Marketplace All-in-One

Farmers in the U.S. are looking for ways to save money and stay afloat. They have not been able to catch a break in the past few years — between tariff retaliation, still-climbing fertilizer prices, and record-high diesel prices. One option to boost revenue for struggling farmers: biofuel crops, which can be turned into diesel. But first, is your car underwater? If so, you're not alone. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

At Alaska News, you can find stories about the new summer sales tax rate in Juneau, a man ticketed for killing a bull moose out of season and about 20 other hyperlocal items a day. Much of the coverage is generated by an AI agent called Walter, as in Cronkite, the famous newsman. Nathaniel Herz, a human executive editor at the local alt weekly the Anchorage Press, wanted to learn more. So, he asked for an interview. More on this: This AI agent has written thousands of Alaska news articles. We interviewed it. — Anchorage Press Entravision Introduces an AI Latina News Anchor—and Sparks Debate — HipLatina KSAT's new afternoon show won’t have traditional anchors. What we know — My San Antonio After 78 Years on Air, This Baltimore TV Station Cut Its Anchors. What Replaced Them Has Critics Worried — Inc

For many adult children of immigrants, success comes with pressure to give back. This week, Reema asks, what do we owe our families, and how do we care for the people we love without losing ourselves in the process? She talks with fellow first-gen kids — financial educator Gigi Gonzalez and financial therapist Sahaj Kaur Kohli — about reframing responsibility, setting healthy boundaries without guilt and navigating the line between generosity and obligation. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

In Crook County, Oregon, just east of the Cascade mountains, data centers sprawl across the high desert landscape. The area fell into economic decline during the Great Recession and some residents welcomed investment by Meta and Apple in the form of massive data center complexes. But 15 years on, was it worth it? In this episode, what happens when data centers come to town. Plus, mergers and spinoffs: Abbott plans to turn its baby formula operation into a standalone company, and Elon Musk explores a plan to combine Tesla and SpaceX. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Data centers boosted one Oregon town's economy, but some residents have had enoughAbbott Laboratories announces a baby formula spinoff companyElon Musk wants to merge SpaceX and TeslaIf “demographics are destiny,” what’s in store for the U.S. economy?

Less than two weeks out from the midterm elections, many races are unexpectedly tighter than some analysts predicted earlier in the cycle. That has led to a flood of new spending. “2026 will almost undoubtedly be the most expensive political cycle in history," said Jesse Contario at MiQ's political team. In this podcast, we do the numbers on election spending. Also on the program: tech earnings are starting to roll in, and the nation's manufacturers are showing a mixed picture. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories in this episode: Midterm election spending could be the most expensive in history

The housing industry got a heap of bad news on Tuesday. New construction was down, and pending home sales dropped to their lowest level since 2001. Higher mortgage interest rates are to blame. The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate loan is just shy of 7.5%. Average mortgage rates in the '70s were higher, though, and didn't lead to a housing affordability crisis like today's. What gives? And later: lessons from a San Francisco Bay Area universal basic income program. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Read the stories from this podcast: 7.5% mortgages have been the norm since the 1970s. Here's why they feel less affordable today.Could UBI help in a time of job disruptions from AI?

When Bumble went public five years ago, the dating app known for being a friendlier place for women was valued at $14 billion. But the dating business, the tech industry and the stock market have changed a lot since then. And shares declined 90% from their peak. Now, the company is going private again. It's being acquired by private equity firm Ithaca Holdings, with two new CEOs taking the helm. Sarah Kunst, managing director at the venture firm Cleo Capital and former senior advisor at Bumble, explains what this all means. More on this: “Bumble bought for $1.3bn in 'bet on the future of humanity'“ from BBC “Here's what happens to Twitter's stock now that it's a private company” from NBC News “EA is now a private company” from The Verge

On Tuesday morning, lenders like KeyCorp, Mercantile Bank, and Atlantic Union Bank turned in their earnings reports. Those types of regional banks make plenty of loans, especially to midsize companies. In this episode, we look at how they might start getting pickier if rates increase. Also, we’ll look at retailers fighting to offer value to customers, how AI is being used in publishing, Magic: The Gathering driving growth at Hasbro, a wild game processing company, and the booming horror 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Midsize lenders thrived in the third quarter. Can it last?Walmart is offering a new membership bundle in fight for valueAI (still) has the publishing industry in a tizzyMagic: The Gathering is driving growth at HasbroHunters have to hunt for a place to turn wild game into foodHorror is good business — not just during Halloween

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to announce today that it has certified a new Boeing jet, Reuters reports. Boeing was supposed to start delivering its 737 MAX 10 back in 2020, but years of technical problems have kept it from moving forward. With federal approval, the jet could be a big help to airlines facing rising fuel costs. Plus, we discuss the impact of wars, high inflation, and high borrowing costs on company earnings. And later, Americans increasingly fear AI. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Read stories from this podcast: AI is high on the list of what Americans fear most

On Sunday, Anthropic announced that 5% of its shares would go into a new “public benefit fund.” The company claimed it could use a new charitable LLC to give large donations to nonprofits or to “specific populations.” Later that day, Elon Musk said he’ll give shares of SpaceX to every kid in the U.S. next year. So how exactly would these philanthropic plans work? And who would benefit? Also: why corporate brands outside of the music industry are releasing their own albums. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Anthropic and Elon Musk announced big philanthropic plans. But who benefits?Why brands like Wendy's and e.l.f. are releasing albums

More and more people are turning to chatbots to search the web. But researchers are finding these systems can be gamed. We wanted to understand more about how AI chatbot search results can be manipulated, so we called up someone who studies these things for a living: Xiyang Hu, an assistant professor at Arizona State University, where he leads the Generative Learning and Augmented Decision Lab. More on this ``Someone Hid It!'': Query-Agnostic Black-Box Attacks on LLM-Based Retrieval — a study published for the International Conference on Machine Learning Reddit comments are 'foundational' to training AI models, COO says — from Business Insider Language Models Often Favor Their Own Text, Revealing a New Bias in AI — NYU Center for Data Science

Bridget and Ryan finally answer one of your most requested questions of all time: What is rental arbitrage? Dun. Dun. Dun! The answer involves a moldy fridge, rizz-less cupcakes and a milk convention. Plus, Ryan finds out he’s actually been a master rental arbitrager this whole time!

Inflation is affecting all of us. But when costs go up, lower-income households are especially vulnerable to credit creep — that’s when consumers use credit for more and more transactions. One survey found 29% of buy now, pay later users took out the loans to pay for groceries, double the percentage from just a couple of years ago. Also in this episode: What might happen to the labor market if Fed raises interest rates, how immigration crackdowns are tied to a 14-year homebuilder confidence low, and why political candidates are competing for AI attention. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: What will happen to the job market if the Fed raises interest rates?Struggling consumers are increasingly turning to high-cost credit for basic needsThis farmer was promised a $20,000 grant to go solar. USDA changed the rulesHow immigration crackdowns are tightening the construction labor marketCandidates campaign for AI attentionHome-based coffee shops provide unique perks for owners and customers

On Friday, the documentary "You Can See Everything" about Theranos’ Elizabeth Holmes opened in theaters across the U.S., grossing an estimated $15 million and selling out 2,000 shows. It joins a slate of fall films, including "Artificial," "Musk," and "The Social Reckoning," profiling major tech companies and their founders. We dig into why Hollywood is focusing on these stories right now. Also: what sanctions relief for Russia means for oil markets and why the French protests are also a bond market story. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Hollywood is releasing a slew of tech films

Are you doing your homework ahead of the midterms or just planning to wing it at the ballot box? While you may have a good idea already about who you want for House, Senate, or governor, there’s still other studying to do before Election Day. But in 2026, the word “homework” often means “ask an AI-powered chatbot.” For voters, that’s both a resource and a risk. First though: why economic uncertainty is translating into a flood of imports. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Read the stories from this podcast: Uncertainty is helping to generate a "tsunami" of imports at some portsVoters weigh doing their election homework with AI

You might say the 2026 midterms are the first big AI election. The technology has become a key political issue, it’s a significant source of fundraising and it’s also helping power campaign ads. Plus, generative AI is being looked to by voters as a tool for sorting through the deluge of information, especially in places like California where there are 14 ballot propositions to research. Marketplace's senior correspondent for Future Effects, David Brancaccio, put three AI chatbots to the test. More on this: “Electoral Hallucinations: Safeguarding UK elections in the world of LLMs and AI chatbots” from Demos “AI chatbots can effectively sway voters – in either direction” from Cornell Chronicle

India’s economy, from one perspective, has a huge leg up on the U.S.: Its workforce is young and growing. “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal visited Mumbai to learn what that growth looks like on the ground. In this episode, Kai and ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson visit a Mumbai-based healthcare startup that’s using AI to detect disesases early. They also reflect on the trip as a whole. Plus: Farmers face down high fertilizer prices and we break down the week’s inflation data. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: If inflation persists, what comes next?Farmers face high fertilizer prices — with no end in sightInside a global AI company built in rapidly-growing India

Big hyperscaler data centers are just coming to Minnesota but have already become an issue in the midterm elections. To get a first-hand look at how battle lines are shaping up, Marketplace's Nancy Marshall-Genzer traveled to Minnesota’s second congressional district to learn about a lightning-rod data center development there. Also on the program: the kick-off of earnings season, the K-shaped economy, and gloomy consumer sentiment. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: What's at stake in Minnesota's data center debate

High healthcare costs continue to be a top concern for voters ahead of next month's midterm elections. A recent Urban Institute study found that more than one in four adults in the U.S. had medical debt in 2025. In some states, hospitals are experimenting with something called presumptive eligibility, which automatically screens patients for financial assistance needs. We hear more. But first, with rising inflation, consumers pull back where they can. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Read the stories from this podcast episode: Consumers are pulling back on some discretionary spendingEarlier screening for financial aid in hospitals could help lower bills

It's been a bit of a rocky week in tech markets, particularly for companies heavy on debt. We'll get into it on this week’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, the king of streaming, Netflix, announces plans to cut around 6% of its staff. And on Wall Street, AI skills could be your ticket to a raise. Here to discuss is Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital. More on this: AI borrowing slows as investors grow wary of debt binge — from the Financial Times Netflix to lay off roughly 1,000 employees, or 6% of workforce — from CNBC Wall Street firms tie bonuses, promotions to AI skills, survey finds — from Reuters Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

On Thursday, we got to see the second act of our monthly inflation double feature: the producer price index. Producer prices rose 1.3% in September, which is the largest jump since 2022 — and a hint at the risk that more consumer inflation is coming down the pipeline. Also on today's show: inflation outliers and a holiday spending preview. And later, continuing The Age of Work series, we head to a Mumbai-based clothing company looking to expand to domestic sales. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Producer prices see biggest jump in four yearsNot everything is suffering from inflationConsumers expect to spend as much or more this holiday seasonA family business in Mumbai is finding growth in a complicated global economy

Loudoun County, Virginia, claims the highest concentration of data centers anywhere in the world. Thanks to those data centers, the county’s tax base has swelled. But data centers depreciate over time, meaning the older they are, the less tax revenue they generate. So, to keep the cash flowing, the county has needed to keep approving new ones. Cue the backlash. But first, higher energy prices are starting to really show up in producer inflation data. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this podcast: "Data Center Alley" in suburban Virginia may be hitting a dead end

Inflation ran 3.7% year over year in September. One kind of bright spot? Grocery prices are only rising at about half the overall rate. But there are signs that high diesel prices are starting to trickle into some of the prices we pay at the checkout. And later this morning: how skyrocketing borrowing costs are affecting developing nations and how CEOs are thinking about AI investment. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Europe may have weeks of paid vacation, quaint walkable cities and incredible, affordable local wines. But there's something the continent lacks (besides ice cubes and AC): shiny, new Big Tech products. Take Apple's revamped Siri, Meta's Muse or OpenAI's competing AI assistant dots. They've all launched in the U.S., and in some cases other markets. But largely, not in the EU, which has a network of tech regulations targeting data protection, interoperability and AI. Max von Thun, director of the antitrust think tank Open Markets Institute Europe, explains more on this. More on this: “A Continent Without A.I. Agents: Europe Has to Wait for Dots, Muse and Siri AI” — from Trending Topics EU “Europe’s AI Blues: US Companies Slow Deployment” — from Center for European Policy Analysis

Staying on top of your personal finances is hard enough as it is, but it can be especially challenging if you’re going through mental health challenges or your brain just works a little differently. So this week, Reema talks to Ellyce Fulmore, a neurodivergent financial educator who helps people create money systems their brains will actually use. Together, they answer your questions about impulse purchases, money anxiety, and budgets that never seem to stick. Plus: another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” where producer Alice Wilder tackles a different personal finance challenge every month and invites us all along for the ride. This time, she’s learning how to master resale apps like Depop and Poshmark. This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable

Inflation worsened in September, to 3.7% annually, up from 3.4% in August. Energy prices are mostly to blame, but the other slices of the economy are starting to show price stress. It’s no help that the cost to ship crude oil is up exponentially. In this episode, the dumpster fire that is war-inflated energy prices. Plus: Host Kai Ryssdal and ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson visits a garment exporting business (with a familiar name) that provides job training for women in Mumbai. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Inflation worsened in September. Blame energy prices — mostlyThe cost of shipping a tanker of crude oil has skyrocketed due to warA Mumbai company training and employing women in the slums

Americans have wagered more than $600 billion on sports since the Supreme Court paved the way for states to legalize sports betting back in 2018. And something like 2.5 million adults have a problem with gambling. This morning, why people keep betting — even when the odds are against them — and what can be done about it. Also in this morning's podcast: a hotter-than-anticipated inflation reading and a continued squeeze on diesel. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: The behavioral economics behind problematic sports betting

Open enrollment for Medicare starts tomorrow. Seniors will have until early December to review their health insurance options for next year and sign up for either a traditional Medicare plan through the federal government or a Medicare Advantage plan through a private insurance company. Thing is, some big insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield are dropping some Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. We have more. Then, are sports betting apps doing enough to help problem gamblers? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: As Medicare open enrollment begins, millions of seniors will have to pick a new planWhat are sports betting apps doing to help problem gamblers?

