29T10:59:23

From the BBC World Service: Turkey hosts the latest round of talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war as local businesses in besieged cities like Odessa try to carry on. Africa’s second larg...

Europe wants all messaging apps to work together from 2022-03-29T09:18:33

European Union lawmakers recently unveiled the Digital Markets Act, which aims to limit the power of “gatekeepers” — companies so big and popular that they shape entire industries — ...

Biden is not hiding his opinion of Putin from 2022-03-29T01:52:05

Suspending state gas taxes may not do much for pain at the pump from 2022-03-28T22:57:38

A handful of lawmakers have or are looking to suspend state gas taxes. While there’s little else they can control in terms of gas prices, those taxes make up less than 10% of prices at the...

Bread prices are skyrocketing, which could mean major issues in the Middle East from 2022-03-28T14:39:37

The war in Ukraine has triggered a spike in the price of wheat, which means higher prices for bread. That may be a slight inconvenience for some countries, but for many others with populations w...

Madeleine Albright leaves legacy of leadership for working women from 2022-03-28T11:36:32

Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as Secretary of State, died last week at the age of 84 and became a role model for women’s leadership in the workplace. We look into the legacy she l...

Shanghai goes into lockdown as China’s zero-COVID strategy questioned from 2022-03-28T10:47:30

From the BBC World Service: China’s financial capital goes into a two-phased lockdown as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is in Israel for a landmar...

The budding relationship between cryptocurrency and oil from 2022-03-28T09:34:48

We’re wrapping up our series on cryptocurrency mining, the energy-intensive computing process that does all of the accounting for most cryptocurrencies. Marketplace&...

The“don’t sleep on this news”edition from 2022-03-26T00:40:50

An ice shelf in Antarctica the size of New York City collapsed after a warm spell in that part of the globe, in case you needed a reminder that climate change is sti...

It’ll take time and money to get American natural gas to Europe from 2022-03-25T22:56:51

As Europe tries to wean itself off Russian natural gas, it’s moving toward imports from the United States and renewable energy sources. The U.S. produces a lot of natural gas, but liquefyi...

Another storm (of tax returns) is coming for a backlogged IRS from 2022-03-25T14:27:33

The Internal Revenue Service is already facing a mountain of challenges, and this year’s next wave of tax returns (and taxpayers seeking answers) could bog the agency down even further. Ch...

Examining the EU’s big swing against Big Tech’s giants from 2022-03-25T11:29:15

Earlier this week, the European Union unveiled sweeping antitrust legislation aimed at limiting the power of big tech companies. The long-awaited Digital Markets Act targets Big Tech’s “ga...

The U.S. and EU announce major deal on energy supplies from 2022-03-25T11:24:11

From the BBC World Service: Stronger cooperation on liquified natural gas has been announced between the U.S. and European Union. It’s a move the two sides say will bolster national securi...

NFTs in video games? Skeptics push back at developers conference from 2022-03-25T09:49:31

Video game developers, programmers and artists are gathering in San Francisco this week for the first in-person Game Developers Conference since 2019. One topic getting a lot of attention is non...

Uber riders may be seeing yellow (cabs) from 2022-03-25T00:58:13

If you’re in New York City, don’t be surprised if the next time you request an Uber you get picked up in a yellow taxi — Uber has announced plans to team up with cab companies there....

Gas prices are just the tip of the iceberg from 2022-03-24T22:42:49

Brent crude topped $119 a barrel Thursday. High oil prices don’t just drive up gas prices, they also boost the cost of plastics, used in everyday goods and products important to the energy...

Measuring the impact of the child tax credit from 2022-03-24T14:34:19

A recent study looked at the effects of the expanded child tax credit on families. Marketplace’s senior economics contributor, Chris Farrell, spoke with us about the study’s findings. Diane Swon...

A tale of immigrant kids and family business, as told by a member of LA’s doughnut monarchy from 2022-03-24T11:25:34

For this month’s Econ Extra Credit, we featured the 2020 documentary “The Donut King,” which helps illuminate the path that Cambodian-Americans have taken to doughnut-shop domi...

Russia’s stock market reopens from a record closure…but not everyone can trade from 2022-03-24T10:53:13

From the BBC World Service: Russia’s stock market has reopened after a month-long closure implemented after intense volatility following President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade...

Cybersecurity professionals face burnout from 2022-03-24T10:00

This week, President Biden warned businesses to be wary of potential cyberattacks from Russia, recommending companies increase their cybersecurity defenses. That means more work and higher stake...

