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Marketplace

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Marketplace

Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day’s business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. “Marketplace” takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.

#50

Sorry, we can’t hear you through all the economic noise

The economic data of the last few months has reflected more than the typical turbulence. Labor strikes, natural disasters and political uncertainty have affected consumer sentiment surveys, producer prices, mortgage rates and more. In this episode, we asked economists how they’re separating the significant from the irrelevant. Plus, Sudeep Reddy at Politico talks Trump’s economic messaging, Los Angeles wildfires intensify the region’s housing shortage and bond yields are up globally. ... Read more

12 hrs Ago

30 MINS

30:15

12 hrs Ago

#49

Credit keeps consumers consuming

Retail sales ended last year strong, despite a somewhat uneasy economic mood. Today, we dig into a tool many spenders used to keep up: credit. Non-housing debt just hit a record high, according to the New York Federal Reserve — that includes credit card and buy now, pay later purchasing. Also in this episode: Activist legal groups strategize in anticipation of Trump’s second term, history-themed media is having a moment and housing starts leapt up from November to December. ... Read more

17 Jan 2025

28 MINS

28:44

17 Jan 2025

#48

All hail the U.S. consumer!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: During a tumultuous few years, consumer spending has kept the U.S. economy afloat. December retail data reflects that: Americans may be uncertain about their economic future, but they didn’t hesitate to spend it up during the holidays. But does the almighty consumer show signs of wavering? Also in this episode, China has built up its trade war playbook, wholesale electricity prices stabilize and the cost of retrofitting homes to resist wildfires varies. ... Read more

17 Jan 2025

27 MINS

27:03

17 Jan 2025

#47

Raising the roof

The December consumer price index is in, and inflation did tick up a bit. The stickiest category? Shelter, which was up a whopping 4.6% year over year. In this episode, we break down the multitude of reasons housing prices remain high. Plus: What’s next for humanitarian parole recipients as Trump takes office, why the American workweek is shrinking and EV adoption grows alongside an expanding charging network. ... Read more

16 Jan 2025

30 MINS

30:13

16 Jan 2025

#46

“Their job is to make money. My job is to protect America’s national security.”

It’s Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s last week on the job. We called her up to discuss the future of the CHIPS Act, her experience working with the tech elite and Donald Trump’s plan to “tariff our way” to revitalizing U.S. manufacturing. Also in this episode: Americans think finding a new job would be tricky but don’t plan to leave or lose their current one. Plus, the co-working industry sees signs of life and producer prices stayed mostly flat in December. ... Read more

14 Jan 2025

27 MINS

27:59

14 Jan 2025

#45

Fuel inefficiency

Vehicle fuel efficiency requirements, also known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, were enacted in response to the 1970s oil embargo. But CAFE regulations have been buffeted by energy politics since that time. Once in office, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to carry on that tradition. Also in this episode: Homeowners affected by natural disasters have mortgage relief options, employers in expensive areas invest in manufactured housing and tech giants (still) dominate the stock market. ... Read more

14 Jan 2025

27 MINS

27:32

14 Jan 2025

#44

Displaced when housing is already strained

As many as 10,000 buildings have burned in the Los Angeles wildfires, officials say, and nearly 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate. Angelenos who want nearby housing in the short or long term will be faced with one of the lowest multifamily vacancy rates in the country. Also in this episode: Airlines are optimistic as business travel ticks up, and 5.5 million Americans would like a job but aren’t actively searching for one. We’ll explain why. ... Read more

11 Jan 2025

26 MINS

26:59

11 Jan 2025

#43

Measuring uncertainty

Is economic uncertainty a feeling or a fact? Though you may think uncertainty defies measure, in this episode, we call up some economists who put a number on it. And, as wildfires rage in Los Angeles County, insurance firms — including California’s insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan — brace for catastrophic payouts. Plus: President Joe Biden may further restrict the flow of AI technology to China, and Thailand’s auto sector finds hope in manufacturing Chinese electric vehicles. ... Read more