New AI features are quickly rolling out in the apps we use every day — from Google’s AI-generated search summaries to Meta’s Muse agent. But there's a big gap between what these tools can do and what most consumers find useful. The vast majority use free versions of chatbots, for searching the web, not running swarms of agents to manage their lives. Kate Moran, a user experience researcher at Gibbons and Moran, joins us to unpack the AI adoption gap. More on this The Top 100 Gen AI Consumer Apps from Andreessen Horowitz Not quite mAInstream: A consumer AI profile from Bank of America Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact from Pew Research Center

UnitedHealth Group just reported Q3 earnings: Total revenue was down but profits were up. How’s it possible? A decline in Medicaid enrollment, AI-driven billing tools, and some good ol’ corporate diversification. We’ll get into it. Also in this episode, we continue our coverage of the labor force in Mumbai with trips to an Oscar-winning visual effects studio and an English-language night school. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: "Can't go to the moon every quarter": Big banks' bumpy start to earning seasonMovie studios and night schools: Inside India's growing economyUnitedHealth stopped insuring some people. Its profits rose.What the low-hire, low-fire economy looks like for a new grad

Tomorrow, the Social Security Administration will announce their Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and seniors are expected to see a small increase in their monthly checks next year. It could be a meaningful change for struggling retirees: 74% of people on Social Security have reported making financial changes due to rising costs outpacing their benefits. Then, an update on the global bond market. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Inflation, war, high borrowing costs, and of course, the Fed’s rate hikes: There’s a lot of reasons why mortgage rates have shot through the roof recently. Because of this, when we get the National Association of Realtors report on existing home sales for September, experts expect to see sales in decline — again. Usually that has a lot of spillover effects on the economy. Is that true today? Then: how much it costs to keep a data center cool. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

An increasing number of schools are offering classes and even majors and minors in the art of influencing. Charlie Randall is a senior pursuing a double major in theater and content creation at Arkansas Tech University, which launched their digital content creation degree about three years ago. He hopes to use the degrees to break into voice acting.

Hear ye, hear ye! Bridget and Ryan have received this question from listener Perry: “How do companies get on the stock market?” which the pair intend to answer while spending the day at the Renaissance Fair. With a wizard as their guide, they discover that taking a company public on the stock market is a lot like a Renaissance-Fair styled obstacle course with three paths to the finish line! Plus, get ready to meet the world’s boniest insult comic.

As the workforces of the U.S., U.K., and similar wealthy Western nations age, other countries with younger populations grow at a clip. Nowhere is this more true than India, where the median age is 29 (a decade younger than the U.S.) and GDP is growing at nearly 8% annually. As part of our ongoing “Age of Work” series, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal and ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson visited Mumbai to understand a workforce and economy that is very different from our own. In this episode, they visit a bustling bazaar where young jewelers are inheriting family businesses. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: India's economy is on the cusp of its demographic golden ageIt's tough to completely exclude energy prices from inflation calculations

To kick off this morning's show, a survey by the National Association for Business Economics shows that economic forecasters predict lingering inflation and higher interest rates. We'll dig into those outlooks. Then, big banks report their financial results this week, and they could give us a sense of how higher interest rates and higher long-term bond yields are working their way through the economy. Plus, we'll hear what this year's Nobel Prize in Economics win means for the field of macroeconomics. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Bank earnings this week could offer clues to impact of Fed's rate hike

Two Americans, Stanford's Robert E. Hall and Columbia's Michael Woodford, have won this year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and will split the almost $2 million prize for models that help governments maintain stability while navigating big swings in the economy. To mark the occasion, we reached out to a couple of past prize winners to hear how things have been going since. Then, we hear why some schools are paying influencers to lure in new prospects. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories in this podcast: Some colleges are paying current students to post on social media

There's a growing market for AI models that promise to recreate the experience of interacting with a lost loved one. They're sometimes called generative ghosts, and they're the topic for today's “Uncanny AI,” our series about sometimes-unsettling experiences with this technology. Jack Manning, a Ph.D. candidate studying information science at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been looking into this. He recently published a study on how people experience talking to generative ghosts. More on this: “Designing Conversations with the Dead: How People Engage with Generative Ghosts” from Association for Computing Machinery “When AI is used to immortalize the dead, what are the ethical implications?” from Marketplace Tech

A 2020 law aimed at eliminating surprise medical expenses has shifted some unpredictable costs away from patients. The law was supposed to incentivize jointly set reasonable prices between hospitals and insurers, but instead, there’s been a whole lot of finger pointing — and employers are left holding the bag. Also in this episode: The agriculture economy goes K-shaped, a sailor finds a support network in her solo circumnavigation, and we talk through 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The stock market isn’t the economy — except when maybe it is?In the agricultural heart of the country, it's a tale of two farm economiesHow a law to protect patients from surprise billing shifted the cost to employersCole Brauer sailed solo around the world. She plans to do it again

Two years ago, Congress approved millions of dollars in funding to clean some of the nation’s dirtiest beaches. Many of those beaches are also some of the hardest to access. But then, cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency effectively killed the project. Now, there’s no clear future for all that trash. In this morning's podcast, we head to a remote Alaskan beach to hear where cleanup efforts stand now. Plus, economist Judy Shelton is joining the Treasury Department as a counselor to Secretary Scott Bessent. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: America’s dirtiest beaches are also the toughest to reach. Trump’s DOGE made them even harder to clean.

The Trump administration announced yesterday that it will no longer allow Microsoft, Adobe, and a handful of other companies to sponsor foreign workers for green cards and accused nine universities of abusing the J-1 temporary student visa program. Earlier this week, it also proposed a rule raising the fee for international students who want to stay in the U.S. and work temporarily through the Optional Practical Training program from about $500 to $70,000. We have more. Then, will Minnesotan restaurants be willing to dish up invasive crayfish? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

President Donald Trump named a new superhero-sounding AI task force this week dubbed the “Super Intelligence Force.” It's led by Jay Clayton, the new AI Czar and also director of national intelligence. Plus, Democrats in the Senate blocked a bill to address data center energy costs ahead of the midterm elections, and a new poll shows Americans are not feeling too great about how our leaders in government are dealing with the risks from AI. Cristiano Lima-Strong, senior AI and government reporter at Bloomberg Government, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino to break down these stories on this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

First-time unemployment claims (layoffs, basically) have come in below 200,000 for four weeks running — the longest stretch since 1969. At the same time, the economy only barely added jobs in September. Few layoffs, barely any new jobs, and it makes ya start to wonder, just how petrified can this labor market get? Also in this episode: AI doomers touch grass at a monthly Bay Area picnic, the personal savings rate ebbs to a 4-year low, and Kai explains central bankers’ balance sheet agita. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: A frozen job market means nobody's getting laid off, but nobody's getting hiredOnly in San Francisco: A picnic to discuss AI riskNot too big, not too small: The just-right Fed balance sheetHere's where home heating will cost more this winterAmericans are saving less money — some can't afford to, others are focused on investingUsing retirement to finally dig into family history

There's been a lot of mixed data coming out about how AI is affecting the labor market. An analysis by writer and economist Joey Politano found that the U.S. has lost more than 200,000 creative sector jobs over the last four years. But just how much can we blame AI? Plus, we continue our conversation with WUSF reporter Jessica Meszaros about the high cost of energy bills in Florida. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: The cost of power in Florida

Energy bills in Florida have jumped by as much as 70% over the past 10 years, according to reporting by WUSF reporter Jessica Meszaros. This morning, we'll help explain why that is and discuss rate hikes by investor-owned utility companies, the role of government-appointed approval commissions, and whether there are any alternatives. But first, a snapshot of consumers' expectations for the future of the economy shows that it's a mixed bag. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories in this episode: Consumers are expecting more inflation alongside a stronger job marketThe cost of power in Florida

It started when Kalie Robins posted an Instagram video with her kid. Meta's built in AI chatbot, Muse, started prompting her to ask questions about her daughters and personal life, which sent her down a social-media-privacy rabbit hole. Robins took to her feed — at the time, with only a few hundred followers — to share her experience. “It starts pulling completely separate information for each of my kids: their names, birth information, pictures and videos of them. And then it says, ‘pinpointing Kalie Robbins' location,’” she said in her now viral video. Meta responded to the incident saying it “missed the mark” and has fixed the issue that prompted those questions. But Robins says she's now been catapulted into the AI privacy discourse. And it's pretty uncomfortable. More on this: Mother Horrified When Meta’s AI Scours Instagram and Facebook for Invasive Information About Her Young Daughters — from Futurism Meta’s Muse AI Agent Is Building a Dossier On You — from Time

Are you more likely to buy some spicy mayo because it’s made by a blockbuster star? What about pet food or a mobile network? It used to be that you’d just buy a ticket to your favorite actor’s movie or your favorite singer’s concert, but as more celebrities cash in on their fame with product endorsements and brand extensions, what does that do to us and our relationship with celebrity culture? And how does that impact the way that we spend money on our favorite stars? Guest host Alice Wilder talks to Lindsey Weber and Bobby Finger, hosts of the pop culture podcast “Who? Weekly,” about the changing relationship between celebrities and consumers. Plus, which nepo babies are worth the hype? This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok!

The S&P 500 has hit more than two dozen record highs this year, and it’s got AI firms to thank. In fact, it’s easy to forget that a lot of other public companies are in a tough spot. In this episode, why there’s a widening bifurcation of the stock market. Plus: Rising auto loan delinquencies could be a warning sign for broader consumer strife, financial institutions kick off Q3 earnings season, and Kai explains what the yield curve tells us about the bond market. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The stock market gap between AI and everything else is growingWhat to watch for in next week's Q3 earnings"Circular spaghetti": What the tangled AI supply chain means for regulationWant to know what the bond market is thinking? Check out the yield curveRising auto loan delinquencies reflect the K-shaped economy

Like so much else in the economy, the cost of hobbies — recreational activities, the ways we fill our free time — is on the rise. But according to recent analysis from the Bank of America Institute, consumers aren’t shying away from those higher prices. We hear more. Also in this episode, we have a preview of meeting minutes from the Federal Reserve, then examine mortgage rates and Treasury notes. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this podcast: Hobby spending is on the rise

An initiative on the California ballot would levy the nation’s first wealth tax on billionaires. Supporters say the proceeds would help offset President Donald Trump’s sweeping healthcare cuts and that it could be a blueprint for other states, but critics argue that the temporary infusion of cash is a giveaway to politicians. We dig into the arguments. But first, it’s been a bit of a rough year for toy maker giants Hasbro and Mattel. What gives? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this podcast: Why it's been a rough time for toy makers Mattel and HasbroCalifornia’s billionaire tax promises healthcare relief. The fine print is murkier.

OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife recently backed out of a planned $25 million donation to Leading the Future, an artificial intelligence-focused political action committee. Brockman said the PAC had become a “distraction” at OpenAI. But only after the executive had already given an initial $25 million. AI-focused PACs are spending big to shape competing visions for AI policy in the midterm elections. Brendan Glavin, Director of Insights at OpenSecrets, explains how these PACS are looking to influence elections this year.

We got fresh data showing imports and inventory levels are up. Is it a sign of a strong economy, or a sign businesses are bracing for impact? In this episode, AI remains a major driver of this strange economy. Plus: The U.S. is simultaneously importing and exporting a ton of semiconductors, the euro drops to a 17-month low, and monetary policy disproportionately impacts Black employment rates. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Imports and inventories are rising. Does that mean the economy is strong?Semiconductor imports and exports have been rising all yearThe Black-white employment gap is growing. What's that say about the economy?Sometimes quitting a job is a "real sign of strength"France's debt pushes the euro to 17-month lowWorld Cup business keeps kicking after the final whistle

Diesel is still hovering at around $6 a gallon. President Donald Trump says Ukrainian air strikes on Russian oil refineries are exacerbating a global shortage of diesel and pushing up prices, but Ukraine isn’t letting up. We have the latest this morning. Then, a recent proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for communities to find out about AI data centers — and their potential effects on air quality — before they're constructed. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Proposed EPA rollbacks could nix public comment requirements for data centers

More Americans than ever are questioning the value of higher education. A new survey from Gallup finds that just 31% of adults in the U.S. think a college education is “very important.” That’s the lowest since Gallup first asked that question nearly 50 years ago. Some of the big reasons? The cost of a college education and employment concerns in the AI age. And later, more than 2 million young people between 19 and 24 could lose Medicaid in the next few years. We hear why. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Americans' opinions about the value of a college education are souringMore than 2 million young adults could lose Medicaid soon

The AI industry appears to be getting more serious about safety. Leaders of top companies signed a non-binding agreement at the White House Sept. 30, laying out standards and best practices for responsible development of advanced AI. OpenAI delayed the release of its latest model due to safety concerns. And Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called on the sector to slow things down and "pace the frontier." Wall Street initially wasn't too happy about that push and stocks related to the AI buildout took a momentary tumble. But Jordan Nanos, at the chip research and consulting firm SemiAnalysis, argues that greater investment in AI security could actually drive more demand for computing power.

Tula wants to know, "what is a credit score," which is perfect timing for Bridget, her board game crew, and Ryan to play Credit Score Quest: Path to 850. As the players roll the dice and pull cards, they navigate credit score myths, surprising score twists, and learn some valuable lessons about how to build an "exceptional" credit score.

Despite Trump’s best efforts (a flurry of loosely targeted tariffs), the U.S. trade deficit is widening. But why is it widening? And what does it all have to do with foreign investment in government debt and the strength of the U.S. dollar? We’ll explain. Plus: Electric truck sales rev up amid record-high diesel prices, a 19th-century novelist popularized economic theory for her broad audience, and investors prep for upcoming Treasury auctions. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: What exactly are investors looking for in this week's government bond auctions?The U.S. dollar is at its strongest in 18 monthsThe Regency-era novelist who popularized economics through her booksHere's why the trade deficit is growingAs diesel prices soar, so do electric truck salesThe algorithm knows you have a baby, and it will exploit that

More Americans are familiar with autonomous vehicles than they were a decade ago. But if a self-driving car is in their future, most still want the option of taking the wheel, a new survey finds. This morning, we explore consumers' thoughts on driverless cars. Also on this morning's program: we keep an eye on the bond market and the oil market. Plus, how one Brooklyn-based makerspace is helping people unplug and work with their hands. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Americans are warming up to the idea of autonomous vehicles, survey findsBuilding something with your hands — and a career — at makerspaces

This year has been dominated by headlines about artificial intelligence. But as the AI buildout accelerates, some are looking for ways to slow down. This morning, "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams takes a trip to MakerSpace NYC, a community workshop where people were busy sewing, welding, drilling, and more. For some, it's just for fun; for others, it’s helping launch small businesses. Plus, promises from OPEC might not mean much. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories highlighted in this episode: Building something with your hands — and a career — at makerspaces

We've been hearing a lot about the threat of out-of-control of AI in recent weeks; mostly, from the people making the technology. There was the Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who publicly quit and kicked off the whole discussion. Others, including that company’s CEO Dario Amodei, chimed in with alarming appraisals of AI's existential risk. Making sense of all this as an outsider can sometimes feel like decoding an unfamiliar civilization. So, we called Spencer Kaplan, a Ph.D. candidate at Yale, who studies anthropology and researches AI workers.

In Nike’s earnings report this week, the brand said it may begin shrinking its operations and laying off workers. It’s been losing market share for a while now. We look at what went wrong in the last decade. Also in this episode: the government-funded EV discounts that still remain, the business of affiliate links, and a former business owner’s mini retirement during fatherhood. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: An unsettling economic pictureCan Nike get its mojo back?A year after federal EV tax credits ended, a patchwork of state EV incentives remainsHere, take my link! The rise of affiliate linksHow becoming a dad brought this outdoorsman full-circle

This week, the Treasury Department released rules for a new nationwide school choice program that could end up providing billions of dollars to students attending private schools. Taxpayers will be able to opt in to the program by giving up to $1,700 to third-party groups that provide scholarships to students, and can later deduct that donation from their taxes. Many public school advocates, however, oppose the program. Also in this episode: weaker-than-expected jobs data and reimagined research parks. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Private schools are likely to be the beneficiaries of new federal school voucher programResearch parks were designed for working. That's starting to change.

After being laid off this summer, Montrose Fell felt the pressure to scramble and find a new position. But after a year of funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the biomedical industry was flooded with overqualified candidates. So, Fell decided to pursue permanent residency in Canada. “The current scientific climate in the United States was not one where I thought I would thrive in,” they said. We hear more as part of our "Clocked Out" series. But first, we have a preview of the September jobs report. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories in this episode: When one door closes, maybe it's time to move countries

While the White House hosted tech luminaries this week to sign a voluntary agreement on AI safety standards, the Federal Trade Commission opened a broad investigation into AI labs over potential safety risks their products may pose to consumers. Plus, a nearly four-hour documentary on Elon Musk is stirring up controversy over whether social media platforms will run ads for it. We’ll get into it on today’s “Bytes: Week in Review.” Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of Tech Bytes.

The PCE price index (that's the Fed's preferred measure of inflation) held steady year-over-year in the latest report. Economists expected it to move up. So, why didn't it budge -- and why aren't we all celebrating? Also in this episode: Seasonal work is hard to find so far this fall, Trump's immigration crackdown weakens construction productivity in South Texas, and Kai explains the long-term implications of rising borrowing 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The Fed's preferred inflation measure was lower than expected in August. Is that a good thing?Can the U.S. just grow its way out of debt?Immigration crackdown adds delays, costs to South Texas constructionMore people are looking for seasonal work this year. So far, it's hard to findThere are more private security guards than police. How much are they paid?

On Mortgage News Daily, the average rate for a 30-year fixed is now up to 7.6%. And as the cost of a mortgage has gone up, the demand for home loans has dipped to a two-year low, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Then, some lenders surveyed by the Federal Reserve reported that they’ve been noticing a pickup in delinquencies, as higher costs burden both families and businesses. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Higher interest rates have cratered demand for mortgagesAs inflation stretches paychecks, some lenders report "late payment creep"

Starting today, states are now responsible for a bigger share of the administrative costs that come with running the SNAP food assistance program. It used to be a 50-50 split with the federal government, but now states will take on 75% of the costs. We explore the impacts. We also discuss fresh inflation data and consumer spending figures. Plus, should Big Oil pay for some of the damage caused by burning fossil fuels? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories discussed in this episode: A major big oil accountability case is on the Supreme Court's docket

Over the last 25 years, the U.S. government has spent billions of dollars to build a "virtual wall" of video surveillance at the southern border. The network can signal Border Patrol to respond when it detects suspicious activity. And officials have touted the benefit of providing aid to migrants in distress. But a recent investigation by MIT Technology Review and the Times of San Diego found more than 1,000 migrants have died over the last decade within range of one of these cameras. Eileen Guo co-reported the series, “Dying on Camera.” More on this: “The US spent billions on border surveillance. Why can’t it catch people before they die?” from MIT Technology Review “A congressional representative just proposed killing America’s border tower program” from MIT Technology Review

Does higher education still guarantee financial stability? How can parents set their kids up for success, without subjecting them to overbearing pressure? Reema talks to writer Min Jin Lee to talk about her new novel, “American Hagwon.” They discuss the precariousness of the middle class, and how love, fear, and money get tangled up in what parents want for their children … and what those kids can feel like they owe in return. This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Heads up: If you buy a book using our links, we earn a small commission. It’s a great way to support public media at no extra cost to you!

OpenAI just announced it will delay its IPO due to ongoing AI safety concerns. But when you’re a company as big as OpenAI, where does your funding come from? In this episode, venture capital doesn’t cut it. Plus: Second quarter GDP was revised up thanks to all that corporate AI investment, Kai breaks down why the labor market is kinda like a bathtub, and farmers turn to agritainment as crop revenue shrinks. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Second quarter GDP growth is brought to you by the letters A and IWhy full employment is like filling a bathtub with waterOpenAI delayed its IPO. That makes private investors happyCorn mazes, apple picking, and hayrides: More farms are leaning into "agritourism"Is your Dijon spicy? Heat and drought might be the causeHow "Neon Tom" made a 40-year career out of neon signs

We’re almost at the start of a new month. For many, that means it’s time to pay rent. But meeting those monthly payments is becoming increasingly difficult. A new report from the Urban Institute found that one in five working-age renters struggled to pay rent last year, and the share of middle-income renters who are facing these challenges grew by the largest margin. We unpack, but first we discuss what's in the latest inflation reading. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories in this morning’s episode: People are increasingly struggling to pay rent

Corded headphones are so back. Bose announced new wired earbuds this week and is calling the renewed interest a “cultural renaissance.” It’s all part of a revival for older tech — things like analog alarm clocks and point-and-shoot cameras — especially among Gen Z consumers. We'll explore the trend this morning. Plus, we’ll head to South Texas, where skilled trades programs are preparing workers for major industrial projects. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Wired headphones and other retro gear are having a comebackIndustrial growth boosts demand for skilled trades in South Texas

Further proof — in case you need it — that AI data centers aren't very popular: A new survey from the Pew Research Center shows 60% of Americans aren't comfortable welcoming one to the neighborhood. And concerns have grown since the beginning of the year across every demographic group, making the backlash a key issue in the midterm elections. Scott Brennen, director of NYU's Center on Technology Policy, recently published a report on how data centers could better work with communities. More on this: “Americans’ views of data centers have turned more negative” from Pew Research Center “Collective Goods but Local Harms: How Data Centers Can Earn Community Support” from Center on Technology Policy “Residents voice concerns as Hobart City Council approves Amazon data center” from WGN9 “More Americans concerned about AI, even as it drives economy” from Marketplace

Consumer confidence fell to a 12-year low in September, according to The Conference Board. The index has been trending down for a couple years, but this latest decline was steep. One reason? Upper-middle class respondents are starting to feel the pressure, too. Also in this episode: The economic forces behind GDP growth might run out of steam soon, the low-hire low-fire labor market marches on, and high diesel prices keep some Gulf shrimpers on dry land. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: How long can the economy keep growing?The latest JOLTS survey shows more of the same low-hire, low-fire economyConsumer confidence falls to its lowest level in 12 years, survey showsThe price tag might be an endangered speciesHigh diesel prices force some Gulf shrimpers to stay dockedNew career path, new baby, no problem

The Trump administration is ramping up its trade war against Canada. As of this morning, the U.S. has officially banned imports of Canadian wine, beer, and spirits, along with motorcycles, molasses, and whey protein. Is this escalation getting the two sides back to the negotiating table? Also: a preview of the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation and why one childcare worker left his job to get an advanced degree. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

One new course debuting this school year is AP Business with Personal Finance. It comes from the College Board, which is also behind the SAT, and is being taught in thousands of classrooms across the country. This morning, we head to one Baltimore school to learn about the impact of finance-oriented courses. But first, the pool of money for low-income energy assistance programs may be stretched thin this winter. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: Energy assistance programs stretched thin by higher demand"Rise and grind": High schoolers take new AP business with personal finance class

It’s a new season of “Million Bazillion” and listener Noah wants to know, what is shrinkflation? When Ryan notices his favorite pita chip snack is shrinking, he, Bridget and a talking pita chip put on their detective hats and head to a food factory to get to the bottom of the shrinking snack mystery. That’s where they learn about the ways some businesses deal with rising prices and discover shrinking isn’t just for snacks!

