Podurama logo

 Podurama

 

Home

 

Trending

 

Personal

 

Your Podcasts

 

New Episodes

 

My Files

 

Favourite Episodes

 

Tags (Folders)

 

Recently Played

 

Bookmarks

 

Followed Playlists

YOUR PLAYLISTS

Marketplace podcast

…

Marketplace

…

·

  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.

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.

 

All

Progress

Duration

Release Date

#50

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

16 hrs Ago

30 MINS

30:31

16 hrs Ago

#49

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

Yesterday

26 MINS

26:46

Yesterday

#48

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

#47

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

#46

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

#45

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

#44

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

#43

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

#42

‘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

#41

Can the grid take the heat?

Over the next five years, electric power demand in the U.S. will increase five times faster than we thought it would in 2022, a new report says. Can the grid take it? Probably — it won’t be the first time demand for electricity has made a major leap. Also in this episode: An influencer sues a “copycat,” consumers overestimate inflation but think it will fall eventually and ad industry evolution triggers a merger of rivals. ... Read more

10 Dec 2024

27 MINS

27:26

10 Dec 2024

#40

Wrapping up the 2024 job market

It’s been a wonky year for the labor market. Unemployment is down and inflation has eased. But ask an average American, and they might not feel like everything is peachy keen. In this episode, we asked economists to sum up the complicated year … in a song. Plus, homebuilders worry incoming President Donald Trump’s immigration policy will leave them short-handed, and retail hiring plateaued in November — unusual for the holiday shopping season. ... Read more

07 Dec 2024

27 MINS

27:00

07 Dec 2024

#39

Cyclical, secular, seasonal

Federal employment numbers come out Friday, so we’ve got a labor-packed episode. First up, job growth in evergreen or “secular” industries is strong (think health care) while cyclical jobs (think manufacturing) have been stagnant. Then, wage gains are outpacing inflation, but some workers aren’t feelin’ it. We’ll also hear from seasonal employees in Vermont and a mall manager in Montana who’s moving on. ... Read more

06 Dec 2024

28 MINS

28:08

06 Dec 2024

#38

What will a GOP-ruled Congress do with Trump’s magnum opus?

Many provisions of the Trump administration’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire next year. That means the incoming Republican-controlled House and Senate will have the privilege of agonizing over which parts to renew and how to pay for them. Plus: Community colleges push up graduation rates, the advantages of owning your own small-business space, and are holiday shoppers buying the sale hype along with the goods? ... Read more

05 Dec 2024

26 MINS

26:03

05 Dec 2024

#37

Uneven churn

About 3.3 million people quit their jobs in October, slightly more than in September. More quits can signal a strong labor market, but quit rates vary across the country. In this episode, why job churn is strong out West and falling in the Northeast. Plus: TikTok Shop did over $100 million in sales on Black Friday weekend, renters want electric vehicle chargers and the restaurant industry struggles with debt and shifting preferences. ... Read more

04 Dec 2024

29 MINS

29:45

04 Dec 2024

#36

Holding space for uncertainty

Manufacturers have held back on big investments because of high interest rates and inflation. Those have eased, but companies are worried that potential tariffs and tax cuts could stoke them again. Also in this episode, more uncertainty: A customs broker isn’t sure what to expect if there’s another round of tariffs, and the number of “permanent job losers” climbed the highest its been since November 2021. ... Read more

03 Dec 2024

29 MINS

29:11

03 Dec 2024

#35

The cost of Christmas past

Nearly half of Americans are still in debt from last year’s gift-giving season. That’s double the number of people who were paying off 2022 holiday debt in 2023. And carrying credit debt has only become more expensive. Also in this episode: If you drove to Thanksgiving festivities this week, you may be thankful for the multiyear low in gas prices. We’ve also got a snapshot of China’s economy and the history of college dorms. ... Read more

29 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:24

29 Nov 2024

#34

Insurance price spikes threaten supportive housing programs

Permanent supportive housing programs are a preferred remedy for the homelessness crisis, experts say. Such apartments have more than doubled in the past decade. But lately, the organizations that run them are battling a new threat: property insurance charges, which have thrown some programs into dire financial straits. Also in this episode: Wage growth shows signs of cooling but remains ahead of inflation and analysts expect a record holiday season for buy now, pay later. ... Read more

28 Nov 2024

25 MINS

25:34

28 Nov 2024

#33

The renter-homeowner wealth gap

It’s probably unsurprising that homeowners are typically wealthier than renters. But a new report from the Aspen Institute shows how wide that gap is: $400,000 median net worth, compared to $10,400, respectively. How do renters catch up? Also in this episode: Older Americans move south to be near family, companies spend more on intellectual property, and a chocolatier in Maine preps for the holiday season. ... Read more

28 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:03

28 Nov 2024

#32

The housing sector droops under a labor shortage and price hikes

The homebuilding industry is short over a quarter-million workers, according to the National Association of Home Builders. It’s one reason new home sales fell significantly in October — expensive materials and high home prices are others. Also in this episode: A Baltimore warehouse business navigates obstacles, Yelp celebrates 20 years of maybe-trustworthy reviews, and consumers replace tech purchased early in the pandemic. ... Read more