The not-so-easy thing about taming inflation from 2022-03-24T00:31:03

A week after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, some of us still have questions. Like, why did the stock market respond so posit...

Is this the end of globalization? from 2022-03-23T23:12:53

The global economy has felt the ripple effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for nearly a month now. Today, we chat with Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is getting expensive from 2022-03-23T14:21:02

The longer Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, the higher the actual cost — in rubles and kopecks — of keeping the assault going. While it’s hard to pin down the cost of the conflict, e...

Is the Great Resignation actually a great opportunity? from 2022-03-23T11:23:51

The phenomenon known as the Great Resignation doesn’t appear to be slowing, leaving employers across industries faced with high employee turnover and understaffing. But this change also represen...

Inflation in the U.K. hits 30-year high, with more demand for food banks from 2022-03-23T11:11:30

From the BBC World Service: Britain’s finance minister, Rishi Sunak, is under pressure to offer more support for households as he prepares to outline the government’s spring spending...

Limited internet access linked to higher COVID death rates from 2022-03-23T09:27:01

Internet access has been crucial during the pandemic, allowing some of us to work remotely or order all manner of things for delivery. But there’s not much research so far on the connectio...

There’s still money to be made in Russia from 2022-03-22T23:15

Potato chips. Razors. Air fresheners. These are just a few of the items some of the world’s biggest brands are still selling in Russia after they said theyR...

Another day, another Russian cybersecurity threat from 2022-03-22T22:39:17

While President Joe Biden warned the private sector about potential Russian cyberattacks earlier this week, cybersecurity experts have been sounding the alarm for years. Today, we’ll previ...

For some, the Big Quit leads to a big career shift from 2022-03-22T14:35:29

Millions of workers have left their jobs during the pandemic, and many of them are going into new fields. We check in from Boston, where a school workshop has become a hub of people switching fr...

Fed chair Powell says he’s ready to pick up the pace on interest rate hikes from 2022-03-22T11:27:05

The state of inflation is at the point where the Fed could raise interest rates at a faster-than-expected speed if that’s what’s needed, according to Jerome Powell, chairman of the F...

Empty shelves abound in Moscow stores as Kremlin insists“enough for everyone” from 2022-03-22T11:22

From the BBC World Service: Global sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine have already made drastic changes to everyday life in the country. Multiple stores in Moscow have no sugar...

What does it mean to“destroy”an algorithm? from 2022-03-22T09:21:05

The Federal Trade Commission recently reached a settlement with WW International, the company formerly known as Weight Watchers. The FTC and Department of Justice accused WW of illegally collect...

The White House is prepared for long-term inflation and supply chain issues from 2022-03-22T00:50:44

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the Biden administration is “prepared for the worst” when it comes to inflation and supply chain issues as global e...

Pharma’s tough exit strategy in Russia from 2022-03-21T23:51:54

Hundreds of businesses have pulled out of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, but the decision is more complicated for pharmaceutical companies. Today, we dig into the ethical and economic...

How the Russia-Ukraine conflict could put a dent in the food industry from 2022-03-21T14:29:38

The war between Russia and Ukraine has put the nickel market in flux. A lot of metal nickel comes from Russia, and nickel is an essential part of stainless steel … which is an essential pa...

Europe’s leaders are discussing a ban on Russian oil, but how far can that go? from 2022-03-21T11:32:39

In advance of President Biden’s trip to Europe, foreign ministers are meeting today to begin discussion of something many would rather avoid – an embar...

Plane carrying 132 people crashes in China from 2022-03-21T11:10:06

From the BBC World Service: The Boeing 737 was being flown by China Eastern, one of the biggest state-owned carriers and one of the largest airlines in Asia. The last large-scale fatal air crash...

The crypto rush hits Texas from 2022-03-21T09:25

Lately, we’ve been exploring cryptocurrency mining, the energy-intensive — and potentially quite lucrative – computing process that produces currencies like bitcoin. Up until last summer, China ...

One eye on the commodity markets, folks from 2022-03-19T00:41:02

Today we’ll preview a story we think we’ll be talking about more soon, including on next week’s evening broadcast at “Marketplace.” The...

What will China do about Russia? from 2022-03-18T22:19:03

On a two-hour call with Chinese President Xi Jinping today, President Joe Biden warned of “consequences” if China helps Russia avoid the effects of Western sanctions. Today, we’...

Could it be time for another COVID booster shot? Vaccine makers are calling for it. from 2022-03-18T14:23:29