Content creator Manny Marotta has gone viral in recent weeks for his X feed recounting the news of 25 years ago as if it's happening now. His minute-by-minute account of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, attracted hundreds of thousands of new followers. And the 27-year old is posting day-by-day accounts from 50 and 100 years ago, as well. Marotta says it's become a time-consuming hobby alongside his job as a law clerk for a non-profit.

Apple used to be the leader in buying back shares. Now, Nvidia has broken the tech company’s record, announcing Monday that it would add $150 billion to its stock buyback program, on top of $80 billion pledged a few months ago. The chipmaker’s profits have continued to surge, as tech companies pour money into data centers and AI infrastructure. Is this a smart way for Nvidia to spend its money? More on Nvidia today, plus how a volunteer firefighter shortage is affecting a rural Wyoming county, why spending is predicted to soar this holiday season despite the energy crisis, and what economists are watching for in the jobs numbers coming out this week. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: It's a big week for economic data. Here's what labor economists will be looking for.Nvidia's record stock buyback funded by cash from the data center boomThere’s a national volunteer firefighter shortage. It’s on display in WyomingEarly retirement isn't always a choiceAdobe forecasts record U.S. spending online this holiday seasonThe mall isn't dead, yet

Only 27% of the public trusts the federal government, according to a new survey from the Partnership for Public Service. This morning, we continue our conversation with Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, about our perception of government institutions and the current crossroads we're at in terms of building a better — and more trustworthy — future. But first: hawkish Fed officials, this Friday's jobs report, and a trade deal with China. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Why only 27% of the public trusts the federal government

On Tuesday, the Labor Department will report how many job openings were posted in August. On Wednesday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will report how much personal income grew in August. And on Friday, the Labor Department will report how much hiring occurred this month. So what types of jobs are employers trying to fill? Also on this morning's episode: lowered tariffs with China and a look at public distrust in the federal government. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Job openings are up, especially in manufacturing and constructionWhy trust in the federal government is down in the dumps

The AI smart speaker market is getting crowded. This year, Amazon, which is a Marketplace underwriter, rolled out a large language model-powered version of its classic voice assistant. You can still talk to Alexa+ using Amazon echo devices, but it also operates as a text chatbot, replacing the old Rufus AI. It's capable of conversational searches, managing to-do lists and even generating podcasts. Daniel Rausch, Amazon’s vice president of Alexa and Echo, broke down what's new with Alexa+. More on this: “I’ve Been Testing Alexa for a Decade. Here’s My Take on How Alexa+ Compares.” from Wirecutter “Amazon's Alexa+” from Amazon

What happens to government debt, the budget deficit, and the overall economy if interest rates stay elevated? For a new report, the Congressional Budget Office crunched the numbers. By 2056, public debt would grow to an eye-popping 222% of GDP. Plus: Trump administration cuts decimated soil conservation programs, a new report highlights the impact of private equity investments on climate risk, and an uneventful Trump-Xi summit ends with a promise of more talks to come. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: TTYL? Trump-Xi talks end without much to showWhat happens to the deficit and the national debt if interest rates stay high?U.S. farmers lost conservation experts in Trump’s federal cuts. Now they’re hurting for helpPrivate equity gets a grade on climate risks

Chinese President Xi Jinping is continuing his meetings with President Donald Trump today, and trade representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC this morning that the two sides have already come to agreements on a number of issues. Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also announced that the U.S. and China would be extending a trade truce initially struck in October 2025. This morning, we dig into the background and the big picture of U.S.-China trade. Then, we hear what hosting Formula 1 means for Madrid's economy. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Madrid welcomed back Formula 1. Here’s what it meant for the city.

Today, people across the country are celebrating Dolly Parton Day. They’re encouraged to wear rhinestones, listen to her music, and be generous. Sept. 25 was chosen because the date harkens back to the hit song “9 to 5.” It is perhaps the singular ode to the eight-hour American workday. So in Parton’s honor, we look into the origin of that schedule. But first, with world leaders gathering in New York, we check in on how the U.S. war with Iran is affecting African economies. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: How the U.S. war with Iran is impacting African economiesCelebrating Dolly Parton Day with some history of the 8-hour workday

Meta's new Muse AI assistant is having a moment — and it's kind of adorable. Meta announced a slew of new integrations for its AI assistant at a company event this week, including a customizable furry lil’ avatar and a Tamogatchi-like wearable device for interacting with it. Plus, Wall Street is betting billions on growing demand for cybersecurity in the age of AI and social media platform Discord enters its age-gating era. Anita Ramaswamy at The Information is here to help us unpack the week in tech. More on this: I Gave My Life Over to Meta’s A.I. Agent and Was Blown Away — New York Times Meta Tests Muse AI Agent Calls That Are Actually Made By Humans in a Call Center — 404 Media CrowdStrike and Okta Trade at Big Premiums Despite Unproven AI Payoff — The Information Discord’s age-verification era is upon us, despite community backlash — Tech Crunch

As Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh attempts to limit forward guidance, analysts are zeroed in on other Fed officials’ public comments. Turns out, they’ve got plenty to say. In this episode, central bankers make their voices heard. Plus: Layoffs push workers to pivot careers entirely, catastrophe modelers warn a strong El Niño is brewing, and potato farmers struggle in the wake of an excellent growing season. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Kevin Warsh is against forward guidance. But that hasn't stopped other Fed officialsLaid off? Odds are a change of job title's in your futureA "historic" El Niño is brewing and catastrophe modelers are mapping out the risksA spectacular 2025 growing season was not so great for potato farmers this year

This morning, we continue our conversation with Yvette Fernandez, a reporter for the Mountain West News Bureau and Nevada Public Radio, about some of the biggest economic news stories coming out of the state. In this episode, we hear how tariffs and immigration enforcement are hampering Las Vegas' tourism rebound and how Nevada is trying to establish guardrails for AI data centers. But first, what's behind this latest surge in bond yields? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories from this episode: From immigration crackdowns to data centers, Nevada's big economic stories

The average rate on a traditional 30-year fixed mortgage just rose above 7.1% — the highest it’s been in more than two years. That’s pushing more people toward adjustable-rate mortgages, where the rate changes typically after five, seven, or 10 years. But these mortgages can be a riskier bet. We hear more. Then, we learn how changes to immigration policy are impacting hospitality workers and the Latin entertainment industry in Las Vegas. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: More people are turning to adjustable-rate mortgagesFrom immigration crackdowns to data centers, Nevada's big economic stories

AI is the big item on the agenda this week as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President Trump in Washington, D.C. The talks come after a firestorm of news that has brought AI safety front and center: the hack of Hugging Face by rogue OpenAI agents, the resignation of an Anthropic researcher, plus calls by AI leaders to pace the frontier always met with the rejoinder, “what about China?” Samm Sacks, senior fellow at the think tank New America, tells us more about China's approach to these AI talks. More on this: “US and China Hail Talks as Positive Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit” from Bloomberg “US proposes AI incident alert system in talks with China, Bessent says” from Associated Press

Before Ali Hazelwood’s “The Love Hypothesis” was a bestselling novel or movie, it was “Star Wars” fan fiction. And Hazelwood isn’t the only one making the leap from fan fiction to traditional publishing. Fan fiction has historically been a labor of love, and not all fans are happy about the shift to monetization, and what that means for the fandom community. Reema is joined by journalist Elizabeth Minkel and cultural commentator Josh Lora to unpack how money is changing fan fiction. Support public media with a donation today: https://mktplc.org/support-thisisuncomfortable ALSO!! This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we need your help to win. Vote by October 15: vote.signalaward.com If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions,” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Heads up: If you buy a book using our links, we earn a small commission. It’s a great way to support public media at no extra cost to you!

Bad news first: Mortgage rates are topping 7% and, fittingly, mortgage applications are down. On the bright side, home prices aren’t completely frozen and listings are actually up. Question is, in this stuck housing market, when will things budge? Also in this episode: A running resurgence parallels popularity peaks in the aughts and ‘80s, Nashville-style hot chicken sees international success, and writer Robin Wigglesworth argues the bond market built the modern world in his new book, “A Fabulous Debt.” 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: U.S. mortgage rates climb above 7% in another blow to housing marketBonds are like the “hidden wiring connecting the global economy”Why everyone is running all of a suddenLike weddings, concerts are now destination affairsThe global appeal of Nashville hot chicken

Attacks on Russian oil refineries have contributed to rising diesel prices in recent months. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly yesterday to urge him to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said his side is ready for an "energy ceasefire” — if Russia would do the same. Also on the show: Fed public comments, cuts to ACA coverage, home sales, and more. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Whether a business is considered “small” in the government’s eyes is pretty important. It determines whether the business is eligible for federal aid money and federal contracts. Now, the Small Business Administration is proposing some changes to how it defines “small business.” We'll explain. Then, we’ll dig into the state of AI protections and trade ahead of this week's meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: SBA considers changing definition of a small businessPresident Xi Jinping comes to Washington

The global beauty market is expected to hit almost $600 billion by 2030, according to a report by McKinsey & Company. And just like pretty much every industry, it's being transformed by AI. L’Oréal and OpenAI announced a partnership this summer to bring virtual makeup try-ons and product discovery to ChatGPT. An AI styling firm called Alta is integrating e.l.f. Beauty products into its virtual try on avatars. And consumers are increasingly looking to chatbots for skincare and makeup recommendations. Apparently beauty inquiries account for almost half of generative AI retail referral traffic, according to market research firm EuroMonitor. For more we're joined by fashion-tech journalist and consultant Maghan McDowell, who's been following this trend.

Diesel costs have nearly doubled over the last year, breaking record highs. In fact, some lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to halt all diesel exports until they cool off. But experts say it's a recipe for price chaos that will leave us right back where we started. Also in this episode: A wide crude oil spread persists, butter and cheese become a bright spot on grocery receipts, and local bank consolidations leave customers frustrated. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The difference between the "paper" price of Brent crude and what refiners pay for itTrump and Xi meet this week. What can we expect?As grocery prices rise, cheese and butter get cheaper"Not such a good idea": How banning diesel exports to lower prices could backfireAs banks consolidate, some customers aren’t so sure they’re happy

Paramount Skydance reached a settlement yesterday, clearing the last major roadblock to its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The takeover will give Paramount and its CEO David Ellison control over both CBS and CNN, while also combining control over two major streaming services, Paramount+ and HBO Max. Today, we provide an explainer. Also, data center developers in Texas now face new hurdles for their projects. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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 war in Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine are keeping oil prices high, which we've already seen at the gas pump. But with winter coming, another type of fuel is also getting more expensive: heating oil, which is used mostly in the Northeast to heat homes. We'll hear more. Then, we're well into college football season, so let’s dig into the massive range of how much schools are paying their football roster. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories included in this episode: How global disruptions are impacting heating oil pricesWhere college football compensation stands right now

Hello Million Bazillionaires, we’ve got a new season of “Million Bazillion” coming your way on September 29th! Get ready to follow Bridget and Ryan as they meet new characters on their adventures to answer your questions about money. This season, our hosts will encounter an eerily chipper robot while figuring out how AI companies make money, a talking Pita Chip with a shrinkflation mystery, and a renaissance fair wizard who wizens them on how companies get on the stock market. Plus, Bridget and Ryan roll the dice at game night to illuminate just what on earth a credit score is, and how it works. New episodes drop every Tuesday starting September 29th. Listen to a sneak peek above, get caught up on any episodes you may have missed and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to sign up for the “Million Bazillion” newsletter and tipsheet so you never miss an episode and get access to episode extras, including conversation starters for grownups and kids.

