Trump's jobs report retaliation "raises alarm bells"
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s July jobs report came in far below expectations. May and June’s ...
Anomaly or omen?
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Employers announced around 62,000 job cuts in July, according to a report from Challenger, Gray &...
Let's take a hard look at that GDP growth
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. GDP grew at a healthy clip in the second quarter of 2025. But a mathematical equation can’t c...
Consumers are still stressed about the job market
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumer confidence ticked up in June, according to The Conference Board. At the same time, confiden...
How are lenders and borrowers feeling?
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since it’s unlikely the Fed will make any interest rate moves at this week’s meeting, it’s saf...
AI and 'surveillance' pricing
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dynamic or 'surveillance' pricing is a relatively common practice. But what's changed is the sheer v...
The dangers of fiscal dominance
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump wants lower interest rates now, but what could that mean for the economy? "Marketpla...
A new trade deal with Japan
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Under the new agreement, American consumers will now face a 15% tax on Japanese imports — a major ...
What's at stake if the Federal Reserve loses its independence?
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal speaks with Greg Ip at the Wall Street Journal about growing threats ...
Looking for economic clues in corporate America
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We like to say it a lot here at Marketplace: the stock market is not the economy. But it can help te...
Will August bring a wave of trade deals or a hike in tariffs?
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re starting to see the first real evidence of President Trump’s tariffs showing up in consume...
How immigration can bolster an aging workforce
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a nation’s workforce grows older, innovation and delayed retirement can keep economic gears tur...
Can robots help us care for an aging population?
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The number of people 85 years and older is expected to double in the U.K. over the next couple of de...
Want to understand our aging workforce? Look to the U.K.
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
By 2050, around a quarter of people in the U.K. will be 65 or older — about ten years before the U...
Who pays for tariffs?
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Up and down the supply chain, companies are facing a dilemma: Should they absorb tariff surcharges a...
The GOP slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid's budget. What now?
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Medicaid budget just lost about $1 trillion. Eleven million more Americans will go uninsured, th...
Reliable earnings outlooks? In this economy?
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When companies release earnings reports, they often predict where they’re headed next, profit-wise...
Let's get a grip on the labor market
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The June jobs report gave a sunny picture of the labor market. But if you’re, say, looking for a j...
RIP to the EV tax credit
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A tax credit for electric vehicles was killed under the latest GOP tax and spending bill. It's a cre...
The consequences of tariff uncertainty
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trump officials signaled tariffs will be once again postponed, possibly to August 1. But as the Whit...
What happens when states manage public land?
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some conservatives think states should take over management of federal land. But often, states lack ...
Fear of ICE raids keeps California farm workers on edge
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On California farms, ICE raid fears persist — at least half of the state’s crop workers are undo...
Reading the labor market tea leaves
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumer spending sputtered in May, likely thanks to tariffs and related uncertainty. Not only does ...
Time for a national debt history lesson
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Senate just narrowly passed the latest version of the GOP tax and spending bill, and the House w...
An American manufacturing road trip
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Several regional Fed offices reported soft or stagnant manufacturing activity this spring. Tariffs, ...
All eyes on the inflation data
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a big week for economic data, with key reports on GDP, PCE, retail sales and consumer sent...
Finding work is tough in a stalled labor market
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing unemployment claims just hit nearly two million — the highest number since November 202...
Prepping for all possibilities
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just two weeks out from the Trump administration’s tariff pause deadline, no one is quite sure wha...
Consumers couldn't turn frowns upside-down for long
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped in June. That’s after a brief reprive i...
Despite Iran conflict, U.S. oil production is unlikely to budge
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After launching air strikes on Iranian unclear facilities over the weekend, President Trump posted t...
Auto repair shops struggle under Trump's tariffs
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the “tariffs the Trump administration has announced and actually put into long-term effect” c...
Home sales grow less competitive
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This spring, just 28% of U.S. homes sold above asking price, according to Redfin. That’s the lowes...
Break glass in case of oil price shock
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Fed kept interest rates as-is today, and Chair Powell said policymakers are “well-positioned t...
Food banks tackle summer break hunger
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a busy time for food banks — without school breakfast and lunch programs, more families le...
The Fed's got an interest rate decision to make
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Federal Open Market Committee meets later this week, and it’s pretty likely they’ll examine ...
Shipping costs are up. Thank Trump's seesawing trade policy.
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When President Trump slapped sky-high tariffs on goods from China, exporters rerouted ships elsewher...
No, the Fed should not stop paying interest on reserves
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might’ve missed it amid all the Congressional budget hoopla, but Senator Ted Cruz recently flo...