10 Jan 2025

26 MINS

26:36

10 Jan 2025

#42

The cost of wildfires

Several major wildfires are raging in and around Los Angeles today. In this episode, we explain why the cost of fighting these blazes has ballooned. We’ll also hear about what makes urban wildfires particularly dangerous and destructive. Plus: More Americans work multiple jobs, an uptick in return-to-office orders signals shifting employer-worker relations and long-term bond yields rise as the future grows murkier. ... Read more

08 Jan 2025

27 MINS

27:44

08 Jan 2025

#41

Port workers and employers restart talks

Dockworkers are back to the negotiation table with employers, and automation is a big sticking point. Mechanizing port operations can make them more efficient, but the Longshoremen’s union is concerned that efficiency comes at the price of jobs. The deadline to avoid a possible strike is next week. Also in this episode: probing the mysteries of Spotify’s powerful algorithm, snowplowers take a hit from climate change, and the trade deficit isn’t as bad as it looks. ... Read more

08 Jan 2025

26 MINS

26:05

08 Jan 2025

#40

What’s a dollar worth?

President-elect Donald Trump spent much of his campaign promising to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, and the value of the dollar has fluctuated in response to his trade agenda. We’ll explain the connection — and why lower import tariffs bring down the dollar’s value against other currencies. Also in this episode: Small businesses take advantage of their leases, home equity could fuel a massive wealth transfer and the GOP presses for changes to how the government calculates the cost of legislation. ... Read more

07 Jan 2025

29 MINS

29:29

07 Jan 2025

#39

The deal with steel

President Biden blocked a nearly $15 billion deal for Japan-based Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel, citing national security concerns. Both firms say they’ll go to court to keep the deal alive, but can they prove the acquisition won’t put the U.S. in a vulnerable spot? Also in this episode: Small businesses win an anti-gentrification victory in a Los Angeles neighborhood, new car sales are up despite high prices and Orlando, Florida, gets a romance-only bookstore. ... Read more

03 Jan 2025

28 MINS

28:25

03 Jan 2025

#38

New Congress, same debt drama

A new congressional session begins on Friday and, like so many before them, the fresh cohort of lawmakers will have to come to a consensus on what to do about the national debt ceiling. Will they raise it, lower it or get rid of it entirely? We explain. Plus, job seekers use social media to market themselves, a few areas shine in an otherwise so-so construction spending report, and longshoremen stand firm against port automation. ... Read more

02 Jan 2025

26 MINS

26:16

02 Jan 2025

#37

Happy New Year! The cold weather could cost you.

Natural gas prices are creeping up — the commodity leaped recently in futures trading. That means your January heating bill may be higher than anticipated. In this episode, what makes natural gas prices heat up and why we can’t just pump more in. Plus, Boeing’s New Year’s resolutions for a stronger 2025 and how women might benefit from the “great wealth transfer.” ... Read more

01 Jan 2025

27 MINS

27:05

01 Jan 2025

#36

Uncertainty, bumpy, resilient-ish

We called up some economists to get their take on one word to describe this year’s economy. Mostly, experts said things fell somewhere in the middle of excellent and disastrous, but some had cheerier outlooks than others. Also in this episode, we ring in the new year with a 2025 housing market lookahead and a breakdown of the first congestion pricing program in the U.S., coming to New York City Jan. 5. ... Read more

31 Dec 2024

26 MINS

26:22

31 Dec 2024

#35

How fresh is that home listing?

Pending home sales grew for a fourth-straight month in November and housing supply just hit a four-year high. But that’s partly because many listings are “stale inventory,” sitting on the market for at least 60 days. Also in this episode: An old material used in a new way for climate-friendly high rises, social media budgeters breathe new life into the cash-in-envelopes strategy, and seniors on Medicare will pay less out of pocket for prescriptions starting Jan. 1. ... Read more

30 Dec 2024

27 MINS

27:51

30 Dec 2024

#34

As goes productivity, so goes wages. Right?