Sure, you can put down your phone and go touch grass for free. But for those looking for a little help committing to a more disconnected lifestyle, there's a growing market of products and services from retreats to apps to devices that promise to supercharge your ability to unplug — for a price. Paula Mejia has covered the booming digital detox industry for Mother Jones, and spoke with “Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino about her reporting. More on this: “Adventures in Unplugging” from Mother Jones “Meta to pay up to $18bn to settle claims its platforms harm children” from BBC9

President Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, and AI safety is likely to define the agenda. But what about those pesky tariffs? In this episode, we lay out the fraught trade relationship between the U.S. and China. Plus: Airlines trim their flight schedules to combat high fuel prices, the price of copper may tell us less about global economic growth than it used to, and Ohio cities court recent grads looking for job opportunities and affordability. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Trade tensions between U.S. and China simmer ahead of Trump-Xi summitIs "Dr. Copper" becoming less reliable?Starting a new career? Start in Ohio, report saysAirlines are trimming routes as fuel prices soarSorry brunch, but you're old news

U.S. and Chinese officials met yesterday in New York to try to pave the way for some kind of agreement on AI, and President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet later this week in Washington. This morning, we have details on what to expect from the upcoming meeting and how likely any agreement might be. Then, we discuss oil market movements, as well as how Federal Reserve officials are feeling about interest rates. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Under a new public charge rule under the Trump administration, immigrants could be denied a green card if they — or their U.S.-born children — have received certain kinds of public assistance, like food or housing assistance, Medicaid, or free school lunch. More than 20 states and a separate group of cities are suing to try to block the changes, which went into effect on Friday. Then, can factory-built homes help fix the affordable housing crisis? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: How the Trump admin's updated "public charge" rule could affect immigrantsCould factory-built homes help alleviate the affordable housing crunch?

At this point we've probably all been a part of heated dinner conversations about AI. Rana el Kaliouby has them almost nightly at home. She's an AI scientist and investor who hosts the podcast Pioneers of AI. But her own daughter is an AI skeptic, her teenage son, on the other hand, is an AI super user — which makes for some pretty interesting conversations at home.

The Trump administration has doubled down on its trade war with our neighbors to the North — the U.S. is set to ban the import of several Canadian products, including beer and whey protein, in a few weeks. Small businesses on both sides of the border are caught in the middle. In this episode, we visit a few of them to understand how they’re coping. Plus: Banks stand to lose money as Treasury bond yields keep rising, Linkedin has changed the job hunt in this tight labor market, and we break down 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The Fed makes a moveRising rates mean Treasurys are worth less. That's putting pressure on banksAs the U.S.-Canada trade war heats up, businesses find themselves caught in the crossfireDo you need to be a "LinkedIn lunatic" for your career?She sold her home, just to keep living in it

Nearly seven months after Israel and the United States attacked Iran, oil prices are holding at over $100 a barrel. How long will prices remain elevated, and how is oil getting through the region via alternative routes? Then, this year’s monsoon season in India has been drier and more uneven than usual. We'll discuss how that could hit the rural economy there particularly hard and push food prices up. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: What a dry monsoon season means for the Indian economy

You can still pile up medical debt even if you have insurance. In fact, a new Commonwealth Fund survey says almost one in three working-age adults with private insurance are paying off medical bills or debt. We unpack. Then, disruption to the Strait of Hormuz is a workplace story, too. Thousands of seafarers have been stuck aboard ships near the Strait since February. We learn what the conditions and dangers have been like. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Having insurance is not a guarantee against medical debt, survey findsWhat it's like to be a seafarer stuck in the Strait of Hormuz

Congress is looking to rein in Flock cameras; plus, Apple has a new way to prove your iPhone photos are real. But first, it's been a wild week in AI. After the freakout over an Anthropic researcher quitting in protest last week, CEO Dario Amodei called for a slowdown in AI, and his counterpoints Sam Altman and Elon Musk agreed. President Donald Trump? Not so much. He called fears of rogue AI a hoax, and even went after a niche intellectual community that's deeply invested in AI safety: the Effective Altruist movement. Paresh Dave, senior writer at Wired, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino to explain more about all this on this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

Retail sales jumped 1.2% in August after falling in July. But building materials stores — think Home Depot or Lowe’s — still saw a dip. That’s because stretched consumers are putting off “nice-to-haves,” like home renovations. Also in this episode: The future of global energy demand will be driven by a mix of renewables and fossil fuels, high school students take a new AP class melding business and personal finance, and neighbors organize to cooperatively buy their mobile home park. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The countries driving energy demand growth can't wait for renewables to get cheaperKevin Warsh isn't a "data point-dependent guy"Home improvement stores take a housing market hitHigh schoolers take new AP business with personal finance classResidents of a mobile home park try to buy their community before someone else doesTurning a childhood home into a place to share with strangers

The big Republican tax and spending law that President Donald Trump signed a little more than a year ago made significant cuts to Medicaid funding. States scrambling to make up for that deficit are now pulling back on some home health services. Today, we'll get into the promises codified by the Americans with Disabilities Act, how Medicaid cuts threaten those promises, and what it means for folks with disabilities and the elderly. Plus, what the Fed's rate hike means for everyday borrowing costs. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: What Medicaid cuts mean for those who rely on home healthcare

One of the fastest-rising prices last month was airline fares. They were up 23% year over year in August, according to the latest reading of the consumer price index, and they’ve been climbing steadily all year. Thing is, demand hasn't slowed, though. We dig in. Also on the show: the higher prices driving the Fed's push for higher interest rates and how Medicaid cuts are starting to show up in state budgets and people's lives. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Airline fares rose 23% in August but demand has not slowed downWhat Medicaid cuts mean for those who rely on home healthcare

More than 1 in 5 U.S. companies now use artificial intelligence in their daily operations, according to a recent analysis of federal data from Goldman Sachs. In theory AI offers the promise of greater productivity and profits, but even with advances in capabilities, these systems are still fundamentally unpredictable, creating new liabilities for firms that use them. That’s where insurance typically comes in. But AI is disrupting that business, too. Deloitte projects insurance for AI will grow into a nearly $5 billion global business by 2032.

Millions of Americans leave the U.S. each year for medical care. But how do you reap the rewards of medical tourism while managing the risks? And why do some have to travel out of the country to get affordable healthcare in the first place? This week on the show, Reema is joined by Dr. Alok Patel and podcast host TK Dutes to discuss what it’s like to travel for medical care, and how to do so safely. Plus: another edition of “Alice Gets Her Life Together,” in which producer Alice Wilder tries to get into the habit of expense tracking. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

The yield on 10-year T-notes climbed to its highest point since 2007 on Wednesday, as the Fed raised its key rate for the first time since July 2023. Swirling inflation and uncertainty have put all eyes on the bond market. So what’s it like to be a bond trader, suddenly at the center of attention? In this episode, we check in with a few of them. Plus: Higher borrowing costs will likely further stall the housing market, we explain “fiscal dominance,” and young people navigate “repayment avoidance.” 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: What it's like to work in the bond market these daysA Fed rate hike will make buying a home even more expensiveSurviving a stroke meant leaving her career behindWhat “fiscal dominance” would mean for the U.S. economyVenmo ghosting, just in time for spooky season

The average price of a gallon of diesel just passed $6 for the first time late last week. Since then, it’s kept climbing and hit $6.31 a gallon this morning. A year ago, it was well under $4. That, of course, has implications for all sorts of other prices across the economy, too — particularly at the grocery store. We explain. Plus, what will a "quieter" Federal Reserve do about persistent inflation? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: It's only a matter of time before rising diesel prices show up in the grocery aisle

Later today, we’ll learn whether Federal Reserve officials have decided to raise interest rates or leave them alone. Either way, economists and investors will be looking for an explanation from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh and some hints about what comes next. Then, a sprawling copyright lawsuit over reggaeton's defining rhythm, which has targeted Bad Bunny, Karol G, Daddy Yankee, and hundreds of other artists, was hit with a major setback in court earlier this month. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

AI leaders suddenly seem to agree on slowing down the AI race. Anthropic's Dario Amodei published an essay last weekend calling to "pace the frontier" — slow the development of advanced AI to allow safety measures to catch up. He said Anthropic will give access to independent safety evaluators, to which OpenAI's Sam Altman and XAI's Elon Musk concurred. It's all giving déjà vu to Amy Webb, founder of the Future Today Strategy Group, who’s been pushing government leaders around the globe to adopt a similar framework for AI for almost a decade. She laid out her vision in her 2019 book “The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity.” More on this: “AI CEOs want to ‘pace’ the industry. That may not mean slowing down.” from NBC News “AI's leaders just asked to slow down. I made that case nine years ago.” from Amy Webb “We Must Pace the Frontier” from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei

August marked the third-highest level of container imports to the U.S. on record. Sure, it’s usually a busy month for holiday shopping inventory, but there’s also that pesky looming inflation and ongoing tariff uncertainty. In this episode, why U.S. retailers are stocking way up. Plus: The stock market braces for a likely Fed rate hike, wildlife highway crossings save money and lives, and Carter’s undergoes a rebrand aimed at a new generation of parents. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: If the Fed hikes rates, here's how the stock market might respondFor those without a degree, the job market looks pretty goodImports boomed this summer in anticipation of higher costsWildlife use bridges and tunnels too, but it’s spendyCarter's big rebrand amid challenging children's clothing marketThe complicated history of New York's iconic Charging Bull statue

The yield or interest rate on 10-year Treasury bonds has reached the critical threshold of 5%. This is a key rate because it’s tied to some major borrowing costs for consumers. This morning, we have more on why bond yields are rising and how they could affect you. Also on the show: how rate hikes actually work to bring inflation down, and we continue our earlier conversation about the rise of so-called "Main Street millionaires." Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: So much of America's wealth is really held by "Everywhere Millionaires"

Picture someone wealthy; your image may be of some tech billionaire. Now picture the wealthiest person you know. Odds are it's not a Silicon Valley tech mogul or Wall Street banker; it's probably a small business owner. Turns out, wealth from successful small business owners dwarfs the Forbes 400. A new book, "The Everywhere Millionaire," explores its scale. This morning, we have a conversation with its authors. But first: soybean biofuels and diesel prices. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: Biofuels have a crush on soybeansSo much of America's wealth is really held by "Everywhere Millionaires"

A new season of “Million Bazillion” is almost here. But first, we’re resharing one of our favorite episodes. Today, Ryan and Bridget are answering Hezekiah’s questions about auctions. He wants to know everything about them — what are they, how do they work, and what’s up with those paddles and the fast talkin’? Ryan and Bridget head to their very first auction to find out. But the pair get caught up in the excitement and end up accidentally buying the very first “Million Bazillion” mascot. They’ll use the help and experience of their new friend, a real-life 16-year-old auctioneer, to navigate the auction and steer out of trouble.

The problem of AI alignment has become a hot topic. It’s raised questions, like how do we get AI to do what we want, and not what we don't want? For example, hacking another company. Or, in a less criminal vein, how do we get AI to stop talking about goblins? After mounting user reports of this behavior earlier this year, OpenAI had to give its models — ChatGPT and Codex — explicit instructions to cut it out. It's the topic of today's “Uncanny AI,” those moments when it's clear AI doesn't think like us. Janelle Shane, author of the blog "AI Weirdness,” says goblin mode emerged from a nerdy personality customization. “Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino asked her why.

At this week’s FOMC meeting, it’s likely Fed governors will hike interest rates. They won’t be alone. The EU raised rates last week and Japan is expected to do the same at its upcoming meeting. These central bankers are all dealing with similar inflationary pressures, and hawkish rate-setters stick together. Also in this episode: The U.S. dollar rises in anticipation of a rate hike, diesel prices break records, the subscription-BNPL-rental economy reduces how much we really own. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Central bankers around the world are looking more hawkishThe U.S. dollar rises as investors anticipate an interest rate hikeWe don't own anything anymoreDiesel fuel hit a record high. Unlike gas, using less of it is not an optionShe built a tiny home in her aging mother's backyard

Crude oil prices are up again this morning. For months, we've been hearing about the Strait of Hormuz, how the slowdown of oil tanker traffic there has affected prices, but the fighting is now affecting oil flows in other parts of the Middle East. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is trading above $108 a barrel — up about 10% over the past week. We have the latest and what it means for your wallet. Plus, the push for AI guardrails and what's next for interest rates. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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 push for guardrails for Artificial Intelligence took on new urgency over the weekend. The leaders of several AI companies called for a slowdown in AI research in the name of safety. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, issued an open letter on Saturday arguing that now is the time to "slow the pace of AI research." We'll unpack. Then, Cleveland pitches its job market to recent college grads. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: Cities want college grads to stay. Here's Cleveland's pitch.

Our tax system was built around an economy where humans earn wages, companies employ workers, and both contribute to the public purse. So what happens if AI starts changing that equation? Marketplace’s Future Effects correspondent David Brancaccio has been exploring just that in his series, “Robots Ate My Taxes.”

