Marketplace

Recent episodes

1. The future of self-driving cars from Marketplace

   Jul 31, 202626 min

   Amazon’s autonomous vehicle company, Zoox, can now roll out 2,500 of its vehicles annually in the next two years. Are more robotic cars coming, or will there be more speed bumps? But first, we’ll look at the market impact of the Fed’s decision to keep interest rates steady in our Weekly Wrap. Plus, the effect of rising health insurance costs for employers, a retiree returning to the workforce for a family business, and a look at how Boulder, Colorado is making room for the Sundance Film Festival. 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: Weekly Wrap: Kevin Warsh's dilemma on interest rates Rising health insurance costs may take a bite out of your paycheck Leaving retirement for a new family business Amazon's self-driving Zoox taxis are about to hit the roads When a legendary film festival comes to Colorado, will homeowners open their doors?

2. Why price-squeezed consumers still shell out for organic from Marketplace

   Jul 30, 202626 min

   Since 2020, the cost of groceries has risen 26%. But contrary to what you might think, cash-strapped consumers aren’t necessarily staying away from pricier options. In this episode, why Americans are doubling down on organic — even as the cost of their overall grocery haul rises. Plus: Why more customers are choosing chargebacks, what economists predict about inflation two years from now, and how a Maine nonprofit is bringing lobstering to the next generation. 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 doesn't have an inflation crystal ball, but it does have "sticky-price CPI" In spite of price hike fatigue, consumers are still snapping up organic foods Credit card chargebacks are on the rise — part of the reason is fraud Multiple wars drive up the price of diesel "Never would have expected to be here": Young Mainers consider the lobster

3. The states making extra off of high gas prices from Marketplace

   Jul 29, 202626 min

   The Trump administration’s war in the Middle East has driven up fuel prices globally. As drivers pay more at the pump, some oil-rich states like New Mexico and Alaska are experiencing a tax revenue windfall. In this episode, one man’s gas spend becomes another man’s state budget booster. Plus: The Fed holds rates steady despite internal disagreement, “kidulting” and collectibles fuel growth in the toy retail space, and a line dancing resurgence driven by social media launches one instructor’s boot scootin’ career. 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: Oil-producing states benefit from war-driven windfall Adults are spending big on toys What happens if the AI bubble pops? How one entrepreneur is riding a wave in popularity for line dancing

4. No, Trump's tariffs haven't reshored manufacturing jobs from Marketplace

   Jul 28, 202626 min

   President Trump insists his economic policies have supported a reshoring of manufacturing jobs. At a rally held at a Michigan GM facility on Monday, he doubled down. In reality, the U.S. has lost 75,000 manufacturing jobs since Trump took office in 2025. In this episode, we fact check the President’s claims, and consider the future of Michigan’s auto industry. Plus: Companies begin to offer insurance for AI mistakes, the U.S. trade deficit shrank a bit in June, and UPS winds down its Amazon delivery fulfilment partnership. 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: Trump says his aggressive trade policy is bringing back factory jobs. Is it? No really, what is Kevin Warsh thinking? New insurance products cover damages caused by AI UPS and FedEx are moving from higher volumes to higher margins The trade deficit fell in June, but remains high As mortgage rates stay high, this lender is seeing buyers accept the new normal

5. TPS cuts will tear through the labor market from Marketplace

   Jul 27, 202626 min

   More than 330,000 Haitians lost their ability to legally live and work in the U.S. this week. A recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for refugees from certain countries. In this episode, why the policy change will deliver a swift blow to the healthcare sector. Plus: Economists weigh the Fed’s next interest rate move, businesses report cautious optimism in new survey, and a Baltimore club redistributes wealth to neighbors in need. 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: Economists share their Fed expectations Businesses report optimism, despite all the economic uncertainty A new kind of club wants people to share the wealth What the end of TPS for Haitians could mean for the labor force To reduce their climate impact, airlines target contrails Circus school balances world-class programs with small town values

6. A year later, is Trump’s investment in Intel… a win-win? from Marketplace

   Jul 24, 202625 min

   Intel’s sales jumped by 25% last quarter, the largest increase in over a decade — making the U.S. government’s stake in the company around $40 billion after the administration invested last year. In this episode: Was Trump’s Intel deal a win-win? Plus: Why Gen Z’s not drinking regular soda, rates on business loans might climb, and a 63-year-old pivoted to statue restoration after a career in tech. 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: Weekly Wrap: Are tariffs just white noise? Rates on business loans have held steady, but they might climb soon Intel is booming a year after the U.S. government bought a stake. Is that a win-win? Mushroom soda and other functional drinks make a splash in the beverage market How a 63-year-old took statue restoration from a side hustle to full-time job

7. Unemployment filings hit a 55-year low from Marketplace

   Jul 23, 202625 min

   Sounds rosy, right? Not if you’re long-term unemployed, underemployed, or a new grad. In this episode, the labor market’s low-hire, low-fire status quo reaches a new extreme. Plus: States sue over new Medicaid work requirement protocols, Uber lays off a tenth of its customer service workers with plans to replace them with AI chatbots, and a family travel boom reshapes luxury resorts. 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 still a tight job market, despite record-low initial unemployment claims As yields on Treasury notes rise, the bond market is changing States sound alarm over new Medicaid work requirement rule An AI customer service agent will take your call now The life of a Hollywood freelancer Families are crashing honeymoon hot spots

