Marketplace Morning Report

The consumer price index is up 3.4% in a year, and — setting aside volatile food and fuels costs — the CPI increase over 12 months was the lowest in three years. For people fervently hoping interest rates will go down sooner rather than later, this is good news. But can there be too much slowing? We dig in. Plus, we’ll hear how the economy of Necoclí, Colombia, has shifted to serve migrants stopping there. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

The consumer price index comes out later this morning. It’s designed to measure inflation but ignores one of the biggest categories of price increases hitting consumers: the cost of borrowing money. We’ll unpack why that’s the case. Also, a bipartisan group of Senators wants the federal government to spend $30 billion to address artificial intelligence development. Then, school districts face tough choices as pandemic funding ends The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

From the BBC World Service: Roughly 500,000 migrants traveled through dense jungles on the Colombia-Panama border last year, according to the United Nations. We’ll hear how businesses in a beach town have shifted their focus to cater to the new arrivals. Plus, China vowed to retaliate against President Biden’s significant tariffs on some Chinese imports. Meanwhile, Russia’s President Putin spoke of his country’s close ties to China ahead of a visit to Beijing. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

Shares of video game retailer GameStop skyrocketed nearly 75% yesterday and are poised to shoot even higher today. That comes after the trader who championed the last run-up in GameStop’s share value posted on social media for the first time since 2021. We’ll hear the latest. Also on the program: regulator concerns over election bets and a dip in medical student residency applications in states with abortion bans. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

At Rochester Regional Health in New York, aggressive collection activities on medical debts are barred. Patients are not sued, their wages are not garnished, and unpaid bills won’t sink their credit scores. We’ll hear about the health system’s shift to the uncommon model and learn more about its impact. But first, the Biden administration is announcing increased tariffs on imports from China. And later, how can the WNBA sustain its surging popularity? The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

From the BBC World Service: Today, we examine the controversial law proposed by the Eastern European nation of Georgia, where organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from overseas would be classified as ‘”foreign agents.” This is seen as a fork in the road for the country: Does its future lie with Europe or Russia? Then, rapid growth in the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru has put pressure on crucial water resources. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

This year, the Dow and S&P have repeatedly hit record highs. But even as the value of the stock market grows, the number of firms traded on the market is shrinking, and has been since the mid-1990s. And when fewer companies are public, it limits our understanding of what’s happening in the economy. Plus, a preview of wholesale inflation and retail sales, and a closer look at the impact of RTO mandates. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

Following a big union win last month at a VW plant in Tennessee, the United Auto Workers face a new test in the South: Workers at a Mercedes-Benz assembly-and-battery complex in Alabama begin voting on whether to join the UAW this week. Can the labor organizing momentum be sustained? Also: why a cap on credit card late fees is getting delayed and how to go into debt without anyone noticing. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

From the BBC World Service: With global demand high for the most advanced tech chips, the South Korean government plans to boost its sector with more than $7 billion investment. We’ll discuss where the funding is likely to be funneled and paint a picture of the U.S.-China tensions over chips that it butts up against. Also, the Russian army is hiring Cuban nationals for its war efforts against Ukraine. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

To get between Dallas and Houston, it’s an bogged down 240-mile roadtrip that can sometimes take five hours. Amtrak wants a bullet train to get the job done in 90 minutes and says it could be built within a decade — if federal funding comes through. Plus, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on who will pay to rebuild after the Baltimore bridge collapse and a preview of next week’s retail sales figures. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

If you save up your miles or credit card points for vacations, you may be treating them a bit like savings. But unlike money in your savings account, a company can change the value of those points. Today, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins Marketplace’s David Brancaccio to make the case for greater transparency in airline and credit card rewards programs. Also: the San Francisco Fed President on the future of interest rates. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

From the BBC World Service: Shares in major Chinese electric carmakers have fallen following reports that the U.S. is preparing to bring additional tariffs against Chinese companies, specifically aimed at EVs and other sectors. Then, rat remains have been found in sliced bread in Japan, triggering recalls. And the Eurovision Song Contest, watched by 200,000,000 people worldwide, has faced controversy over Israel’s inclusion in the show. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

A new class of weight loss drugs known as GLP-1s, like Wegovy and Zepbound, helped grow the weight loss industry to nearly $90 billion last year. Now, weight loss companies, apps and fitness companies are adapting their to programs include the drugs, as well. Also, allegations of serious fraud threaten a big U.S.-U.K. soccer deal, and China’s latest trade data showed a return to growth in April. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

A recent TransUnion report shows borrowers aged 22 to 24 are carrying an average of roughly $2,800 in credit card debt — adjusted for inflation, that’s more than millennials in the same age range a decade ago. Then, an ad for Apple’s latest iPad has gone viral … for the wrong reasons. And what might America’s next economy look like? We discuss what achieving an economic framework that works for everyone might entail. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

From the BBC World Service: The European Union plans to use profits from frozen Russian assets to fund arms to Ukraine, which could be worth around $3 billion a year. Plus, the head of public relations at China’s biggest search engine, Baidu, apologized after glorifying a work-till-you-drop culture. And as China’s President Xi Jinping concludes his European tour in Hungary, we look at the country’s growing EV battery industry. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

A new report from an independent law firm says that big changes are needed at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to address widespread allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination and that FDIC’s management’s response has been “insufficient.” We’ll discuss. Plus, there was a big slowdown of consumer credit growth in March. And can the “Las Vegas of the East” move away from gambling revenue to entertainment?

Anheuser-Busch, maker of Bud Light, reported earnings this morning. The company has been slowly recovering since last year, when Bud Light became the target of a conservative boycott over a 45-second promotional video posted by a transgender influencer. We’ll delve into the backlash and get a taste of the light beer market. Also on the show: FTX investors might get their money back, and the Biden administration overhauls requirements for retirement planners.

From the BBC World Service: Chinese president Xi Jinping is in Serbia aiming to deepen political and economic ties. China has invested heavily in the Eastern European country as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Then, we take a closer look at how devastating rains have hit Kenya, where thousands have been displaced and crops ruined. We also head to Macau, where Chinese authorities want to see the territory diversify away from gambling.

How “joint fundraising committees” bring in hefty political donations without technically running afoul of contribution limits; plus, checking in on the Biden administration’s multi-billion-dollar plan to remove lead pipes — and improve drinking water safety — across the country.

In the absence of federal paid sick leave, some states work to fill the gap. Plus, a new report on the looming Social Security and Medicare budget shortfalls, and what to expect from Reddit’s first earnings report since its March IPO.