Tariff-driven price bloat hasn't arrived just yet
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Prices rose 0.1% in May, according to the latest consumer price index — that’s less than some an...
What do U.S. Treasury auctions have to do with me?
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Later this week, the U.S. Treasury will auction off billions of dollars worth of 30-year bonds. Whil...
What's the consumer debt tipping point?
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Consumer credit rose $17.9 billion in April — $6 billion more than projected, the Fed says. Americ...
Labor force participation dropped last month
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest jobs report is out Friday, and overall it’s pretty middling — some details are good n...
Churn goes the labor market
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Unemployment filings and layoffs are rising, and private sector hiring hit a two-year low, recent re...
Why employers are flocking to Utah County
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Provo, Utah, which sits in one of the youngest counties of the U.S., has attracted some major employ...
What if government data becomes untrustworthy?
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The GOP’s budget bill, now at the Senate, includes proposed cuts to federal statistical agencies. ...
How many trade wars are we in right now?
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It depends on who you ask. But we can all agree that this round of tariffs is not the same as the on...
Where's the job market headed?
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The economic reports out this week gave a fuzzy view of the economy, but next week will be all about...
This GOP bill will affect borrowing costs for everyone
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The GOP spending and tax bill making its way through Congress would pile significantly onto the nati...
Can anyone compete with Nvidia?
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nvidia, as you probably know, makes chips — more specifically, GPUs, which are needed to power art...
Consumer sentiment rebounds
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Conference Board’s latest consumer confidence index notched its highest monthly increase in fo...
Pessimistic about the economy? You're not alone.
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When “vibecession” became a word in 2022, it referred to consumers grappling with higher prices ...
WNBA franchises are a slam dunk in this iffy economy
Fri, 23 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The WNBA’s first expansion team in 18 years, the Golden State Valkyries, played its first game las...
Who can afford a house in this economy?
Thu, 22 May 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The supply of homes for sale hit a nearly five-year high in April, but prospective buyers aren’t e...
The bond market is panicky over that GOP bill
Wed, 21 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The latest GOP spending and tax bill would add an estimated $3.8 trillion to the national deficit ov...
Which companies can "eat" Trump's tariffs?
Tue, 20 May 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Over the weekend, President Trump told retailers to “eat the tariffs” after Walmart warned of pr...
"Buy Canadian" boycott takes off
Mon, 19 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
These days, Canadian consumers aren’t just interested in supporting their own homegrown businesses...
Redefining the "college senior"
Fri, 16 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
University retirement communities — where a college partners with a senior living community to pr...
When stressed consumers and higher prices collide
Thu, 15 May 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Retail sales were practically flat from March to April, and consumers are feeling more glum, two rec...
That "big, beautiful" tax bill could shock the bond market
Wed, 14 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Early estimates say the GOP’s tax bill will add $3.8 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years. ...
So, when will we see those tariff price hikes?
Tue, 13 May 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
New data shows us that despite President Trump’s new tariffs, the inflation rate for some categori...
U.S. and China hit pause on tariff war
Mon, 12 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
For the next 90 days, the two countries will temporarily ease tariffs on each other’s goods as tra...
Uncertainty is the name of the game
Fri, 09 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
This week, the Federal Reserve opted to leave short-term interest rates alone, despite concerns abou...
What we're expecting
Thu, 08 May 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The latest consumer expectations report is out and Americans are feeling much worse about their own ...
U.S. to talk trade with China
Wed, 07 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
As tariff pressures mount, China’s vice president and other leaders have agreed to meet with top U...
What comes after the trade deficit surge
Tue, 06 May 2025 18:25:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The U.S. trade deficit hit a record high in March, as businesses rushed to bring in goods ahead of n...
How cheap is too cheap?
Mon, 05 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Oil companies are barely breaking even on crude oil right now — a barrel of West Texas Intermediat...
Supply chain strain, redux
Fri, 02 May
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
It’s been one month since President Trump raised tariffs on goods from China. Already, the global ...
What will Trump's trade war do to labor productivity?
Thu, 01 May 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
An upward climb in labor productivity has been a promising economic trend over the past few years. T...
"March is ancient history"
Wed, 30 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The latest GDP calculations and PCE index tell us the U.S. economy is doing … OK. Importantly, the...
Tariff fears likely shrunk the GDP
Tue, 29 Apr 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
When new gross domestic product data comes out tomorrow, economists expect we'll see the first GDP c...