8. What's driving up the 30-year Treasury yield? from Marketplace

   Jul 22, 202626 min

   The yield on a 30-year Treasury bond has been hovering above 5% for a couple weeks — the longest stretch since the Great Recession. One reason is Treasury bonds are competing with Big Tech debt. We’ll explain, with help from one reporter’s shady gym membership deal. Also in this episode: AT&T attributes strong earnings to service bundles, a customs broker updates us on shipping logistics amid tariff changes, and Kai explains why Fed economists want to keep inflation expectations "anchored." 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: 30-year Treasury yields stick above 5% China's consumer economy is losing steam AT&T's service bundles make for an earnings boon Inside the "tariff whirlpool" with a brokerage manager What “anchored inflation expectations” mean for the Fed

9. What Anthropic's copyright settlement means from Marketplace

   Jul 21, 202625 min

   Anthropic settled a copyright case Monday, agreeing to pay out $1.5 billion to authors whose material had been scraped to train its AI chatbot. It comes out to roughly $3,000 per work used after legal fees and other costs. But the outcome isn’t as decisive as it seems. In this episode, what Anthropic’s decision to settle means for future AI copyright cases. Plus: What we lose when we rely on digital downloads, why Jersey Mike’s is soaring while Subway slumps, and how small business owners are handling higher trucking 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: How business owners are grappling with higher trucking costs Jersey Mike's filed to go public. What advantages does it have over other sandwich chains? A GM vehicle will set you back around $52,000. Here's why that's higher than average. In the digital era, what media do we still own? Anthropic pays $1.5 billion to settle a copyright case Breckenridge's dark night skies are dreamy — but they come at a cost

10. The four dollar threshold from Marketplace

    Jul 20, 202626 min

    Blink and you’d miss it — gas prices cooled earlier this summer as the Iran war reached a ceasefire, but the national average is back up to $4 a gallon, according to AAA. In this episode, will U.S.-Iran negotiations drive fuel prices even higher? Plus: Starter home supply eases in some parts of the country, regional bank earnings reveal what’s going on in the consumer economy, and Kai discusses changes to the Fed under Chair Kevin Warsh. 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: Gas prices hit $4 a gallon again Regional bank earnings will tell us a lot about the health of the economy All engines go as U.S. shipping speeds up Starter home supply is starting to pick up, particularly in the South For this Texas park worker, home is about the location — not the house

11. Will Chevron-Iraq deal solve oil woes? from Marketplace

    Jul 17, 202625 min

    The short answer is no, the Chevron-Iraq deal won’t solve the problem. So why did the U.S.-based energy company sign a vague, preliminary deal to negotiate a pipeline that circumvents the Strait of Hormuz? It’s another sign that energy firms expect the war with Iran to drag on. Also in this episode: Talent managers represent more social media influencers as sponsored content spending grows, a food critic delivers the history of iconic Las Vegas buffets, and the U.S. experiences a fun shortage. 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 softening. Can it last with war and tariffs? Chevron seeks new route to transport oil from Iraq The professionals behind that sponcon on your feed The economics behind America’s fun shortage The Las Vegas buffet, from 1946 to today

12. Businesses brace for tariff déjà vu from Marketplace

    Jul 16, 202625 min

    The White House has proposed new tariffs on 60 countries that allegedly aren’t doing enough to ban forced labor. Domestic businesses, already burned from last year’s trade war, are bracing for more hurt. In this episode, companies weigh early orders against rising costs. Plus: Recent positive inflation data could convince the Fed to hold interest rates steady, Kroger buys Giant Eagle in ongoing effort to unseat Walmart as the supermarket market-share king, and parents sacrifice to put their kids through youth sports. 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 from today’s episode: Retailers map out tariff strategies The Fed digests an optimistic week for economic data Traditional supermarkets are struggling. Kroger hopes its Giant Eagle merger will help Business Botox: What it takes to sell a luxury home Youth sports have turned into a five-figure-a-year commitment for many parents

13. The U.S. has the steepest inflation in the G7 from Marketplace

    Jul 15, 202625 min

    Though the latest inflation reports show price growth cooled a bit in June, U.S. inflation remains higher than its peer nations, which include the U.K., Canada, France, and Japan. President Trump’s tariffs are partially to blame. But so is hefty capital expenditure by AI giants. Can anything counterbalance all that spending? After that: Kai explains the utility of Beige Book “soft” data, IBM posts mediocre earnings, farmers fret over fertilizer prices, and student borrowers weather five years of policy whiplash. 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 is inflation in the U.S. worse than other developed countries? IBM and other old-school tech companies feel the AI pinch Fertilizer costs worry farmers as Iran conflict continues Student loan policy changes give borrowers whiplash For these entrepreneurs, it's all in the details