As a special bonus this weekend, we’re revisiting one of our favorite stories from 2024, which Reema and Alice mentioned in the latest episode. While sorting through her father’s belongings after his death, Amanda Petteruti came across a collection of locked toolboxes. What she discovered inside made her rethink what she knew about her family’s finances and left her with unsettling questions about her dad: Why had he spent so much money on this secret hobby? Why was it now Amanda’s burden to handle? And how do you find closure with someone once they’re gone?

The latest BLS data put real hourly wage gains at -0.3% last month, compared to last year. That’s thanks to inflation running hotter than pay raises. To make up for it, some workers are putting in extra hours or dipping into their savings. In this episode, how much longer can Americans cope with what are effectively inflation-driven pay cuts? Plus: The gender wage gap slows economic productivity, housing starts grow in the Northeast as they fall elsewhere, and we weigh the possible outcomes of next week’s FOMC meeting. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Last call for Fed rate predictionsInflation has devoured pay gains over the past yearWhy the gender pay gap holds back productivityRetiring at age 37 to give back to the communityHousing starts are down in most of the country. Here's why the Northeast is the exception

This morning, we got consumer price index data for August. Prices went up 0.4%, and annual inflation is running at 3.4% — in line with expectations, but still way above what the Fed would like to see. Today, we'll break down the fresh inflation data, as well as rising bond yields, global interest rates, energy price fluctuations, and more of this week's market news. Plus, a Canadian business owner reflects on how his government is handling the trade war. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Haven Greens is a 5-acre indoor farm located in King City, Ontario, Canada. They grow cut baby leaf greens like lettuce. The majority of leafy greens consumed in Canada come from abroad. Since the trade war with the U.S. began, Haven Greens has grown and made big inroads with Canadian supermarkets. This morning, we check in with its CEO and founder. But first: what's ahead for oil prices (as best we can guess). Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

An Anthropic researcher publicly resigned this week, warning on social media that artificial intelligence companies are “gambling with our lives.” It’s part of a growing chorus of insiders pleading to slow down the AI race. One said he believed there was a greater than 10% chance the tech will kill us all in the next decade. The news comes after a fresh wave of troubling details about the OpenAI incident where agents escaped a testing environment and hacked into Hugging Face. Plus, data center developers have their eye on Patagonia — the colder, the better. And Amazon is betting AI lip-syncing can make dubbed video content more watchable. Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino to break down the busy week in tech news. Everything we talked about: Scoop: Sanders convenes senators for AI briefing amid mounting alarm — from Axios Tech explores Argentina's Patagonia for mega data centers — from Reuters Google to invest record $15 billion in AI infrastructure in the ‘Texas of Europe’ — from CNBC Amazon Prime Video’s new AI tech matches lips to dubbed audio — from The Verge

Oil industry analysts were hopeful earlier this year that Trump’s war in the Middle East would be short-lived. But it’s become clear that an open flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz will require sustained cooperation between the U.S. and Iran. S&P Global now expects dampered production and choppy prices to continue into 2027. Also in this episode: Trucking costs are pushed up by record-breaking diesel prices and a shortage of English-speaking drivers. And, is it a good idea to use AI to develop pharmaceutical drugs? 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The oil roller coaster reaches new heights — and it's a bumpy ride aheadTrucking costs are rising fast. That could mean even more inflation for consumersThis audio affects business is still waiting on tariff refundsHow this Georgia factory is surviving America's solar policy whiplashIf AI helps speed up drug development, can the FDA keep up?The construction manager who quit his 9-to-5 to build something for himself

Today, the Census Bureau releases its wholesale trade report for July, which could give us some insight into one of the big drivers of economic activity in the U.S. right now: AI data centers. Sales of electrical equipment, computers, and machinery have been really strong as companies build out the infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence. We hear more. Then, could nixing parking spot requirements help spur new housing construction? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Less than eight weeks until midterm elections, the economy remains the center of voters' attention. Ipsos and Reuters just released a poll that found 74% of voters think their own cost of living is heading down the wrong track. What’s more, 59% of Americans don’t think their family has a good chance of improving their standard of living. Also on the show: a preview of Friday's consumer price index and the economic impact of Germany's border checks. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Who doesn’t love getting mail? This week on the show, Reema and Alice open up the mailbag and respond to your messages about questionable investments, doomspending, and caring for aging loved ones. Plus, we hear your advice on keeping weddings affordable for your guests and wedding party. Past stories referenced in this episode: ”The things we leave behind” “Nicole Chung and the toll of caregiving”“Everything's on fire, might as well get my nails done?”“Would you go broke for a bachelorette?”“Wait...where did my retirement money go?”“Can I monetize my hobby without killing the joy?” If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Nate Soares has been worried about artificial intelligence longer than almost anyone. He's the president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute and co-author of the subtly named book, "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All." He's watched with a sort of grim vindication, as increasingly alarming details emerge about the hack of the AI company Hugging Face by OpenAI models in development. OpenAI and third-party investigators recently released reports outlining what went wrong. Soares worries it's not enough. More on this: The Hugging Face incident and the road ahead - From OpenAI Brief independent investigation of agents’ behavior, reasoning and collaboration in the OpenAI / Hugging Face hacking incident - From METR and Redwood Research

Healthcare affordability is top-of-mind for many Americans right now. And for a long time, state legislators’ only avenue for easing that burden was through care subsidies. But what about looking at the problem from a whole new angle? In this episode, two states, unalike in their political leanings, try out healthcare price caps. Plus: Rising oil prices push up short-term bond yields, more homebuyers look into adjustable-rate mortgages, and we try to predict Fed Chair Warsh’s next move. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: High oil prices are pushing up short-term bond yieldsWhat will Kevin Warsh do? He's not tellingMore states are trying price caps to tackle healthcare affordabilityAs mortgage rates rise, some homebuyers are choosing adjustable-rate loansOwning a home with a friend means learning how to talk about money

Paying for housing and childcare can eat up more than half of the median U.S. family’s income, a new report finds. The least affordable metro areas in the country for working families with kids are Los Angeles and New York City, where the median cost of childcare plus the notoriously high cost of housing devour 95% or more of the median income. We have more. Plus, who's funding the Republican midterm convention in Dallas? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Who's paying for the GOP midterm convention in Dallas?In these cities, housing and childcare eat up the vast majority of household income

Online reseller The RealReal says demand for vintage on the site is up more than 400% since 2020. Meanwhile, rival ThredUp projects the global resale market will hit $400 billion by 2030. On this morning's program: Why some of today's shoppers view secondhand designer goods as smart investments. But first, hours after Canada imposed new tariffs on American goods, President Donald Trump announced a ban on some imported Canadian products like beer, wine, and liquor. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: Why the designer resale market is booming right now

Meta agreed to a settlement last month with 52 attorneys general in a landmark case over teen social media addiction. The company promised a number of restrictions for under 18-year-old users, like time limits, overnight blackouts on some features and hidden likes. It also agreed to pay up to $17 billion, partly contingent on TikTok and YouTube adopting similar reforms. Surveys show a strong majority of Americans support stricter limitations on social media for kids. But, this settlement could fundamentally change how everyone accesses the internet, according to Will Creeley, legal director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. More on this: “That $17B Meta settlement comes with a catch: Your online speech rights” from The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression “Majority of Americans support banning social media for kids under 16” from Pew Research Center

Canada levied a range of tariffs on U.S. goods Tuesday, escalating an ongoing trade war launched by President Donald Trump. It isn’t the first time the two countries have tiffed over trade, but it is, by at least one historian’s estimation, unprecedented. In this episode, we trace the neighboring nations’ historic partnership, and weigh what’s next. Plus: Small business owners report mixed economic outlook, ChatGPT recommends a made-up deodorant brand, and Monterey Park, California, models community-led data center resistance. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The U.S. and Canada have had trade spats before, but this one might be differentThis California city became a model for resisting data centersSmall business owners have mixed feelings about the economyHow a fake deodorant brand got recommended by AIBrick-and-mortar bookstores are back

Tariffs on about $20 billion worth of U.S. imports to Canada are officially in effect today. The import duties are Canada’s response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration last month and a sign that the renewed trade war with the United States’ second-largest trading partner is nowhere near an end. This morning, we explain Canada's tariffs, put them into context, and discuss their market impacts. Also: the long-term effects of financially supporting your parents. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: How providing financial support to your parents impacts wealth-building

Today, the New York Fed will release its monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations, which will provide data points the central bank’s Open Market Committee will use to decide whether to raise interest rates to tamp down inflation. We have a preview this morning. Then, we head to a Philadelphia farmers market to hear how customers and local lettuce growers have been responding to the cyclospora outbreak. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: How inflation expectations can fuel rising prices“You’re out right away”: Lettuce sells fast at farmers' markets amid cyclospora outbreak

Filmmaker Kenji Yamamoto got a gig working on Apple promotional videos a decade ago and went looking for temporary housing in the pricey Bay Area. What he found was an inside look at the world of hacker houses. These are group residences for people who come to Silicon Valley to pursue their dreams — like a college dorm for startup hopefuls. Yamamoto takes viewers inside that world in his new documentary for PBS, “The Dreamers and I.” More on this: “The Dreamers and I” from PBS “The New (And Slightly Smelly) Center of the AI Boom” from The Atlantic

Prices are rising faster than average wages in this economy, and many Americans have turned to credit to keep up. They are paying it off for now, but what happens if the Fed raises interest rates later this month? Also in this episode: Artificial intelligence appears to be the cause of some job cuts in the finance sector, business owners along Spain’s Camino de Santiago report busier foot traffic — for better and worse — and the Mexican government rolls out a line of small electric cars. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Consumers turn to credit as prices riseAs finance and insurance lose jobs, AI gets most (but not all) of the blameThis activewear brand says tariffs are still taking a tollMexico launches its own electric car to show it can do more than build for other countriesA former firefighter reflects on life — and money — as a stay-at-home dadHow a 1,200-year-old pilgrimage is reshaping local economies in Spain

U.S. bond markets are closed today for the Labor Day holiday, but we're continuing to track the global bond sell-off. However, is this a sell-off or more of a normalization? We'll set the scene for current movements in the bond market and try to paint a picture of what lies ahead. Then, as part of our “Clocked Out” series, we'll hear about one woman's transition from clinical research to med school. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: A day in the life of a 32-year-old medical student

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to address the European Parliament later this month. Given the ongoing trade war with the U.S, Canada is looking to reduce its dependence on its not-so-neighborly neighbor to the South. But could the trade war push Canada to go so far as to join the European Union? Today, we dig into the likelihood — and consequences — of such a move. But first: trouble in the athleisure industry. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Why the athleisure market is sweating it outAs its trade relationship with the U.S. atrophies, Canada looks to Europe

More Americans are leaving the labor force for a variety of reasons. The labor force participation rate — which measures the share of working-age Americans who either have a job or are looking for a job — has fallen sharply this year, and it’s been on a steady decline for decades. We hear from Kris Bell, who recently retired early from a long career in the tech industry, about why he chose to make the leap.

