Marketplace All-in-One

Wyoming made billions from coal mining over the last 50 years, funding the government, schools, roads, parks. But President Trump's major spending bill, passed in July, gives mining companies a break on royalty fees — leaving state budgets lean. In this episode, easing coal fees comes at a price. Plus: Non-store retail spending saw double-digit year-over-year growth, small businesses suffer as they wait for tariff clarity, and stock investors basically ignore all the bad 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 latest retail sales data shows U.S. consumers are still spending it up, even in the face of higher tariff costs and a shaky labor market. Wealthier Americans are driving the trend, but a “culture of treats” might also play a role. Marketplace's Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to explain her theory. Plus, brands like Gap are pitching themselves to Gen Z by riffing on Y2K fashion. Are you onboard?Here's everything we talked about today:"Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes" from AP News"Top 10% of Earners Drive a Growing Share of US Consumer Spending" from Bloomberg "For some consumers, luxury is not a treat — it's a lifestyle" from Marketplace "Why are millennial brands trying to ride the Y2K trend?" from Marketplace"Why Gap's ‘Better In Denim' Ad Struck The Right Chord" from ForbesWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Public companies report their earnings every three months, giving investors and the public regular snapshots of how business is going. But President Trump wants to see fewer of those reports. In a social media post on Monday, he said companies should report just twice a year instead of quarterly. Susan Schmidt, a portfolio manager at Exchange Capital Resources — and one of the folks who is often looking at those reports — joins us to weigh in.Plus, the Federal Reserve kicks off a two-day meeting on interest rates, and we take a closer look at efforts in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria to develop more AI products in African languages.

On Monday, President Trump said public companies should no longer report quarterly earnings. Instead, he suggested corporations report just twice a year. Trump isn't the first to suggest a pared-down reporting schedule, but the idea raises questions about the balance between corporate transparency and long-term growth. Also on the show, the South Korean government has launched an investigation into potential human rights violations during a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, where 300 South Korean workers were detained and deported. So what does this episode tell us about the U.S. immigration system? Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation of American Policy, joins us to discuss.

From the BBC World Service: Argentina's president Javier Milei announced a change of course, with plans to increase spending on pensions, health and education. There's a drive in some African countries — including Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa — to create more AI products in different languages, to open up the new tech to more people across the continent. And automaker Jaguar Land Rover confirmed its factories in the UK will stay shut for another week following a cyber hack.

A recent report put out by the tech giant claims its AI model consumes very little electricity and water for a single query. Emma Strubell, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon's Language Technologies Institute, says that might not tell the whole story. This episode was produced by Jesús Alvarado.

It's the start of a whole new season and Bridget and Ryan have a great question from listener, Dina: What is a chain restaurant? Some chain restaurants work a little differently than other chains — they're "franchises" and individual people can open a location of their own! To answer Dina's question, Bridget and Ryan try their hand at opening their own location of the incredibly popular and beloved chain, the International House of Clams. Together, they'll learn how the chain restaurant business works and what makes it different from starting a restaurant from scratch. Plus, keep an ear out for cameos from some of your favorite Million Bazillion characters!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! This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/million.

It's been five-and-a-half years since lots of workers retreated to home offices at the height of the pandemic. Now, about 35% of Americans work from home at least once a week. In this episode, why employers' demands to "return to office" are growing. Plus: A sociologist expresses concern about AI's long-term effects on the American labor market, import prices reflect an uptick in “undervaluation,” and President Trump wants reduce earnings report requirements for public firms.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.

Federal Reserve watchers feel pretty sure the Federal Open Market Committee will cut interest rates by a quarter of a percent this week. The real question? Whether Jay Powell and co. have more rate cuts planned, or if they're taking it meeting by meeting. Also in this episode: An Atlanta non profit helps refugee women become entrepreneurs and the U.S. TikTok deadline approaches.

The import price index, which keeps track of the price of imports before tariffs are applied, comes out tomorrow. You can tell by looking at it who exactly is paying for tariffs. Prices in certain categories have fallen in recent months — a sign that some foreign exporters are trying to offset the cost of tariffs. But first: The U.S. and China are talking trade, and consumers continue to spend despite economic anxieties.