When workers get more productive, higher wages might follow. So what about jobs that just can’t get more productive? In this episode, we explain why those workers’ wages may rise anyway — a concept called the Baumol effect — with help from an economist who’s also an amateur bassoonist. Plus, the trade deficit is no sweat, a Georgia program trains refugees for tech jobs and we check in with an urban tour guide in Kansas City. ... Read more

27 Dec 2024

28 MINS

28:59

27 Dec 2024

#33

Divide the company and conquer

General Electric broke its business into three separate public companies this year, putting a higher profile on corporate spinoff strategies. We’ll explain why spinoffs are hot right now. Hint: It has a lot to do with rewarding investors and managing debt burdens. Also in this episode: Congress may struggle to pass tax reforms despite a GOP majority next year, AI agents might be tech’s next big thing and why the Fed tracks the U.S. money supply. ... Read more

26 Dec 2024

28 MINS

28:58

26 Dec 2024

#32

Time to buy a car?

Car prices tend to go up, but after a period of high interest rates, now is actually a decent time to buy. And Americans are buying — it’s one factor in rising retail sales right now. In this episode, why vehicle sales have revved up. Plus, corporate credit card fraud appears to be rising, breakup recovery is strictly business and retailers prep for potential inventory tumult. ... Read more

25 Dec 2024

29 MINS

29:56

25 Dec 2024

#31

O Fraser fir

There’s about a 1 in 5 chance your Christmas tree came from North Carolina this year. But growing them isn’t easy. In this episode, we check in with Fraser fir farmers in the Asheville area, who took a major hit from Hurricane Helene. Plus: Christmas Day football streams on Netflix, higher minimum wages for many Americans in 2025, and Arctic tundra is transforming from carbon sink to carbon source. ... Read more

24 Dec 2024

28 MINS

28:57

24 Dec 2024

#30

Consumer confidence has been taxed

Consumer confidence, as assessed by The Conference Board, grew steadily the past few months. But in December, the index fell 7%. One likely driver? Agita over President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff proposal. Also in this episode: The Senate passes a pricey bill to fix a decades-old Social Security issue, President Joe Biden announces an investigation into China’s trade practices for chips, and we check in with an Asheville business recovering from Hurricane Helene. ... Read more

23 Dec 2024

27 MINS

27:07

23 Dec 2024

#29

The high cost of business loans for women and people of color

New research from the University of Washington found businesses owned by women and people of color are charged higher rates for loans, costing about $8 billion a year more in interest payments than their white counterparts. Also in this episode, some energy sector updates: Growing global coal demand is powered by data centers and industrialization, and a new Gulf Coast hydrogen hub aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the region’s oil refineries. ... Read more

21 Dec 2024

30 MINS

30:31

21 Dec 2024

#28

Signs of life in commercial real estate

Amazon is reportedly postponing a return to in-person work for a portion of its staff due to insufficient office space. It’s not alone. For the first time since the pandemic began, office real estate may be heating up. Also in this episode: Exports, particularly in the electronics sector, drive GDP growth, Chinese importers of U.S. goods prep for retaliatory tariffs and insurers push back against “nuclear” verdicts in personal injury cases. ... Read more

19 Dec 2024

26 MINS

26:46

19 Dec 2024

#27

These jobs may be hot in the next 10 years … or not

Nurses, software developers and restaurant cooks are among the jobs predicted to grow the most in the next decade, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But some experts warn that predictions can be “spectacularly wrong.” Plus, homeowners cling to low mortgage rates, “exurbs” dominate this year’s most popular housing markets, and we hear from business owners who may struggle if President-elect Donald Trump’s policies push inflation back up. ... Read more

19 Dec 2024

27 MINS

27:16

19 Dec 2024

#26

Green bank, go!

