Marketplace

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped in June. That's after a brief reprive in May from a monthslong downward slide. Uncertainty surrounding the job market, tariffs, that GOP tax bill, trouble in the Middle East — what's not to be glum about? In this episode, we explain what could shift the mood. Plus: Soon-to-be college grads in China prepare for an unwelcoming job market, oil shipping prices grow even as oil prices fall, and Congress considers a new way to regulate crypto.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

After launching air strikes on Iranian unclear facilities over the weekend, President Trump posted to Truth Social, demanding that U.S. oil firms “drill, baby, drill.” Although ongoing conflict in the Middle East could balloon oil prices, it's unlikely that domestic producers are racing to ramp up production just yet. Also in this episode: Renting may be more appealing than buying right now, Treasury auctions see stability, and tariffs threaten the success of a Wyoming trona mine.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 “tariffs the Trump administration has announced and actually put into long-term effect” category? A 25% tax on some automotive parts. In this episode, we visit an auto repair shop in Vermont where unexpected price increases are affecting business. Plus: Cities invest in revitalized waterways as recreational moneymakers and the Philly Fed reports manufacturing employment slumped in the region.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

This spring, just 28% of U.S. homes sold above asking price, according to Redfin. That's the lowest spring rate since 2020. The trend toward selling at or below asking price is good news for buyers. In this episode, why buyer competition — in some places — has thinned out. Plus: Federal cuts threaten childcare centers for government workers, Oklahoma teens learn about gambling risks in the classroom and we explain the difference between leading and trailing economic indicators.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Fed kept interest rates as-is today, and Chair Powell said policymakers are “well-positioned to wait” before making another move. But what if oil price shock, propelled by roiling conflict in the Middle East, forces his hand? In this episode, we break open the Fed oil crisis playbook — but we hope Powell won't need it. Plus, projections show the GOP tax bill will cost more than it makes, AI productivity won't boost humans equally and port logistics get complicated under shifting tariff policy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

This is a busy time for food banks — without school breakfast and lunch programs, more families lean on them. But between millions of dollars slashed from the USDA budget and heightened deportation fears, it's a tougher-than-usual summer. In this episode, we visit Texas food banks with a simple goal: keep kids from going hungry. Plus, Trump wants to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the cost of basic baby items is up 24% since new tariffs were imposed, and retail sales fell in May.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 Federal Open Market Committee meets later this week, and it's pretty likely they'll examine why tariffs didn't drive inflation up in May. The good news? A slew of economic data coming out this week could clear things up, and help them make an interest rate decision. Also in this episode: Other central banks have June meetings on the books, domestic steel production ramps up under tariffs — but steel jobs don't — and Halloween came early this year. Like, really early.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.

When President Trump slapped sky-high tariffs on goods from China, exporters rerouted ships elsewhere. Now that those tariffs are on pause, shipping costs aren't magically coming down — the cargo is spread all over the world. In this episode, we explain this unintended effect of Trump's inconsistent trade policy. Plus: One woman makes it her mission to provide free student loan advice, Georgia shrimpers struggle to compete with foreign suppliers, and a florist navigates price changes.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.

You might've missed it amid all the Congressional budget hoopla, but Senator Ted Cruz recently floated ending Federal Reserve interest payments, claiming it would save a trillion dollars over ten years. The problem? Not only would that plan save zero taxpayer dollars, it also goes against the Fed's mandate to keep prices stable. Also in this episode: Amazon announces AI -generated video ads, Save the Children U.S. shifts gears amid USAID cuts, and FEMA puts pressure on local relief organizations.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.

Prices rose 0.1% in May, according to the latest consumer price index — that's less than some analysts anticipated. It seems tariffs haven't quite hit consumers' wallets yet. We'll explain what might be going on. Later in the episode: Retailers have cut close to 76,000 jobs so far this year, a 274% increase from the same period in 2025, and Kai and Nela visit a truss manufacturer juggling H2-B visas, automation and tariffs.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.