From the BBC World Service: As U.S. and Chinese officials hold trade talks in Spain's capital, the deadline approaches for TikTok, which U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to ban over security worries. Then, the U.S. and U.K. have lined up a string of deals aimed at speeding up nuclear power projects. And, Ghana is the world's largest importer of used clothing, but about 40% is too damaged to resell. How can the problem be addressed?

Borders may be invisible to most shoppers, but for businesses, they often mean delays, extra costs, and reams of paperwork. And amid Trump's trade war, global trade is now faster and more complex than ever. Those new pressures have sparked a boom in new "customs tech" companies promising to speed things up. The BBC's Leanna Byrne reports.

The Russell 2000, a stock index of smaller companies or “small caps,” has fallen behind the S&P 500 over the past few years. A Fed rate cut, which may come as soon as next week, could change their luck. In this episode, why interest rates have an outsize effect on smaller companies. Plus: Homebuilding is harder under President Trump's tariffs and immigration policies, brands lean into the power of scent, 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.

Today's news comes with a side of pawpaws. Kimberly is joined by Laura Blessing, senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, to break down the moves President Trump is making to exert more control over government spending. As Congress faces the possibility of another shutdown head on, it's souring the mood. Plus, we'll play a new game! Can you guess which headline is fake?Here's everything we talked about today:"What is a pawpaw, and will I ever be able to buy it at the grocery store?" from Marketplace"‘Don't even bother dealing with them,' Trump says of Democrats' shutdown demands" from Politico"What to know about Trump's ‘pocket rescission'" from The Hill "Paris Hilton mini-fridges recalled due to fire, burn hazards" from The Hill  "Musk got DOGE's mission "backward," Lutnick says" from Axios  "Trump announces crackdown on pharmaceutical advertising" from Politico We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

“Marketplace Morning Report” is breaking down the overall picture of the U.S. economy by zooming in on different regions and taking a closer look. Marketplace's senior economics contributor Chris Farrell reports from St. Paul, Minnesota, about what's happening in the Federal Reserve's Ninth District — which includes most of the upper Midwest. Also: Paramount Skydance explores a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, and markets anticipate a Federal Reserve rate cut.

"When you face bad economic numbers, you've got two choices: fix the economy or attack the numbers," says University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers. Today, we'll discuss what to make of how the Bureau of Labor Statistics collects data on jobs and inflation, as well as the doubts cast on BLS under the second Trump administration. But first, grocery prices jumped in August. Thing is, tariffs aren't to blame.

From the BBC World Service: Hundreds of workers have returned home to South Korea following a raid by U.S. immigration at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia. Officials said many workers violated their visas. This morning, we'll hear about the outrage South Koreans are feeling and the hesitance by South Korean companies to invest in the U.S. Then, Europe will get its first Universal theme park near Bedford, England. What economic benefits could the park bring?

Marketplace's Nova Safo spoke with Joanna Stern, senior personal technology columnist at the Wall Street Journal, to discuss all these topics and more. This episode was produced by Jesús Alvarado.

The labor market has been cooling for a bit, and in some sectors is virtually frozen. That could push the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. But the Fed's other mandate, besides maximum employment, is price stability. And inflation is picking up. What to do, what to do…. Later in this episode: Why are utilities costs up? Are restaurants hiring when no one else is? And, should retirement accounts have access to private equity funds?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 wake of yesterday's assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Regina Bateson, a political science professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, joins Kimberly to unpack the rise of targeted political violence in the United States and what it means for the health of our democracy. Then, one of our listeners shares how digitizing her great grandmother's WWII diaries helped connect her with her family's past.Here's everything we talked about today:"A new dark normal of political violence still shocks the nation" Politico "Tracking Attitudes About Elections and Political Violence Over Time" from States United Democracy Center"How Americans Justify Political Violence" from The New York Times Magazine "Special Report: Key Political Violence and Resilience Trends From 2024" from the Bridging Divides Initiative Check out Beth's digitized diary project Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Unionized Starbucks workers are still without a contract after more than a year of bargaining. Both the company and the union say it's the other side holding up negotiations at the bargaining table. Today, we'll hear from a founding member of the union representing workers there. Plus, consumer inflation is moving the wrong way. The consumer price index released this morning showed prices up 2.9% annually in August. We'll discuss.