The Coalition for Green Capital, funded by private investors and President Joe Biden’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, began doling out cash this fall. It’s an experiment in using federal dollars to spur investment in mitigating climate change. Will it survive under the incoming Trump administration? Also in this episode: How high can bond yields climb? Will 2025 be a big year for mergers and acquisitions? And, are tuition-free medical schools curing the industry’s ills? ... Read more

18 Dec 2024

29 MINS

29:02

18 Dec 2024

#25

Shrinking spread

Government bond yields are typically lower than corporate ones, since corporations can’t print their own money. The difference between the two is called a spread, and that spread has narrowed in recent months. In this episode, why that shrinking spread is a sign that investors feel optimistic. Plus: Retailers struggle with excess brick-and-mortar space, nationwide household net worth hits a record high and Vermont ski areas battle climate change. ... Read more

17 Dec 2024

29 MINS

29:14

17 Dec 2024

#24

Maybe next year

The coming year will be a good one for housing — at least, the National Association of Realtors says so. It’s forecasting lower mortgage rates and more stable prices for homes in 2025. But not all housing experts agree. Later in the episode: an unexpected way to tap into geothermal energy, new approaches to corporate diversity as a court blocks Nasdaq’s DEI initiative, and a federal health care referral program leaves many Native Americans in debt, apparently in violation of the rules. ... Read more

14 Dec 2024

28 MINS

28:11

14 Dec 2024

#23

Keeping it in the family

Older Americans will pass on more than $120 trillion to heirs and charities over the next 25 years, according to a wealth management company’s study. But financial advisers caution against assuming you’ll get lucky — half of the “great wealth transfer” will come from just the top 2% of households. Also in this episode: Insurance grows pricier, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau limits bank overdraft fees and less than 10% of Americans moved last year — the lowest proportion since the Census Bureau began keeping track in 1948. ... Read more

13 Dec 2024

28 MINS

28:04

13 Dec 2024

#22

Rich foods

Food prices aren’t going down. The good news is, they aren’t rising rapidly anymore, either. But we get it, grocery shopping still hurts. In this episode, why food isn’t likely to ever cost what it did five or 10 years ago, and how our habits are changing in response. Plus: The fight against inflation isn’t over, rising child care costs take women out of the workforce and the supply chain preps for an import wave. ... Read more

11 Dec 2024

30 MINS

30:02

11 Dec 2024

#21

‘Tis the season — wait, that’s not the real thing!

Remember those Christmastime Coca-Cola ads from the ’90s and early aughts? A caravan of red trucks snakes through picturesque towns, delivering holiday cheer in the form of good old-fashioned Coke. The company just released a new version, meant to invoke nostalgia for the Yule of yesteryear. And in the true spirit of 2024, it’s AI-generated. Will all our ads be AI-made soon? Or is human creativity still key? Also in this episode: A dogecoin influencer weighs his options, a startup wants to put EV chargers in lampposts and unit labor costs may tell us where inflation is headed. ... Read more

11 Dec 2024

29 MINS

29:52

11 Dec 2024

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#50

Sorry, we can’t hear you through all the economic noise

#49

Credit keeps consumers consuming

#48

All hail the U.S. consumer!

#47

Raising the roof

#46

“Their job is to make money. My job is to protect America’s national security.”

#45

Fuel inefficiency

#44

Displaced when housing is already strained

#43

Measuring uncertainty

#42

The cost of wildfires

#41

Port workers and employers restart talks

#40

What’s a dollar worth?

#39

The deal with steel

#38

New Congress, same debt drama

#37

Happy New Year! The cold weather could cost you.

#36

Uncertainty, bumpy, resilient-ish

#35

How fresh is that home listing?

#34

As goes productivity, so goes wages. Right?

#33

Divide the company and conquer

#32

Time to buy a car?

#31

O Fraser fir

#30

Consumer confidence has been taxed

#29

The high cost of business loans for women and people of color

#28

Signs of life in commercial real estate

#27

These jobs may be hot in the next 10 years … or not

#26

Green bank, go!

#25

Shrinking spread

#24

Maybe next year

#23

Keeping it in the family

#22

Rich foods

#21

‘Tis the season — wait, that’s not the real thing!