Later this week, the U.S. Treasury will auction off billions of dollars worth of 30-year bonds. While that may seem yawn-worthy to most of us, the outcome of that sale has big ramifications for consumer borrowing costs down the road. We'll explain. Also in this episode: Targeting of international students hurts public and private universities, “core goods” is where tariff-driven inflation might show up first, and students at a fast-growing high school in Utah run their own soda shop.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.

Consumer credit rose $17.9 billion in April — $6 billion more than projected, the Fed says. Americans may be anxious about tariffs, but low unemployment means a lot of us still have the cash to pay a credit card bill or car payment at the end of the month. But a few debt warning signs are flaring. Also in this episode: Warner Bros. announces a corporate split, the cycling industry shifts gears and we visit a town where the majority of businesses are inside homes.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 jobs report is out Friday, and overall it's pretty middling — some details are good news; others not so much. One data point sounding economic alarms? The labor force participation rate, which fell to 62.4% in May after several years of general growth since the height of the pandemic. In this episode, we explain what's going on. Plus: E-commerce exporters in China describe the “rollercoaster” of keeping up with tariffs, and California's Central Valley experiments with agricultural innovation.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.

Unemployment filings and layoffs are rising, and private sector hiring hit a two-year low, recent reports show. Is it just healthy turnover or should we be worried about the direction the labor market is headed? For now, analysts are split. Also in this episode: Reddit sues an AI firm for scraping its user data and Kai spends more time in Utah County with ADP's Nela Richardson exploring the obstacles and opportunities that come with a young population.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.

Provo, Utah, which sits in one of the youngest counties of the U.S., has attracted some major employers in recent years. This week, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal and ADP chief economist Nela Richardson visit and meet with some employers to find out why Provo's young population and LDS community make a strong labor pool. Plus, a brief history of “tax the rich” and China curbs rare earth exports.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 GOP's budget bill, now at the Senate, includes proposed cuts to federal statistical agencies. That could make government data narrower and less reliable. And when governments fail to put out dependable data? “It ends up being a real drag on the economy,” said economist Laura Veldkamp. Also in this episode: We visit an entrepreneurship hub in Provo, Utah, experts weight the merits of hard and soft data, and warehouses see a usage boom amid tariff uncertainty.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

It depends on who you ask. But we can all agree that this round of tariffs is not the same as the ones President Trump enacted during his first term. In this episode, we compare the tariffs of 2018 to the chaotic rollouts and rollbacks of 2025. Plus: We visit Utah County, one of the youngest areas in the U.S., with ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. 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 economic reports out this week gave a fuzzy view of the economy, but next week will be all about jobs: job openings, labor productivity, and the latest jobs report. So far this year, employment has been pretty even-keeled — despite tariff uncertainty. Will May data be any different? Also in this episode: A field guide to the ultra-wealthy and a Minnesota family of seven (soon to be eight) grapples with higher costs.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The GOP spending and tax bill making its way through Congress would pile significantly onto the national debt. In turn, bond investors will demand higher yields and — unless something changes — the cost of borrowing for a business or a mortgage is likely to go up too. Plus, YouTube stars build their own production studios, a Texas bill seeks to avoid orphan oil wells and we break down the economic implications of yesterday's judicial ruling on Trump's tariff policy.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.

Nvidia, as you probably know, makes chips — more specifically, GPUs, which are needed to power artificial intelligence systems. But as AI adoption ramps up, why does it feel like Nvidia's still the only chipmaker in the game? In this episode, why the California-based firm is, for now, peerless, and which companies may be angling to compete. Plus: Dwindling tourists worry American retailers, Dick's Sporting Goods sticks to its partly-sunny forecast and the share of single women as first-time homebuyers grows.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 Conference Board's latest consumer confidence index notched its highest monthly increase in four years. To be clear, it was coming off a five-year low in April, but the jump still represents cooling trade war anxieties among American consumers. Also in this episode: The U.S. isn't the only country experiencing rising bond yields, durable goods orders fell in April and first-time home owners in Houston are saddled with climate-related cost burdens.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. 

