Marketplace
American Public Media
Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day’s business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. “Marketplace” takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.
Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Description:
Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day’s business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. “Marketplace” takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.
Twitter:
@MktplaceRadio
Language:
English
Contact:
261 South Figueroa Street #200 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 621-3500
Email:
Letters@marketplace.org
Listen on a live station
Episodes
What happened to sweater weather?
11/20/2024
Clothing retailers were foiled by unpredictable weather this fall: October was the second warmest on record, and now stores are sitting on a lot of extra cold-weather inventory. What will they do about it? Plus: Comcast spins off most of its cable network channels, a violin maker talks tariffs, and an author tells us about “The Nvidia Way,” the chip designer’s unique workplace culture.
Duration:00:25:27
Private equity’s appetite for restaurants
11/19/2024
Blackstone just bought a majority stake in Jersey Mike’s, a sub shop with 3,000 locations. Surprised? Don’t be. Since the pandemic started, private equity has been gobbling up restaurants, especially fast-casual ones. But struggling chains and sit-down establishments can also be attractive investments. We’ll chew on why. Also in this episode: Homebuilders are cautiously optimistic and central banks around the globe are nervous about a flare-up of inflation.
Duration:00:27:39
A more equal nation?
11/18/2024
There are various ways to measure economic inequality. Sure, pandemic-era aid programs helped low-income Americans grow their wealth. And overall, wages have gone up since COVID hit. But did the gap between the wealthiest and poorest shrink? We’ll get into it. Also in this episode: Walmart is expected to report a robust third quarter tomorrow, boosted by e-commerce and affordable prices. Plus, retailers fret over a holiday shopping slowdown and the U.S. dollar grows stronger.
Duration:00:29:34
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … online
11/15/2024
We may be two weeks out from Thanksgiving, but online retailers are already locked in on holiday shopping season. While brick-and-mortar stores might not have flashy displays up yet, online shops decked the virtual halls over a month ago. Also in this episode: Houses of worship go all-in on solar energy tech and some small banks are in desperate need of technology updates.
Duration:00:28:46
Too much oil?
11/14/2024
The incoming administration may follow the mantra “Drill, baby, drill,” but demand hasn’t been vigorous and the International Energy Agency predicts an oil surplus next year. In this episode, what too much product could mean for the domestic oil market. Plus, retirees feel financially stretched, North Carolina’s tourist industry navigates disaster recovery and Disney turns a profit on its streaming platforms.
Duration:00:27:48
All inflation is local
11/13/2024
The national inflation rate doesn’t give a full picture of rising prices. Some places have it better than others. In this episode, housing costs have driven inflation down in some places, and kept rates above the average in others. Plus: Will China have to pay its fair share in the clean energy transition? Are Americans in better shape to pay off debt than before the pandemic? And, does anyone really need an AI shopping assistant?
Duration:00:27:58
A tale of 3 Q3s
11/12/2024
Financial data from three industry-leading firms tells three very different stories. Concert promoter Live Nation had a scorching-hot summer season, while car rental company Hertz fumbled an electric vehicle investment. Home Depot fell somewhere in between. Also in this episode, housing construction. Are townhouses a solution to the shortage of homes? And why does HUD take years to fund rebuilding after natural disasters?
Duration:00:28:02
What does the crypto industry want?
11/11/2024
Cryptocurrency firms are thrilled with last week’s election outcome. For them, a second Trump term means a friendly face in the White House. What do they want this time around? Surprisingly, some rules. Also in this episode: Beef futures are up, inflation stalls just above the Federal Reserve’s target, and we dig into how the National Institutes of Health spent $1.6 billion in federal funding for long COVID research.
Duration:00:29:37
Solutions to the housing shortage
11/8/2024
he U.S. is somewhere between 3 million and 7 million units short of meeting the nation’s housing needs. What can be done to build up the supply of homes? We asked five experts for their solutions. Also in this episode: A new program to cool down electric grid demand comes to Texas and an Iowa soybean farmer stays optimistic in the face of a bad harvest and a potential upcoming trade war.
Duration:00:27:35
Import rush
11/7/2024
If President-elect Donald Trump gets his way, importers are about to pay a ton more in tariffs. Some businesses are scrambling to bring as much stuff as possible into the country before his inauguration — and that’s not exactly easy. Also in this episode: Streaming platforms gain more international subscribers, hybrid workers Lyft to the office and the Fed cuts its key interest rate.
