Marketplace Morning Report

President Trump fired the top Bureau of Labor Statistics official on Friday, after the agency issued a weak jobs report. The report also revised earlier estimates of job creation in May and June down by 258,000. The president claimed the numbers were being manipulated. Julia Coronado, founder and president of Macropolicy Perspectives and a professor at UT Austin, joins us to discuss. Also on the show: how Trump's tariffs could sink Lesotho's textile industry.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job creation in the U.S. was much lower than expected in July, and revised down its numbers for May and June, reporting there were 258,000 fewer jobs created in those months than initially estimated. President Trump, upset about the revisions, then proceeded to fire the head of that Bureau. The president now says he'll name a replacement in the coming days. Plus, why the manufacturing sector is struggling and how storm-chasing scientists are working to unlock the mysteries of hail.

From the BBC World Service: The U.S. has warned India of an "unspecified penalty" for buying Russian oil and weapons, which Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller says could take India's tariff rate to as much as 100%. For years, the economy of the tiny African kingdom of Lesotho has struggled, with claims of corruption and soaring unemployment; it's now been hit with 15% U.S. tariffs — less than the 50% they were facing, but still a huge blow.

On Friday, job growth figures from earlier months were revised sharply downward: May's gain was cut from 125,000 to just 19,000, and June's total from 147,000 to only 14,000. Today, we're told there were 73,000 more jobs in July, but might that number also get revised down? Also on the show: are President Trump's new tariffs legal? Jess Bravin listened as a federal appeals court panel heard the arguments on Thursday, and he joins us to discuss. Plus, Minneapolis bans discrimination based on body size.

The Trump administration set August 1 as the deadline for countries to strike new trade agreements with the U.S. Some met the deadline, and others did not. The administration says it's about trading away some efficiency in commerce for a new trade system that is "fair and balanced." Mentioned less often is the role tariffs play in raising taxes to fund government spending. Plus, what is the difference between fine art and the art market? Art critic Blake Gopnik joins us to discuss the evolving world of art and commerce.

From the BBC World Service: President Trump's long-delayed tariff deadline has finally passed and for countries without a deal, the import taxes are steep — the highest in almost a century. But some countries, including Thailand, are breathing a sigh of relief that the revised duties aren't as high as feared. Meanwhile, automakers are already counting the cost of tariffs which were imposed on vehicles and vehicle parts earlier in the process.

Meta and Microsoft shares jumped Thursday morning following strong quarterly earnings, with both companies attributing the gains to AI-driven productivity and revenue growth. Susan Schmidt at Exchange Capital Resources weights in. Also on the show: inflation picked up in June, challenging hopes of a cooldown. Diane Swonk at KPMG explains the implications. And later, Marketplace's Jennifer Pak looks at what Chinese consumers are (and aren't) spending on this summer.

The guardians of interest rates at America's central bank chose not to cut interest rates, given the uncertain effects of tariffs and a resilient overall economy. But the committee's decision was not unanimous. Also on the show: the July Jobs report. The U.S. labor force shrank by 755,000 in May and June, and that's partly what accounts for June's drop in unemployment. We look into why this trend will likely to be a persistent feature of the U.S. labor market later this year and into 2026.

From the BBC World Service: Goods from South Korea will face a 15% tariff under a new trade deal. Meanwhile Brazil will be harder hit, with a 50% tax on imports. Plus, we hear how Chinese electric vehicle makers are targeting foreign consumers with affordable luxury.

This morning's GDP figure showed that the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 3% in Q2 — a higher-than-expected rebound. But there's more than meets the eye. "The headline number is showing the volatility in trade and imports and exports, but the numbers underneath are showing very much a slow slowing of the U.S. economy," says economist Kathryn Anne Edwards. We'll discuss. And later: South African entrepreneurs are bringing power generation within reach to lower-income families and small businesses.

Friday is the latest deadline for the U.S. to sign trade deals with other countries, or else they'll face higher tariffs. The administration had promised 90 deals in 90 days when setting the later Aug. 1 deadline. But as of today, it's not 90 — it's more like six. Plus, under-16s won't be allowed to have YouTube accounts in Australia, and small businesses may be equipped to weather hard times in Michigan's cannabis industry.

From the BBC World Service: The Australian government announced it will ban children under 16 from having YouTube accounts starting in December. The ban also limits young people's use of TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and Snapchat. We'll learn more. Then, South Africa has long struggled with power cuts. Now, some companies are introducing pay-as-you-go backup power systems. And, a UN environmentalist warns that new Brazilian legislation aimed at streamlining major infrastructure developments will lead to more deforestation.

President Donald Trump remarked offhandedly over the weekend that “we will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States.” Recent policy changes in Washington could indeed make it harder to build new wind power projects in the U.S., but it'll still likely continue to be an attractive source of power. And later in the program, a dispute between Mexico and Texas over water is threatening to turn ugly.

Two behemoths of freight rail are joining forces: Union Pacific is acquiring Norfolk Southern for $85 billion. The deal creates the largest freight rail network in the country and will attract the attention of antitrust regulators. Also on the show: U.S.-China trade negotiators meet in Sweden for trade talks, and the U.S. sets a new deadline for Russia to end its war in Ukraine or face new economic sanctions.