14. Inflation came down in June. Will it stay that way? from Marketplace

    Jul 14, 202625 min

    We got a better-than-expected June CPI report: Inflation slowed in both the goods and services sectors. But it’s hard to say whether that trend will continue and how it might affect the Fed’s next inflation rate decision. Also in this episode, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh testifies before Congress, so we break down his approach to central bank communication and the Humphrey-Hawkins Act. Plus, an egg price-fixing scheme, the hog lobby, and credit cards. 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 from today’s episode: Inflation slowed in June. What does that mean for interest rates? Can the hog lobby — and falling prices — get Americans to eat more pork? Cracking open the price-fixing scandal behind rising egg prices What higher credit card spending means for the economy Why Kevin Warsh is on Capitol Hill today

15. Big banks fare well in this rocky economy from Marketplace

    Jul 13, 202625 min

    Five major banks report earnings Tuesday morning, and analysts expect them to be rosy. Despite a volatile energy market and uncertain geopolitical climate, U.S. banks are turning strong profits. They’ve got AI investment and a booming stock market to thank. Plus, the inflation beat: Steep producer inflation could soon show up in consumer prices, economists aren’t sure how long overall inflation will stick around, and we check in with three small business owners ahead of the June CPI. 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 from today’s episode: Rapidly rising producer prices could spell trouble for the economy Why are big banks doing so well in this economy? Prices may remain elevated well into next year Private jets and fake phone notifications are all part of the "hustlebro" scam

16. The other war affecting fuel prices from Marketplace

    Jul 10, 202625 min

    Energy prices are up, and we’ve got a war to thank. Two wars, actually. While all eyes have been on Trump’s on-again, off-again conflict with Iran, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil refineries — and the effects are rippling through the global energy market. Also in this episode: Data centers ease electricity bills in some places (for now), travelers turn to buses as airfares rise, and Kai discusses 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: As inflation roils, what will Fed Chair Warsh do next? The war driving up refined fuel prices might not be the one you're thinking of Data centers lowered electric bills in some places — for now As airfares skyrocket, summer travelers take the bus What does it take to “grow a dress” in your backyard?

17. Return to war could fuel inflation from Marketplace

    Jul 9, 202626 min

    Inflation that resulted from the U.S. war with Iran had just begun to cool when President Trump called off a shaky ceasefire. Now, as the world turns their attention back to conflict in the Middle East, economists turn their attention to the Federal Reserve. Will the central bank act to tamp down a second round of inflation? Also in this episode, PepsiCo sees tempered sales in North America, women in finance pivot to social media influencing, and taxpayers foot the bill for wild horse management 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: Return to U.S.-Iran war is likely to change inflation expectations PepsiCo had a great quarter — except in North America The women leaving Wall Street for content creation When wild horses get rounded up, the taxpayer’s bill grows Baby boomers are un-tying the knot — and it's complicating inheritances What it takes to transform a 600-year-old fixer-upper into a forever home

18. Gas prices are headed back up from Marketplace

    Jul 8, 202626 min

    President Trump called off the a ceasefire with Iran Wednesday morning, sending the U.S. back into a military conflict — and sending oil prices back up after weeks of steady cooling. In this episode, Kai calls up economist Robin Brooks at Brookings to explain how a reignited war will affect global oil markets and prices at the pump. Plus: Retailers stock up early for the 2026 holiday season, businesses surpass homes’ energy use for the first time on record, and corporations issue more shares to raise capital. 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: Trump calls off Iran ceasefire, a move that "obviously will push oil prices up" Some business owners are stocking up early for the holidays Why public companies have been on a tear issuing new shares Businesses are using more electricity than homes for the first time on record What the energy shock means for the decarbonization industry

19. Despite stellar earnings, Samsung's stock slumps from Marketplace

    Jul 7, 202626 min

    Samsung just reported a whopping 1,800% profit increase for the second quarter of this year. But its stock price fell nearly 7% in response to the news. What gives? In short, high expectations got in the way of actual growth. Also in this episode: Baby boomers begin to transfer family businesses to the next generation, buy now, pay later giant Klarna applies for a U.S. banking license, and the telehealth boom is more than super-fast prescriptions from your couch. 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 analysts predict a robust second quarter earnings season Samsung posted 1800% profit growth. Its stock fell anyway. The baby boomer business transfer is coming The era of drive-thru healthcare is here Fintechs harbor banking dreams

20. Back-to-school shopping? Already? from Marketplace

    Jul 6, 202626 min

    U.S. families expect to spend more than $900 on back-to-school shopping this year, according to one PwC survey. Big box retailers have taken advantage of anxiety about higher costs by pushing school supplies earlier than ever. In this episode, how consumer mood correlates to consumer spending. Plus: Holiday weekend heat strains electric grids, Boeing and Airbus aircraft demand persists, and algae can make or break Great Lakes summer tourism. 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: Anxiety is driving some of our early back-to-school shopping Chicago Fed launches a new consumer sentiment composite index Weekend heat wave tests the country's power grid What's behind the massive appetite for new Boeing and Airbus planes How the algae in Lake Erie can make or break the Great Lakes economy How homeownership turned an HR professional into a plant entrepreneur