Duration:00:28:44
The economy Trump will inherit
11/6/2024
What will happen to the economy during Trump’s second stint in the White House? We don’t know for sure. But his planned immigration crackdown could cut into gross domestic product and raise prices, and his promised high tariffs are likely to do the same. Plus: Stocks jumped after the election was called, Biden will leave behind a vigorous economy and firms seeking skilled labor are gonna need to educate new workers.
Duration:00:28:48
Who insures the insurers?
11/5/2024
Back-to-back Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused billions in damage. How are insurers going to pay for it all? Turns out, insurance companies have their own insurance. But as disasters get more severe and more frequent, “reinsurance” isn’t covering what it used to. Also in this episode: Boeing has major catch-up to do, an abandoned oil field could become a lithium extraction hotspot, and small businesses seem hesitant to cut health benefits.
Duration:00:27:25
Don’t touch that AM dial!
11/4/2024
There are only a few bills with strong bipartisan support in the soon-to-be lame duck Congress. Requiring AM radio in new cars is one of them. Proponents say AM radio is a vital part of the Emergency Alert System and still broadcasts news in rural communities. Carmakers aren’t buying it. Plus, the Dow’s got some newcomers, OPEC (once again) postpones increasing oil production, and farmers stress about tariffs ahead of the election.
Duration:00:29:44
Big Tech trust-busting
11/1/2024
The federal government is seeking a legal remedy for Google’s monopoly on internet search, as adjudicated by a federal judge. That remedy could include a breakup of its parent company, Alphabet. But when similar accusations were leveled against Microsoft a couple of decades ago, the software titan emerged from its trial intact. Also in this episode, Shohei Ohtani is a star in the baseball card market and California’s battle with planet-clogging plastic bags enters a new phase.
Duration:00:25:45
What happens if Trump brings back Schedule F?
10/31/2024
An estimated 50,000 civil service jobs were slated to become political appointments under a Trump-era executive order. If Donald Trump returns to the White House, there’s a chance he’ll reinstate it, leading to the biggest federal workforce shakeup in nearly 150 years. Also in this episode: A new resource for farmers market pricing and the key to sustainable wage growth.
Duration:00:28:22
The consumer spending sweet spot
10/30/2024
Consumer spending has been strong since the post-pandemic-crash economy got back on its feet, and it continues to prop up GDP. But too much spending, as well as too little, could mess with the Federal Reserve’s goals of stable prices and maximum employment. Also in this episode: WNBA players want a contract to match their popularity and brand power, wage growth stays ahead of inflation and farmers are having a down year.
Duration:00:27:21
Why American solar manufacturers are divided on tariffs
10/29/2024
Solar panels are key in the transition to cleaner energy. But despite oodles of federal investment, there are still obstacles in the way of the U.S. manufacturing industry. Also in this episode: Home price increases slow, “The Diplomat” showrunner aims for authenticity, and the Fed’s next move.
Duration:00:28:16
Why Fed independence is crucial
10/28/2024
If Donald Trump is reelected president, the Federal Reserve’s political independence would go “right out the window,” Alan Blinder, a former Fed vice chairman, told us. In this special episode, economists weigh in on the importance of Fed autonomy in policymaking, and what political interference — something Trump is threatening — could mean for the global economy.
Duration:00:29:58
Tupperware, Halloween candy, claw machines — oh my!
10/25/2024
Tupperware, the once-innovative plastic container brand, filed for bankruptcy a few weeks ago. Other companies still sell via party, but Tupperware pioneered the model. What happened? Also in this episode: Gummy candy overtakes chocolate in the Halloween sales race, and a family trip overseas inspires a claw machine arcade business in Colorado.
Duration:00:27:21
What’s better, a pension or a 401(k)?
10/24/2024
Machinists who have been on strike against Boeing for over a month just rejected a second contract. A major sticking point? Pensions, which the company suspended 10 years ago, in favor of 401(k) contributions. In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons of each. Plus: Colorado’s oldest business will become a co-op, a tight housing market means fixer-uppers are cool again and recent hurricanes test the catastrophe bond market.
Duration:00:27:38