From the BBC World Service: Parents in China are being offered a little extra help, about $500 a year for every child under three. It's the government's first nationwide subsidy in a bid to increase birth rates. State media says around 20 million families are eligible for the payments. But will it work? Plus, with northern Mexico in the middle of a severe drought, the country is falling behind on water deliveries to the U.S. promised by a treaty. The Trump administration isn't happy.

High home prices and high mortgage rates have been holding buyers — and the market — back for a long time now. Now, economic uncertainty is shaping people's house hunt. More would-be buyers have paused their home searches recently, and there's been a nearly 50% increase in people listing then de-listing their homes. Also: how markets are responding to the U.S.-EU trade deal, and how Chile's ramped-up lithium processing might impact the environment.

Government data is at risk. Federal funding for the main statistical agencies, like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Commerce Department, has been tight for years. But since the Trump administration took office, threats to the availability and comprehensiveness of federal data have reached a whole new level — impacting everything from national health and crime statistics to key economic reports. We'll learn about the impacts. But first: a look at what's in the U.S. trade deal with the European Union.

From the BBC World Service: EU leaders are being briefed today on a new deal with the United States that halves the tariff President Donald Trump threatened to put on European goods, but the compromise still means a 15% import tax on most products. And not everyone is happy with the deal. We'll hear more. Plus, lithium extraction uses huge amounts of water and can devastate local ecosystems. Can new technology make mining more environmentally friendly?

This week, President Donald Trump said the baseline rate for so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on countries around the world could now land somewhere between 15% and 50%, higher than what was previously floated. But according to Princeton international economics professor Gene Grossman, "it's not clear exactly what the purposes are, and many of them are in contradiction with each other." But first: Since the spring, oil rig count has dipped to near-pandemic lows. What gives?

In an awkward visit to the Federal Reserve building, which is under construction, President Donald Trump continued to push for lower interest rates. But even if Trump had a compliant Fed, he wouldn't necessarily get the lower borrowing costs he wants, because the central bank doesn't directly control the rates the president is concerned about. We'll learn more. Also, we'll provide an explainer on what tariffs on products versus countries mean for the economy.

From the BBC World Service: There were big trade talks in Beijing yesterday, where the EU raised concerns with China about trade imbalances and warned that China's close ties with Russia could damage relations. We'll provide an analysis of the summit and media coverage that followed. Then, we'll head to Paraguay, which has big ambitions to turn itself into South America's Silicon Valley, and where the government and tech firms are pitching the country's unique advantages

Rideshare app Uber is rolling out a new feature in LA, San Francisco, and Detroit, allowing women drivers and passengers to request to be connected only with other women. The company says the move is in hopes of improving safety and recruiting more women drivers. But first: U.S. steel producers raise prices in response to Trump's tariffs, and we take a look at how the housing market could be complicating the jobs picture.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the Federal Reserve this afternoon. The visit is the latest turn in Trump's campaign to pressure the Fed to lower interest rates. It's highly unusual for a president to visit the Federal Reserve; most stay away in a nod to Fed independence. And later: Did you remember to send a card? It's the 100th birthday of a research lab to which we owe much of modern life: Bell Labs.

From the BBC World Service: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in London sealing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom worth $6.5 billion. The agreement, billed as the biggest since Britain left the European Union, will slash India's tariffs on U..K goods from 15% to around 3%. We'll discuss the significance. Then, Armenia — a landlocked country of just 2.7 million people — is making big waves in tech, from coding labs and schools to startups.

Later today, we'll get sales, profits, losses, and hints of the road ahead from Tesla. But its boss, Elon Musk, has had a lot to juggle as of late: Tesla, government cost-cutting, X, SpaceX, xAI, and now maybe even a new political party. We'll discuss what all of these various priorities mean for Musk, Tesla, and Tesla's shareholders. And later on the program: Could prefab homes help alleviate the housing crisis?

At an artificial intelligence summit in Washington today, we'll learn more about the Trump administration's plans for guardrails to keep a potentially dangerous technology in line. Other topics likely to be addressed include the federal government's use of AI, energy-hungry data centers, loosened export controls on AI chips, and what the administration perceives as anti-conservative bias in tech. Also: what to make of Trump's trade deal with Japan, and what to expect from Tesla's Q2 results.

From the BBC World Service: President Donald Trump has announced a deal with the world's fourth-largest economy. After weeks of tense negotiations, the U.S. will cut its import tax on Japanese cars and parts from 25% to 15%. The U.S., in return, will get $550 billion of investment from Japan. Plus, two former bank traders in the U.K. who allegedly manipulated interest rates have had their convictions overturned, and locals in Spain's Andalusia region are celebrating Sherry with a special competition.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not lowering interest rates. But lowering interest rates at the wrong time can spark inflation, which is a burden on working-class families. Today, we'll discuss accountability, independence, and the Fed with Karen Petrou, financial analyst and co-founder of Federal Financial Analytics. And later: Tariffs are straining the relationship between the U.S. and Canada, and they're starting to impact border town tourism.