This economy added twice the amount of jobs expected in August, which is good news for the labor market. Still, the latest jobs report showed average hourly earnings were up just 3.1% annually — the slowest growth in more than five years. In this episode, when we can expect wages to start keeping up with inflation. Plus: American tourism to Europe is up, some farmers rely on decades-old machinery as budgets tighten, and one mom goes back to school 15 years after she started. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Jobs are steady. Prices are high. What will the Fed do?Wage growth can't compete with inflation right nowSqueezed by a tough economy, many farmers are relying on decades-old machineryMore American tourists are visiting EuropeThis mom of six is rewriting her career by going back to school

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is releasing its August jobs report today. But what the numbers might not show are tens of thousands of people who stopped working last month after losing their work authorization. Many of those who immigrated to the U.S. had their Temporary Protected Status expire at the end of July. We look at why that won’t be reflected in the data this morning before discussing how the NIL landscape is changing the game for college athletes. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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 morning, we’re checking in on wages. A new report from the Cleveland Fed found that a record number of workers legally entitled to the minimum wage were paid below that last year in the 10 most populous U.S. states. We look at that growing problem, before another installment in our “Clocked Out” series follows an interior designer whose career plans were changed by caring for her aging mother. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Google survives yet another antitrust case without having to break up its business. Plus, New York City public schools announced a new policy this week banning the use of AI among elementary and middle school students. But first, John Ternus took over as CEO of Apple after a 15-year run by Tim Cook. Joanna Stern, founder of the media company New Things, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino to explain more about what this means for the iPhone maker on this week’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Everything we talked about “Apple Begins Its Next Balancing Act as New C.E.O. Takes Over” from The New York Times “Why Apple’s folding iPhone will be ‘Ultra’ in name only” from Macworld “In a Big Win, Google Avoids a Breakup of Its Ad Tech Business” from The New York Times “Nation’s largest school district bans AI in the classroom through 8th grade” from CNN “Three AI agents. One school shopping list.” from New Things

American oil giant Chevron plans to funnel $7 billion into its Venezuela operations over the next five years, with a goal of more than doubling its production in the country. In this episode, we explain what Chevron has to gain from the deal and why other oil companies are hesitant to follow. After that: Can zero job growth be part of a healthy labor market? Are diesel prices affecting railroad freighting demand? And, will better-fitted windows turn into energy savings? 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Chevron's $7 billion bet on Venezuelan oilCan zero job growth really be a sign of a healthy labor market?How the cost of childcare pushed this twin mom out of the labor forceWhy more companies are choosing trains over trucks for shipping"Buy now, pay later" loans creep into essentials for many consumersYour house's windows are probably leaky. Replacing them saves on utility bills

Tomorrow, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will report how many jobs the U.S. economy added or lost in August. Forecasters expect a slight increase. But this morning, we talk about why that might be an incomplete picture if companies don’t report on time or other events skew the data. Then, KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk joins the show to discuss how those numbers can still reflect the state of the labor market. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

People living in “right-to-work” states make nearly 7% less, on average, than those living in states without them, according to the Economic Policy Institute. That gap has doubled in the past decade. This morning, we look at how state laws impact union membership and wages, more broadly. Also, the story of a veteran who turned to a federal program after losing his sight to glaucoma. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

College sports has become a multi-billion dollar industry, but until just a few years ago, the actual athletes never saw a penny. It wasn’t until 2021 that the NCAA decided that college athletes could make money off of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). Guest host Alice Wilder talks to Madeline Hill and Charlotte Wilder (no relation), hosts of The Sports Gossip Show, to understand how NIL is changing the game for student athletes, financially and emotionally. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Even if artificial intelligence leads to a more prosperous future in the long run, most agree there will be a lot of disruption in the meantime. Marketplace’s senior correspondent for Future Effects, David Brancaccio, explores how that AI disruption will mean layoffs, underemployment and ultimately less income tax revenue for the government. Experts say now’s the time to revamp the tax system for the age of AI.

The average cost of a gallon of diesel was $5.68 on Wednesday — just 13 cents shy of a record high. Tariffs and ongoing wars are both to blame. But so is a seasonal upswing that happens every fall. In this episode, why diesel prices are likely going to get even steeper before they cool off. Plus: A computer model helps make the case for fewer mandated parking spots in city construction projects, Uber wants to shrink its middle management, and Alaska families celebrate dipnetting season. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Why high diesel prices are coming at a particularly bad timeWhat it takes to reopen 19 months after a wildfireUber lays off 10% of their workforce to make the company "simpler and faster"To spur more housing construction, Denver changed its parking rulesMale loneliness epidemic? Try economic loneliness epidemicIn Alaska, dipnetting for salmon is about more than what’s caught

On this morning's show, "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams is joined by Rachel Rozner, owner and founder of Elden Street Tea Shop in Reston, Virginia. Rozner reflects on how tariffs and inflation have challenged her business. But first, the Commerce Department releases July factory orders today. That data gives us a sense of how manufacturers see future demand. We dig into how manufacturing has been doing so far this year. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: For this tea shop, it's not just tariffs weighing on business

Costs for companies to ship and store goods rose significantly earlier this year after the U.S. and Israel invaded Iran, and they’ve stayed high, according to the Logistics Managers’ Index finds. The index for the combined cost of inventory, warehousing, and transportation has risen 18% this year. What do those higher costs for manufacturers and retailers mean for consumer prices? Plus, a check-in with one small business owner on the tariff refund process. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: The cost of storing and shipping the stuff you buy isn't getting any cheaperFor this tea shop, it's not just tariffs weighing on business

The banking sector is figuring out how to navigate AI. And the stakes are high. The tech has raised red flags over potential bias, particularly when it comes to lending practices. But it could also make some banking operations more efficient. Which would be especially valuable for smaller banks — which tend to operate with fewer resources than their bigger competitors. Marketplace’s Justin Ho spoke with bankers at some smaller institutions about how they’re approaching the technology — and their concerns about the future of AI in banking.

Bond yields jumped to multi-decade highs in some countries this week, as market anxiety about inflation and the Iran war grows. The U.S. is not exempt from this turmoil. Borrowing rates could balloon, affecting the Fed and your wallet. We’ll explain. Also in this episode: The labor market barely budges in July job openings and labor turnover data, U.S. solar energy storage capacity nearly doubles under President Trump, and Reddit becomes valuable internet real estate in the age of AI. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Rising global bond yields will put pressure on U.S. interest rates, tooThe labor market in July showed very little movementFor this Mississippi barge line, labor is more of a concern than tariffsWhy solar energy storage capacity has nearly doubled since Trump took office"The heart of the internet": AI has marketers flocking to RedditFrom medicine to HVAC: one entrepreneur's journey

South Korean boy band BTS is currently in the U.S. as part of their first world tour after a four-year hiatus. Their fans, known as ARMY, are extremely loyal, and the concerts are attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees. That includes Susan Schmidt, portfolio manager at Exchange Capital Resources and a regular "Marketplace Morning Report" contributor. Today, Schmidt joins the show to explain the economic impacts of BTS and its fans. Plus, what's with the global bond selloff? Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this program: Understanding the economic impact of BTS — and its ARMY of fans

Ultra-fast fashion company Shein started trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today. Once valued at about $100 billion, the company went public at closer to $27 billion. The Shein IPO has been years in the making. This morning, we'll delve into what took so long, where the brand stands within the fashion retail landscape, and what the IPO could mean for customers. But first: what a jump agriculture export prices means for farmers. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories covered in this episode: Crop export prices are up. Are farmers reaping the benefits?What Shein's IPO means for customers

Amazon's popular brand of video-enabled smart home and security devices, Ring, is adding a new encryption system called TAKE — Throw Away the Key Encryption. It allows users to encrypt all video their home cameras capture while keeping advanced AI-enabled capabilities and security features active. The company already offered traditional end-to-end encryption, but that disabled advanced security features processed on the cloud that required Ring servers to maintain access to the video. Ring’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, says TAKE works by changing — or "throwing away" — the encryption key so Amazon servers don't have permanent access. More on this: “Ring introduces TAKE, setting a new industry standard for default encryption and control” from Amazon “Ring says its new encryption limits what it can give police” from The Verge “Ring Superbowl Ad Shows Americans How Powerful Surveillance Systems Have Become, Freaks Them Out” from The American Civil Liberties Union

In Texas oil country, September usually marks the beginning of maintenance season. But with refineries running at near-100% capacity to meet increased demand, this fall might look a bit different. In this episode, can the global oil market weather an even tighter supply squeeze? Plus: Fed watchers expect an interest rate hike in September despite Trump’s opposition, U.S. consumers keep up spending in the face of mediocre jobs data, and ski resorts hoard snow for the warmish winter. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Why interest rate expectations are pointing northThe 'meh' job market hasn't slowed consumer spending muchInside the business of selling people their own family photo albumsAfter a disastrous foray into real estate, this first-time buyer didn't let fear hold her backCan U.S. refineries afford to slow down for maintenance season?Ski resorts keep some snow in the bank this summer

Sixty-two years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Food Stamp Act into law, making food stamps — now known as SNAP benefits — permanent. But Congress approved major funding cuts to SNAP last summer and introduced new work requirements. So what does the future of SNAP look like? Plus, what's on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's agenda for G20 and, from "Marketplace Tech," a look at ICE's massive DNA collection. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories included in this episode: More than six decades after it was signed into law, the program known as SNAP is at risk

More than 1,500 new independent bookstores have opened nationwide since 2020, according to the American Booksellers Association. And the pace is accelerating: the ABA recorded more than 600 new store openings in 2025 alone. Paradoxically, the big drivers of the boom are online retail and social media. We'll explain. Also on this morning's show: what Canadian tariffs mean for cars and housing, plus a preview of this week's G20 summit in Asheville, North Carolina. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: How BookTok is powering a brick-and-mortar bookstore boom

Immigration and Customs Enforcement may be responsible for collecting the DNA of nearly a million people in 2025. The genetic material is then sent to the FBI, where it can be stored for future policing. That’s according to an updated report from Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy and Technology. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Stevie Glaberson, a co-author of the report, about the DNA collection practice — and its legal implications. More on this: Raiding the Genome: How the United States Government Is Abusing Its Immigration Powers to Amass DNA for Future Policing | Center on Privacy and Technology | Georgetown Law from Georgetown Law ICE Collected Nearly 1 Million People’s DNA Last Year—Including Young Children | WIRED from Wired

It’s been more than a year since the Trump administration intensified ICE raids in immigrant communities across the U.S. Latino entreprenuers say the toll on their businesses has been worse than the pandemic. In this episode, the ongoing economic harm caused by Trump’s relentless deportation agenda. Plus: Small businesses grapple with more tariff uncertainty, Canada posts strong GDP growth, and we break down Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s first Jackson Hole speech. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Was that forward guidance we just heard from the Fed Chair?Canada's economy is growing as it heads to a trade war with the U.S.Tariff uncertainty means halted production for this camping chair companyImmigration enforcement leaves Latino businesses struggling for monthsHow a 21-foot-tall space cowboy has revitalized a strip of Route 66

Consumer confidence is down in the dumps. We got lots of retail earnings reports this week, and they hinted at the continued K-shape of our economy, where wealthier consumers spend and buoy retailers while lower-income consumers scale back. What does this mean for retailers like Dollar General, Kohl's, Walmart, and Amazon? Then, we'll recap escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada and how they could hit the automotive industry particularly hard. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Late last year, the federal government announced the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative looking to improve the health of rural residents and to offset more than $900 billion in reduced Medicaid spending over 10 years from Republicans’ sweeping 2025 tax and spending law. This morning, we hear how Louisiana is focusing some of that cash toward tech firms. Also on the show: spending on electronics and Kevin Warsh's inaugural Jackson Hole address. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories included in this episode: Consumers are finding room for electronics in their budgetsStates bet big on rural health startups, with a Silicon Valley twist

Meta announced this week that it has agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle a landmark trial over social media addiction. It also agreed to add stronger child-safety measures on its platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Some of the changes could include new screen time limits, disabled notifications and restrictions during school hours. Plus, Nvidia reported strong quarterly earnings earlier this week, again. And while investors have been wary of AI spending, Wall Street seemed pleased with the results this time. And the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eliminate a requirement that forces states to publicize and seek public feedback for new air pollution permits. Anita Ramaswamy at The Information joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino for these stories. Check out our YouTube page to watch more episodes of “Tech Bytes.”

The NFL is back in a couple weeks, and so is artificial turf. Several NFL stadiums rolled out the green carpet this summer for World Cup matches, which are mandated to be played on grass. For the 92% of NFL players who prefer the real stuff, it’s proof-of-concept — and could become a players union bargaining objective come 2030. Also in this episode: Nvidia announces eye-popping long-term revenue expectations, retail inventories tick up, and we weigh a tax on robot labor. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: America's shelves are filling upNvidia expects revenue to grow by 70% over the next yearFootball is back. So is the turf — and players aren't happyCould an AI tax disincentivize human layoffs?For specialty food importer, tariffs are still front and centerFor three generations, this family has kept up business along Route 66

Inflation in July remained stubbornly elevated, the personal consumption expenditures price index showed; it was up 3.7% overall. Consumers have faced massive increases in the costs of energy, insurance, electronics, and more over recent months. What does this "stubborn" and "sticky" inflation mean for the central bank as its leaders meet this week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming? Also on the program: lessons from Chicago on trying to raise money when tax revenue crashes. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Artificial Intelligence is already shifting how many of us live and work. If the tech titans of our era have their way, we're just getting started on a path of massive economic transition. We’ve been hearing from experts all week about how America’s system of taxation may need an overhaul if AI takes over an increasing number of human jobs. If AI shrinks the workforce and tax base, a sovereign wealth fund could help make up the difference. But critics warn of unintended risks. We dig in. Then, what to look for in Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's remarks in Jackson Hole this week. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Before chasing quick fixes for the AI tax problem, look at Chicago's parking meters

Ever look back and wish you could stop your past self from making a financial mistake? Yeah, us too. This week, Reema talks to researchers Abigail Sussman and Hal Hershfield about how to handle financial regrets, why our past choices look so much clearer in hindsight, and how our emotions and blind spots shape our financial lives. Plus, a new segment of “Alice Gets Her Life Together” on how to budget for a vacation. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Old school film technology is having a moment this summer. Moviegoers have traveled far and wide to see Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” in its intended IMAX 70 mm film format. But even theaters with non-IMAX 70 mm film projection are hard to come by. The Alex Theatre in Glendale, California was renovated to screen “The Odyssey” in 70 mm film. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Miles Williams, the theater’s artistic director, about the renovation and why old school film technology is attracting Gen Z film fans.