Taxes due today on goods sold tomorrow
Mon, 28 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Though it’s hard to say how much tariff-driven sticker shock consumers can stomach, some retailers...
In this uncertain economy, gold shines
Fri, 25 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The stock and bond markets may tumultuous right now, but gold prices have been on a tear. This week,...
Trump aims axe at community lender fund
Thu, 24 Apr 2025 22:55:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund supports lenders in far-flung and...
Say goodbye to affordable clothing
Wed, 23 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Trump’s tariffs will touch the vast majority of industries, but apparel — clothes, shoes, access...
No job? No office phone? Thanks DOGE.
Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:35:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Verizon lost nearly 300,000 monthly phone subscribers in the first quarter. The telecom giant put pa...
Boeing aircraft, duty-free no more
Mon, 21 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The scale and volatility of the trade war may be surprising, but tariffs aren’t new — unless you...
Special Coverage from Marketplace: Selling America
Sun, 20 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: We’re in an unprecedented economic moment. But this time re...
A housing market dilemma
Fri, 18 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Some relief seems to have arrived on the housing shortage front — listings are up 9% compared to l...
Amid turmoil, firms cling to their employees
Thu, 17 Apr 2025 22:30:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
First-time jobless claims have been pretty stable since the start of March — unlike many other par...
Tariff anxiety turns fun splurges into stress purchases
Wed, 16 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
We’ve heard about people rushing to replace big-ticket essentials ahead of trade war-related price...
Counting the ways tariffs disrupt our economy
Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:50:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
For the first few years of the pandemic, businesses navigated a backed-up global supply chain that l...
Office uncertainty — inside and out
Mon, 14 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Fear of unemployment jumped 4.6 percentage points to 44% in March, according to a New York Fed surve...
Expect tariff evasion
Fri, 11 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Just like some people fudge the numbers to lower their taxes, some companies do the same when paying...
Eyeing the bond market
Thu, 10 Apr 2025 22:30:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Stocks aren’t the only assets in the financial markets that were beat up this week by President Tr...
Acting on uncertainty
Wed, 09 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
We’ve said it more than once lately: This economy is defined by uncertainty. And as President Trum...
A cold snap in corporate bonds
Tue, 08 Apr 2025 21:14:45 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The issuance of corporate bonds has slowed to a crawl, thanks to all that uncertainty in the economy...
Footwear will likely still be “Made in China”
Mon, 07 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Import levies on Chinese goods amount to 54% right now. But some things that China excels at produci...
Who will tariffs hurt the most?
Fri, 04 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Tariff-driven inflation will hit Americans with the lowest incomes the hardest, slashing their disp...
Reminder: Tariffs are taxes.
Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:50:42 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Uncertainty about tariffs and trade policy has been top of mind since President Donald Trump’s ele...
Q1 dealmaking takes a dive
Wed, 02 Apr
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Corporate dealmakers hoped merger and acquisition ventures would heat up this year. But the first qu...
The negative wealth effect
Tue, 01 Apr 2025 22:40:06 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
People feel richer — and spend accordingly — when their assets rise in value. That’s called th...
Will owning a home ever be affordable again?
Mon, 31 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Just how expensive has homeownership become? To afford a typical home, households need an income of ...
Are U.S. consumers finally running out of steam?
Fri, 28 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Consumers say they’re fed up with inflation, then they keep spending. But their behavior could be ...
Uncertainty, thy name is tariff
Thu, 27 Mar 2025 23:32:00 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Bureau of Economic An...
The law of unintended consequences
Wed, 26 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
More tariffs are on the way, this time targeting vehicle imports. President Donald Trump favors impo...
Consumer confidence continues to dim
Tue, 25 Mar 2025 23:15:28 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The latest reading marks the fourth straight month of declining consumer confidence, and it fell mor...
Will tariffs boost U.S. manufacturing?
Mon, 24 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
The Donald Trump administration wants to strengthen U.S. manufacturing with tariffs on imported good...
Measuring a tax cut is all about the framing
Fri, 21 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
We’re tackling a “mysterious and important” question in today’s episode: Should Congress use...
These sectors are bracing for price hikes
Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:21:27 +0000
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
More tariffs are set to take effect April 2, and in most cases, American consumers and businesses wi...
Fed takes “wait and see” approach with tariffs
Wed, 19 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
Federal Reserve policymakers aren’t cutting interest rates right now, though they expect two rate ...
Stress-Googling “recession”? You’re not alone.
Wed, 19 Mar
Contributed by Lukas • Default Dataset
“Recession” recently peaked on Google Trends — a sure sign Americans are sweating the possibil...