Since the mid-'90s, employers have been using an online system to verify the legal right of employees to work in the U.S. That system often falls short, and now employers have been encouraged to recheck workers' legal status as the Trump administration has canceled work authorizations for hundreds of thousands of immigrants. But first: Universal Music Group is closer to selling shares on a U.S. stock exchange. And, how long will the housing market remain stagnant?

From the BBC World Service: Drugmaker AstraZeneca says it'll invest $50 billion in the United States by 2030, its biggest-ever manufacturing investment in the country. The AngloSwedish firm plans to build a major new site in Virginia, the latest in a string of big pharma bets on the U.S. as President Donald Trump threatens steep tariffs on drug imports. Plus, a bike shop boss reflects on business during the Tour de France.

While the new spending and tax law boosted the Child Tax Credit by $200, child care costs have risen 30% since before COVID. The U.S. spends less of its GDP on child care and pre-kindergarten than other industrialized nations, and many families face tough choices when confronting the cost of child care. Also on the program: a calm start to the week for financial markets despite political instability in Japan and a trade war.

President Donald Trump wants to bring additional drug manufacturing to the United States and has threatened tariffs on imported medicine. The U.S. relies heavily on imports for low-cost generics, and building up domestic supply chain capacity could be tricky. We'll map out drug manufacturing and explore what it'd take to reshore drug supplies. But first: oil giants are eager to drill off the coast of Guyana, and the boss of an obscure regulatory agency is stepping down.

From the BBC World Service: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's governing coalition lost its majority in the upper house of parliament, but Ishiba said, with the threat of additional U.S. tariffs and rising inflation, he's not going anywhere. Plus, the European Union is ramping up efforts to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs. An Aug. 1 deadline is looming, and retaliatory tariffs could be in the pipeline. And later, we'll examine the cost of child care in the U.S.

Late last night, the House approved a bill taking back nearly $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes funding to public radio and TV stations, and roughly $8 billion in foreign aid. We'll give an explainer about what's in the bill. Then, from Marketplace's "Age of Work" series, we'll hear how a woman at a U.K. business school prompted conversations about menopause at work, and from "Marketplace Tech," we'll learn why Pentagon leaders are talking about the right to repair.

The GOP tax law made huge cuts to Medicaid, but some lawmakers were able to set aside $50 billion for rural health. People who live in the nation's rural areas have more chronic disease, die younger, and make less money. But some rural hospital and clinic leaders worry the infusion won't reach the right places. Also on the show: Crypto week draws to a close, and TSMC, the company that makes NVIDIA chips, posts record profits.

From the BBC World Service: In an exclusive interview with the BBC, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accepted U.S. accusations that Europe has done too little to fund its defense and security. It follows an interview with U.S. President Donald Trump this week, in which he backed the NATO military alliance. Also: Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva responds to tariff threats, and leather sandal makers in India react to Prada's high-end, Indian-inspired footwear.

It's summer grilling season, and beef prices are at an all-time high. Ground beef prices have increased 45% in the last 10 years as cow inventory in the U.S. has dwindled. This means that people and businesses with a hankering for beef are having to get creative. But first: The president says he likely won't fire the head of the Federal Reserve, and tariff delays helped boost consumer spending in June.

President Donald Trump wants Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates. But the Fed makes that call based on analyzing the economy, not a president's wishes. This has some concerned that the president is looking for a pretext to fire Powell — like costly renovations to the Fed's DC headquarters. Plus, these are the dog days of summer travel. And, who's really paying for tariffs: foreign exporters or U.S. businesses?

From the BBC World Service: The Canadian firm Couche-Tard, best known for Circle K, is walking away from a $47 billion bid to buy Japan's Seven & i, the parent company of 7-Eleven. Couche-Tard says it faced a “calculated campaign of obfuscation and delay” from the Japanese side. Then, Americans are firing up their grills this summer, but they're getting singed by the cost of beef. Prices continue to rise. We find out why.

More than five years after the start of the pandemic, we're learning more about who's working in person and who isn't. Labor Department data shows 29% of men work from home, down from 34% two years ago. But the number of women working remotely has stayed flat at 36%. We'll discuss what to make of the dynamic. Also: Wholesale inflation remains unchanged, and the White House launches an investigation into unfair trade practices by Brazil.

Real average hourly earnings fell in June. Just one month of data doesn't make a trend, but forces at work in both the labor market and inflation data could further eat into Americans' wages. We'll unpack. Then, President Donald Trump's bill to claw back federal funding for foreign aid programs and public broadcasting could get a final vote in the Senate today. Plus, the Department of Defense is investing in a U.S.-based rare earth mining company.

From the BBC World Service: The annual inflation rate in the United Kingdom clocked in higher than expected in the month of June, at 3.6%. Much of inflation's stickiness there has to do with rising food and gasoline prices. Meanwhile, U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced steps to encourage people to invest in stocks and shares. Also on today's show: a look at why Cuba's labor minister has resigned and more tariff news for Indonesia and Brazil.