When “vibecession” became a word in 2022, it referred to consumers grappling with higher prices despite a strong economy. This year, consumers are feeling similar. In this episode, what makes today's sour economic mood, driven by trade war anxiety, different from the last one. Plus: Two big economic indicators come out later this week, we explain the inner workings of online travel agents, and “This is Uncomfortable” host Reema Khrais helps a couple solve a financial disagreement.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org and consider making an investment in our future. 

The WNBA's first expansion team in 18 years, the Golden State Valkyries, played its first game last week to a crowd of 18,000 fans. Though this uncertain economy may not be ideal for most new businesses, professional women's basketball is soaring to new heights: three brand-new teams joined the league this season. In this episode, why WNBA franchises are emphasizing community over star power to attract new fans. Plus: falling international student enrollment is bad news for the job market and locals push back against lithium mining in the Andes.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 supply of homes for sale hit a nearly five-year high in April, but prospective buyers aren't exactly taking the bait. Some may feel they're swimming in options, but many can't afford what's available. In this episode, why the spring housing market is feeling unbalanced. Plus, online restaurant reservation platforms duke it out with the help of credit card companies, big cities grow bigger and investors see U.S. Treasuries as an increasingly risky option.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 GOP spending and tax bill would add an estimated $3.8 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade. More debt means the government will issue more bonds. But investors don't necessarily want a flooded bond market — we'll explain why. Also in this episode: Stakeholders report longer waits for financial aid information since Department of Education layoffs, retailers set their sights on European markets to alleviate tariff pressure and workplace adoption of AI is tricky to track.Every story has an economic angle. Want ‘em 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. 

Over the weekend, President Trump told retailers to “eat the tariffs” after Walmart warned of price hikes spurred by the trade war. Across the country, retailers are making tough calls when it comes to tariff costs. So why is Home Depot in a better position to keep prices stable than Walmart? Also in this episode: stablecoins inch closer to bank distribution, turbine backlog slows energy sector growth and we get some advice on what to buy before more tariffs kick in.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. 

These days, Canadian consumers aren't just interested in supporting their own homegrown businesses — they're also actively avoiding American ones. In this episode, Marketplace's Kimberly Adams visits businesses in Ontario to hear why our neighbors to the north are shunning U.S.-made products. Plus: An economist dissects the Moody's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating, a Black-owned lender leverages grants from major banks to support its community and AI threatens the software engineering job sector. 

University retirement communities — where a college partners with a senior living community to provide residents access to classes, concerts, sporting events and more — are rising in the U.S. It's an attempt by some colleges to cater to the growing number of Americans over 65. We'll visit one just outside of Baltimore. Also: what a disconnect between hard data and soft data means for the Federal Reserve and how Chinese exporters are pivoting amid tariff uncertainty.

Retail sales were practically flat from March to April, and consumers are feeling more glum, two recent reports show. Already, one big box retailer has said it will start raising prices in the wake of tariff pressure. In this episode, what happens when stressed shoppers meet higher costs? Plus: Data centers could be key to stabilizing natural gas demand, slashed USDA grants leave small farms scrambling to stay afloat and Trump's tariffs, ironically, send some manufacturing out of the U.S. and into Canada.

Early estimates say the GOP's tax bill will add $3.8 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years. (This, despite President Trump's insistence on shrinking the national debt.) But amid economic instability caused by the trade war and federal spending cuts, will the bond market snap up all that government debt? Plus: What to look for in Thursday's producer price index, why moving manufacturing to the U.S. will be easier for some sectors than others and how grocery store generics became so popular. 

New data shows us that despite President Trump's new tariffs, the inflation rate for some categories of goods stayed the same or even fell in April. In this episode, we'll break down why — and explain when we might start to see price hikes. Plus: We take a trip down the supply chain, three retailers share how business is going and “How We Survive” host Amy Scott tells us how to make retirement account investments more climate-friendly. 