Another month, another PCE report that put annual core inflation meaningfully above the Fed’s 2% target. The central bank has been fighting high inflation for more than five years now. At a certain point, you might start to wonder, does the Fed even have the power to fix it? Also in this episode: Consumer confidence falls, transportation durable goods orders tick up, and Arizona’s Great Recession-era bid to save the state budget offers insight into how AI might change our tax structure. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Inflation is stuck above 2%. Can the Fed really do anything about it?Consumers are pessimistic about the next six monthsHow Arizona's "Capitol-ism" points to a potential tax fix for the AI ageWhat's driving an increase in orders for transportation equipment?Running a historic motel off Route 66 is no easy pursuitThe Gila River Indian Community "walks the walk" on water conservation

The U.S. says our forces in the Middle East have been keeping oil traffic flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, but independent trackers can't account for all of it. The Wall Street Journal's Georgi Kantchev, who has looked into the discrepancy and what it means for everyday consumers, joins this morning’s show to discuss. Plus, we reflect on Dolly Parton as a role model for women in the workplace and talk about where stubborn pockets of inflation persist. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Dick’s Sporting Goods says 2026 isn’t shaping up the way it expected and is revising its outlook for the year downward. That includes lowering its expectations for sales at Foot Locker, which Dick’s acquired last September. The company blamed “challenging conditions in the athletic footwear marketplace.” What's going on? Then, as part of our “Robots Ate My Taxes” series, what Akron's tire collapse can teach us about the AI economy. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Retailers like Foot Locker are seeing a downturn in sneaker sales. What's afoot?What Akron's tire collapse can teach us about the AI economy

When Meta Ray-Ban glasses were launched in 2021, they didn’t perform so well on the market. But in recent years, Meta has been partnering with fashion brands like Coperni and with pop culture figures like Kylie Jenner and Teyana Taylor, in order to expand their demographic reach. Kylie Jenner recently launched her own model of Meta glasses, called Starfire. But the campaign didn’t go over especially well, says Carrie Battan, a contributing writer at New York Magazine. Putting a spotlight on the glasses has only increased scrutiny — with some calling them “pervert glasses”. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Battan about her recent piece in New York Magazine’s “The Cut”, where she tracks Meta’s push to make smart glasses cool. More on this: The Cursed Quest to Make Meta Glasses Cool from The Cut

If artificial intelligence really does replace human labor, the U.S. could be in for a tax revenue crisis. That’s because high unemployment shrinks the pool of taxable wages. In this episode, we visit Akron, Ohio — the former tire capital of the world — to learn what happens when lost jobs snowball into lost government funding. Plus: Economists hope for cake but will settle for crumbs in Fed Chair Warsh’s Jackson Hole Symposium speech, and a new plan for Colorado River drought management draws backlash. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: Will Fed Chair Warsh actually say anything in his big Friday speech?Two years after Hurricane Helene, Asheville Tea Company finds a new homeWhat Akron's rubber bust can teach us about a possible AI tax crisisThe new Colorado River plan is out, and it's already under fire

In 2022, LIV Golf pulled major golf stars away from the established PGA Tour with massive payouts. But this year, the Saudi Public Investment Fund pulled funding from the organization. This morning, we’re discussing how the upstart league struggled to attract fans and the broader impact of sports investment. But first, we talk Canada preparing to unveil retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. later today. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Saudi Arabia will no longer fund LIV Golf. What happened?

Canada is expected to launch retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. today, after President Donald Trump’s administration launched 50% tariffs on an array of goods (and threatened even more). Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to match them dollar-for-dollar. This morning, we talk about what we’ve heard from both countries and how this came around. Also, how a small township in northeast Ohio hosts a detailed D-Day reenactment. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Here's what it takes to put on the country's biggest WWII reenactment

California promised consumers an easier way to protect their personal data. Since 2024, the Delete Act has required the state registration of data brokers — businesses that collect and sell personal data from our digital footprints — and it also mandates they give consumers a way to request their data be deleted and report how many requests they get. But, a new Stanford report shows registered data brokers are largely ignoring the laws. Jennifer King, privacy and data policy fellow at Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered AI, says only 9% of data brokers are in compliance. More on this: “Regulating Data Brokers in the Age of AI: A California Case Study” from Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI “About DROP and the Delete Act” from the California Privacy Protection Agency

Fuel hasn’t been touched in the trade clash between the U.S. and Canada (yet). It’s probably because the countries have an interdependent energy relationship — American refineries rely on Canadian crude; 90% of Canadian crude exports go to the U.S. But as tensions escalate, we started to wonder: Is Canada looking for alternative buyers? Also in this episode: Imported Mexican cattle could temporarily ease beef prices, Walmart bucks inflation trend by announcing grocery price cuts, and suburbia embraces factory-built 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The U.S.-Canada trade fight has not touched oil ... yetWhile grocery costs rise, Walmart announces price cutsManufactured housing, coming to a suburb near youWill importing beef help bring down prices?The behavioral economics of drought management

Negotiations between the United States and Canada fell apart over the weekend, failing to prevent the U.S. imposing 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products that cover a wide array of goods. Julia Coronado, founder and president of MacroPolicy Perspectives, joins the show this morning for context on that and inflation, before we look at more long-term Treasury bonds being issued and insurance coverage problems for GLP-1 drugs. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Fewer employers are covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Should they?

Health insurance plans sponsored by employers could cost more than $19,000 per employee on average in 2027, according to insurance broker Aon — a rise of 9.5%. This morning, we’re talking about how workers could pay more as a result, even though companies typically shoulder about 80% of the cost. Also, we look at how more domestic travel spending is affecting one destination in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: Health plans will cost more in 2027, for employers and workers

Anthropic recently announced it's adding watermarks to all text outputted by its chatbot Claude. But often, you don't need fancy detection software to know; you just need to look for language that gets repeated over and over by AI chatbots, like “it's not X, it's Y.” That's a rhetorical structure referred to as negative parallelism. And it's the topic for today's “Uncanny AI,” those times when it becomes clear AI doesn't think like us. Will Oremus recently wrote about this AI tic for The Atlantic. More on this “The Most Famous AI Writing Tic Is Also the Most Mysterious” from The Atlantic “Move Over Em-Dash, There’s a New AI Tell in Town” from Ai-Ai-OH

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 1.8 million Americans have been actively looking for a fulltime job for more than 27 weeks. That’s over six months. In this episode, two people tell us what it’s like to navigate a never-ending job search. Plus: A surge in lone star ticks threatens the cattle industry, McDonald’s keeps huge amounts of data on frequent customers, and the national debt passes that $40 trillion threshold. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: The national debt hits $40 trillionTicks increasingly threaten the health and livelihood of ranchersAn Alabama cattle farm with a bird-tourism side hustle“Put me in, coach”: Navigating long-term unemployment in the low-hire economyHow the McDonald's mobile app compiled 515-page dossier on one reporter

Girl Scout Cookies represent a $800 million industry. A new documentary called “Cookie Queens” follows sellers across the country, and one of those featured, Olive, joins the show to discuss the economic lessons she’s learned. But first, Lauren Saidel-Baker, economist at ITR Economics, tells us what retail earnings can reveal about the U.S. consumer. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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 for some back-to-school supplies are up this year, alongside other essentials like groceries and gas. Shoppers aren’t just turning to cheaper brands — they’re buying less, and cutting out non-essentials. This morning, we look at how inflation could affect shopping extending into the holiday season. Then, we discuss the cost of our debt pushing up interest rates, and a North Carolina Girl Scout talks cookie selling. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Stories featured in this episode: “Back to school” on a budget

OpenAI is launching ChatGPT for Teens, which has new guardrails to steer conversations from sensitive topics like self-harm or sexual content. It’ll also include parental controls and features intended to support studying without the cognitive offloading that often happens. Plus, the surge in construction of AI data centers has increased the value of basically any component that goes into them. Now, thieves are increasingly targeting cargo shipments of materials bound for data centers. And Amazon is expanding its drone deliveries. Paresh Dave at Wired joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino for these stories. Everything we talked about: “Introducing ChatGPT for Teens: Built for learning, backed by protections” from OpenAI “OpenAI’s Second-Quarter Sales Show Tepid Growth Compared With Anthropic” from The Wall Street Journal “States Seek $200 Billion From Meta Over Child Social Media Addiction Claims” from The New York Times “‘The Worst I’ve Ever Seen’: Cargo Thefts Have Turned Violent in Pursuit of AI Hardware” from Wired “Amazon Prime Air drone delivery is expanding to nearly 500 US cities and towns this year” from Amazon

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s buyback of long-term bonds was a bit of a letdown this week — the interest rates barely budged. The Treasury’s next move in its quest to rein in the national debt will be to issue a ton more short-term securities. But that might not be such a good idea, either. In this episode, we’ll catch you up on the bond market turmoil. Plus: Multifamily construction permits are a housing bright spot, the Fed’s favorite inflation measure is due for a methodology change, and two craft-focused small business owners share the view from their 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: "Buying a house with a credit card": The Treasury's plan to finance the national debtThe Fed's preferred measure of inflation is changingAs central bank bigwigs gather in Jackson Hole, local businesses carry onBuilders bet on multifamily housing — but only in certain places

It's been a month now since the World Cup ended, but English football is back this week. The Premier League season kicks off Friday. And Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, is the latest American investor to buy a stake in a team — he’s now part of a group that purchased more than a third of Liverpool Football Club. Was it a smart investment? But first: Fewer homeowners are "equity-rich," and that concerns real estate analysts. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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. Number of "equity-rich" homes has declinedWhy would Jeff Bezos want to buy an English football team?

In case you missed it, investor jitters about borrowing, geopolitical conflict, and inflation drove the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield up to a nearly two-decade high. Then, the Treasury Department announced it would spend $4 billion on longer-term government bonds. There was some relief, and bond yields began to fall. We'll explain market reactions and why this is all about confidence in the long-term financial stability of the U.S. Plus, we'll learn about the current landscape for psychedelic therapy drugs. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace Morning Report 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.

How much should parents budget for daycare? Does it make more financial sense for both parents to work and pay for childcare, or for one parent to stay home and care for their child? And why is childcare so expensive if childcare workers aren’t paid enough? In this episode, Reema shares a big announcement… She also hears from listeners and new parents about how they’re making childcare work for their families, and public policy expert Taylor Morrissey explains why the childcare system in the United States feels so broken. If you like this episode, share it with a friend! And let us know what you think by calling 347-RING-TIU or emailing [email protected] If you want to answer our “Uncomfortable Questions” see more info here. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok! Support This Is Uncomfortable with your donation today: https://bit.ly/mkp_tiu_pod

Most of the world’s internet traffic flows through underwater cables on the ocean floor. The wires are also responsible for some $10 trillion worth of financial transactions every day. And because those cables hold so much data and carry so much money, they’re also a potential security threat. That may explain why the U.S. and China are vying for control over the technology — and why the Trump administration is ramping up spending to replace cables in the Caribbean and Central America. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Erin Murphy, the managing director for Asia at Redpoint Advisors, about why these cables play a key role in geopolitics. More on this: US is considering big boost to anti-China spending globally from The Associated Press Risk Beneath the Waves: Safeguarding Subsea Cables for a Secure Global Network from CSIS

The price of imported goods, sans energy, was up 4.5% year-over-year in July. Data center buildout is driving that jump — imported computer prices were up 17%. In this episode, we explain why import price inflation is distinct from regular inflation and what that leap means for Fed rate-setting. Plus: U.S. oil firms ink deals with Venezuelan producers, the Treasury excecutes on major bond buybacks, and Kai meets a duo trying to turn Hollywood upside-down — or, at least, vertical. 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. Read the stories in today’s episode: What happens when import prices skyrocket? More inflation, of courseU.S. oil companies ink production deals with VenezuelaMicrodramas get the "Hollywood treatment" at this new studio