The Census Bureau finds that the gap between what women and men earned in 2024 widened. Typical wages for men increased 3.7%, but stayed flat for women. Also on this morning's program: An internal watchdog at the Labor Department has launched a probe into how the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics collects and reports economic data. Plus, new data found that foreclosure activity is up 18%. How worried should we be?

From the BBC World Service: Pharmaceutical giant Merck has scrapped plans worth more than $1 billion to expand its operations in the United Kingdom, blaming a lack of government support. It's the latest pharmaceutical company to curb investments there. Also, Mexico plans to slap tariffs of up to 50% on cars from China and other Asian countries. And, there's a warning from the World Health Organization that workers worldwide need better protection from extreme heat.

It's challenging for parents to get access to their kids' data to look out for online harms. In Congress, there's a bipartisan push to change that with a bill called Sammy's Law, named after a teen who died of fentanyl poisoning in 2021. He purchased drugs on social media.Marketplace's Nova Safo spoke with Will Oremus, tech news analysis writer at The Washington Post, who's been monitoring the bill's progress.

Consumer prices have been overall slow to reflect the Trump administration's new tariffs. So we called up some retailers to understand why they haven't raised their prices, even though their costs are higher. It turns out, bumping up prices isn't as easy as pushing a button — and can come with consequences. Also in this episode: Bond yields tell us where the economy's headed, volatile categories can have an outsize impact on the PPI, and a new book investigates the “double tax” Black women face.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.

Wealthier foreigners are driving up rental prices and driving out long-term residents in Mexico City. There have been demonstrations there this summer, with some protesters damaging shops and restaurants that cater to tourists. In the popular neighborhood of La Condesa, activists say that as many as one in five homes is now for shorter-term rentals. We'll hear how residents are feeling and learn how the government is responding. But first: good news on wholesale inflation.

A U.S. district court issued a preliminary injunction barring President Donald Trump from ousting Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook, which means she can stay in her job while she fights her dismissal. The central bank is largely supposed to be insulated from politicians. However, this is unlikely to be the final word on the matter. And later, consumers have choices for many services. Why is that not the case with electricity providers?

From the BBC World Service: President Donald Trump is calling on the European Union to hit China and India — two major buyers of Russian oil — with tariffs of up to 100%. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has been defending her trade agreement with the U.S. at a State of the Union address. Also, protesters in Mexico City have held several demonstrations recently over the growing issue of gentrification.

Fifteen years ago, then-CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad. His vision was for a lean-back device used mostly to consume content. Now, with the latest iPadOS 26, the device is evolving into something different — and perhaps something more useful. Craig Grannell got early access to iPadOS 26 and wrote about the system's laptop-like qualities in Wired magazine.

Budget cuts may be in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' future. But the data collected by the BLS is critical for federal decision making. In this episode, we calculate if the $700 million investment is worthwhile. Plus: Firms that spend the most on AI slash tons of jobs, economic uncertainty drives up the price of gold, and mortgage rates fall — which is good for buyers but a bad sign for the overall 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.

On today's show, host of APM Reports' “Sold a Story” podcast Emily Hanford joins Kimberly to make us smarter about the science of reading movement. It's gained a foothold over the past few years (thanks in part to “Sold a Story”). But the Trump administration's cuts to the Department of Education could slow the momentum of reading research and the effort to share it with educators.Here's everything we talked about today:"Episode 14: The Cuts" from “Sold a Story”"$900 Million in Institute of Education Sciences Contracts Axed" from Inside Higher Ed"How legislation on reading instruction is changing across the country" from APM Reports"What to Know About the Science of Reading" from The New York TimesLearn some Kimberly Adams trivia on Marketplace's InstagramWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Latin music is not only popular — it's big business. But Latin artists are increasingly having their live performances canceled as the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts increase and as they encounter visa issues. We'll learn about the economic and cultural impacts. Also on the show: New Mexico will become the first state in the union to offer universal child care, and France's prime minister officially resigns as the country grapples with climbing debt.