For the next 90 days, the two countries will temporarily ease tariffs on each other's goods as trade talks continue. But what does this deal mean for the broader economy? Marketplace's Kai Ryssdal sits down with Adam Posen from the Peterson Institute for International Economics to discuss the damage that's already been done. Also on the show, how soybean farmers feel about the latest trade deal and why Chinese manufacturers are trying to reach American consumers via TikTok.

This week, the Federal Reserve opted to leave short-term interest rates alone, despite concerns about the rising risks of a weakening U.S. economy. In this episode, we speak with Sudeep Reddy of Politico and Courtenay Brown of Axios about the Fed's latest decision and the current state of trade negotiations. Plus, why NOAA is retiring its billion-dollar disaster database and how New York City is moving to decarbonize its pension fund.

The latest consumer expectations report is out and Americans are feeling much worse about their own personal financial situations than they were in March. Their inflation expectations though, haven't budged much. In this episode, we look at why that might be — and whether these surveys correlate to economic reality. Plus: tariffs dampen hobby splurgers' spirits, labor productivity drops and we nibble on the U.S.-U.K. trade deal. 

As tariff pressures mount, China's vice president and other leaders have agreed to meet with top U.S. officials. If history is any guide, substantial change to the tense trade relationship between the two countries will take time. So what's urgent enough to discuss this week? Plus, some big companies issue more Eurobonds, small businesses tread lightly when discussing the trade war and “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal explains the latest Fed decision. 

The U.S. trade deficit hit a record high in March, as businesses rushed to bring in goods ahead of new import taxes. Now that President Trump's tariffs on goods from China have set in and globally targeted tariffs are set to resume in July, what happens to the trade deficit? Plus: Lab-grown diamonds disrupt a centuries-old industry, a few big companies are back in the bond market and how the trade war could disrupt retirement plans. 

Oil companies are barely breaking even on crude oil right now — a barrel of West Texas Intermediate started Monday at a paltry $58. If prices stay low, firms will have a choice to make: invest in new production, or pay investors dividends. Plus, the services sector expanded but remains wary of tariffs, health care hiring may not weather major cuts to Medicaid and we visit an electric vehicle showcase in Shanghai. 

It's been one month since President Trump raised tariffs on goods from China. Already, the global supply chain is struggling. In this episode, we'll hear about plummeting container ship traffic to the U.S. and how small retailers are dealing with limited stock. Plus, how the drayage sector is faring and what all these tariff negotiations will mean for the global economy going forward. 

An upward climb in labor productivity has been a promising economic trend over the past few years. That's important because productivity drives overall economic growth. But President Trump's trade war, which is causing many businesses big and small to hold off on major investments, could cause that productivity to stagnate. Also in this episode: Coca-Cola reports stronger-than-expected earnings, the GOP wants EV owners to pay for road maintenance costs usually covered by a gas tax and the Sunbelt housing market turns lukewarm. 

The latest GDP calculations and PCE index tell us the U.S. economy is doing … OK. Importantly, the data doesn't point to stagflation. But the data was collected from January through March 2025, and at this point, March is old news. Also in this episode: American companies ramp up their spending on computers, Nike's struggle to move sneaker manufacturing out of Asia is a cautionary tale and Texas becomes the biggest state to send public dollars to private schools through school choice vouchers.

When new gross domestic product data comes out tomorrow, economists expect we'll see the first GDP contraction in three years. But the report is backward-looking, so if the GDP did shrink, it will be thanks to tariff-related anxiety in the first quarter, rather than actual tariff implementation that kicked off in April. Also in this episode, some workforce stories: Why hiring more FAA air traffic controllers won't be easy, a worker navigates Wyoming's trona mining industry and a bathtub helps us understand the labor market differential.

Though it's hard to say how much tariff-driven sticker shock consumers can stomach, some retailers have begun raising their prices. Other companies are rushing to set up “foreign trade zones” which allow them to sit on imported goods while they figure out their next move. In this episode, we'll also discuss how Trump's trade war — and the uncertainty it generates — is affecting a flower delivery business, the job market and American farmers.