26 Nov 2024

28 MINS

28:18

26 Nov 2024

#31

How Medicare payment cuts are hurting health care

Adjusted for inflation, Medicare pays doctors almost 30% less than it did in 2001, the American Medical Association says. And unless Congress intervenes, physicians will take another 3% cut in January. That decline in payment rates has a ripple effect through the health care system. Also in this episode: Investors celebrate Trump’s treasury secretary pick, print magazines are making a comeback and not everyone is thrilled with the outcome of COP29. ... Read more

26 Nov 2024

29 MINS

29:48

26 Nov 2024

#30

Santa’s warehouse workers

Seasonal hiring is in full swing and demand for temporary workers is back to pre-pandemic levels. But unemployment is down, so retailers are gonna have to be flexible to fill those jobs. A lot of those open spots are for warehouse jobs, not brick-and-mortar store positions. Also in this episode: After nearly two years of ChatGPT, who’s using it? And, we visit the only master’s-level nurse-midwife program in California. ... Read more

23 Nov 2024

26 MINS

26:35

23 Nov 2024

#29

The DOJ has a plan for Google

The Department of Justice has a proposal for breaking up Google: Force the firm to sell Chrome. In this episode, we’ll dig into why the DOJ wants the company to split from its web browser — the most popular one on the internet — and where AI fits into the antitrust case. Plus: Signs that Florida’s property insurance market is stabilizing, supply chain management is the secret to an NGO’s success, and automakers experience EV growing pains in the U.S. and abroad. ... Read more

22 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:05

22 Nov 2024

#28

What happened to sweater weather?

Clothing retailers were foiled by unpredictable weather this fall: October was the second warmest on record, and now stores are sitting on a lot of extra cold-weather inventory. What will they do about it? Plus: Comcast spins off most of its cable network channels, a violin maker talks tariffs, and an author tells us about “The Nvidia Way,” the chip designer’s unique workplace culture. ... Read more

20 Nov 2024

25 MINS

25:27

20 Nov 2024

#27

Private equity’s appetite for restaurants

Blackstone just bought a majority stake in Jersey Mike’s, a sub shop with 3,000 locations. Surprised? Don’t be. Since the pandemic started, private equity has been gobbling up restaurants, especially fast-casual ones. But struggling chains and sit-down establishments can also be attractive investments. We’ll chew on why. Also in this episode: Homebuilders are cautiously optimistic and central banks around the globe are nervous about a flare-up of inflation. ... Read more

20 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:39

20 Nov 2024

#26

A more equal nation?

There are various ways to measure economic inequality. Sure, pandemic-era aid programs helped low-income Americans grow their wealth. And overall, wages have gone up since COVID hit. But did the gap between the wealthiest and poorest shrink? We’ll get into it. Also in this episode: Walmart is expected to report a robust third quarter tomorrow, boosted by e-commerce and affordable prices. Plus, retailers fret over a holiday shopping slowdown and the U.S. dollar grows stronger. ... Read more

18 Nov 2024

29 MINS

29:34

18 Nov 2024

#25

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … online

We may be two weeks out from Thanksgiving, but online retailers are already locked in on holiday shopping season. While brick-and-mortar stores might not have flashy displays up yet, online shops decked the virtual halls over a month ago. Also in this episode: Houses of worship go all-in on solar energy tech and some small banks are in desperate need of technology updates. ... Read more

15 Nov 2024

28 MINS

28:46

15 Nov 2024

#24

Too much oil?

The incoming administration may follow the mantra “Drill, baby, drill,” but demand hasn’t been vigorous and the International Energy Agency predicts an oil surplus next year. In this episode, what too much product could mean for the domestic oil market. Plus, retirees feel financially stretched, North Carolina’s tourist industry navigates disaster recovery and Disney turns a profit on its streaming platforms. ... Read more

14 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:48

14 Nov 2024

#23

All inflation is local

The national inflation rate doesn’t give a full picture of rising prices. Some places have it better than others. In this episode, housing costs have driven inflation down in some places, and kept rates above the average in others. Plus: Will China have to pay its fair share in the clean energy transition? Are Americans in better shape to pay off debt than before the pandemic? And, does anyone really need an AI shopping assistant? ... Read more

13 Nov 2024

27 MINS

27:58

13 Nov 2024

#22

A tale of 3 Q3s

Financial data from three industry-leading firms tells three very different stories. Concert promoter Live Nation had a scorching-hot summer season, while car rental company Hertz fumbled an electric vehicle investment. Home Depot fell somewhere in between. Also in this episode, housing construction. Are townhouses a solution to the shortage of homes? And why does HUD take years to fund rebuilding after natural disasters? ... Read more

12 Nov 2024

28 MINS

28:02

12 Nov 2024

#21

What does the crypto industry want?

Cryptocurrency firms are thrilled with last week’s election outcome. For them, a second Trump term means a friendly face in the White House. What do they want this time around? Surprisingly, some rules. Also in this episode: Beef futures are up, inflation stalls just above the Federal Reserve’s target, and we dig into how the National Institutes of Health spent $1.6 billion in federal funding for long COVID research. ... Read more

11 Nov 2024

29 MINS

29:37

11 Nov 2024