American enthusiasm for capitalism is slipping, especially among Democrats. That's the headline from a new Gallup poll out this week. In this latest survey, just 54% of respondents said they view capitalism positively. That's down from 60% the last time Gallup asked in 2021. We'll hear more. Plus, we'll get fresh reads on consumer and producer prices this week. How much might these affect a rate cut by the Fed?

From the BBC World Service: France's push to get a grip on its debt problem is expected to result in the ousting of another prime minister, François Bayrou. President Emmanuel Macron must convince European allies and financial markets that he'll get a debt-reducing budget approved by the end of the year. Plus, as gold continues to hit record highs, London's bullion market is preparing to go digital. And the succession battle at Rupert Murdoch's media empire has ended with his eldest son, Lachlan, securing control.

A lot of people are eligible to have their criminal records expunged. And there are tens of millions of such files out there for things like misdemeanors, low-level felonies such as drug offenses and even just arrests. LegalEase, a justice-tech startup is streamlining the process through the use of artificial intelligence.

Hey Million Bazillionaires, are you ready for a new season of “Million Bazillion”?Bridget and Ryan are back to answer even more of your money questions. This season, we'll learn all about the business behind your favorite chain restaurants, take a flight to find out why airport prices are sky-high and pop into the world of bubbles, not the ones you blow with soap, but the kind that burst in the economy! Plus, we're cracking the mystery behind $2 bills: why do they exist if we hardly use them?New episodes drop every Tuesday, starting September 16th! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And, if you want even more Million Bazillion in your life, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter for bonus episode content and tip sheets to keep the money learning going.In the meantime, check out our trailer above and catch up on any episodes you might've missed.This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Sign up for Greenlight today at greenlight.com/million.

China's exports to the U.S. are down a third year over year. That's a significant drop, reflective of President Trump's punishing tariff agenda. Although China's overall export growth has slowed, it still rose 4.5% in August — thanks, in part, to strategic redirection to new markets. In this episode, what the U.S. stands to lose by cutting off China as a trade partner. Plus: Luxury brands remain mostly insulated from economic uncertainty and fintech firm Robinhood prepares to join the S&P 500.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 cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid really make it harder for rural Americans to get by day to day," says journalist Michelle Polizzi, who recently wrote about her experiences with housing insecurity in rural America during the 2008 financial crisis. This morning, she joins Marketplace's David Brancaccio to discuss safety net programs and financial hardship in rural areas. But first: an update on reports that hundreds of South Korean workers detained in a Georgia immigration raid last week will be flown home.

This weekend's Powerball jackpot was one of the largest in U.S. history; two lucky players will split the $1.787 billion winnings. But other winners include convenience stores and online lottery retailers, which see a surge in demand around these major jackpots. Also on the show: The U.S. government plans to target more businesses after a raid on a car battery plant construction project in Georgia, and we learn how federal layoffs have affected one family, six months on.

From the BBC World Service: Markets in Japan have reacted positively to the departure of the country's leader, Shigeru Ishiba, following recent election losses and despite a recent U.S. trade deal. Then, French Prime Minister François Bayrou looks set to lose a confidence vote over drastic budget cuts as the country faces mounting debt. And the United Kingdom is trying to tackle the high price of prisoner reoffending; in England and Wales, nearly a third of prison leavers end up back inside, costing the U.K. government around $24 billion annually.

Video gaming can be an expensive hobby. Nintendo's latest Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World, released in June, costs $80, and it's widely expected that Grand Theft Audio VI, coming out next year, will top $100. So are games becoming unaffordable … or do gamers not know how good they've got it? The BBC's Will Chalk breaks it down.

Paltry job creation was the headline item in the latest jobs report. But dig a little deeper, and warning signs show up all over: long-term unemployment, Black unemployment and Hispanic unemployment all rose in August. In this episode, why those stats could be proverbial canaries in the coal mine of the broader labor market. Plus: Industrial warehouse demand is down and a shipworker shortage could thwart Trump's goal of reviving the commercial shipping 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.