This week, the Federal Reserve opted to leave short-term interest rates alone, despite concerns about the rising risks of a weakening U.S. economy. In this episode, we speak with Sudeep Reddy of Politico and Courtenay Brown of Axios about the Fed's latest decision and the current state of trade negotiations. Plus, why NOAA is retiring its billion-dollar disaster database and how New York City is moving to decarbonize its pension fund.
Most consumers are a lot more hesitant to book vacations these days. At least that's what travel companies are telling us — Marriot, Hilton, Hyatt and a slew of airlines all cut revenue expectations for 2025. But one segment of the market is expected to remain strong: luxury travel. We'll hear more. But first: the details of the U.S.-U.K. trade deal and the impact of Bill Gates giving away $200 billion by 2045.
The federal government will no longer track the cost of the most expensive disasters in the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will stop adding dollar damage tallies to its database of events that cause over $1 billion in damage. The move comes as billion-dollar disasters have become more frequent. Plus, as college-bound students look to decide where to go, we'll hear how colleges come up with the price of admission.
From the BBC World Service: Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled an agreement that will reduce import taxes on some British cars and metals and open up the British market to some U.S. beef. Plus, China says its exports to the States fell by 21% in April compared to the previous year. And, the owner of Zara wants the EU to close a tax loophole that favors exporters of cheap goods into Europe.
On this week’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” OpenAI retreats from its pivot to profit after its plan to restructure the business hit some snags. Plus, we say goodbye to the old-school internet phone call platform - Skype. But first, the Department of Justice pushed for breaking up part of Google's advertising business by selling off two of its ad tech products, which Google says would be nearly impossible. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Joanna Stern, senior personal t...
The latest consumer expectations report is out and Americans are feeling much worse about their own personal financial situations than they were in March. Their inflation expectations though, haven’t budged much. In this episode, we look at why that might be — and whether these surveys correlate to economic reality. Plus: tariffs dampen hobby splurgers’ spirits, labor productivity drops and we nibble on the U.S.-U.K. trade deal.
Following Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs, the United States has now struck a trade deal (sorta) with the United Kingdom. We’ll get into it. Plus, childcare costs a lot – and in some places, more than rent. Then, we’ll smile at the unexpected joy of “swole culture.” And what if, instead of sports metaphors, we used makeup lingo at work? Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump unveils United Kingdom trade deal, first since 'reciprocal' tariff pause” by CNBC “U.S., Britain strik...
After decades of trying to make it as an actor and comedian in Hollywood, Claudette Powell felt deeply unfulfilled. So she set her sights on a radically different life -- one that required her to pay off nearly $150,000 of debt. When she finally wrote that last check, she took a vow of poverty and entered a convent. But leaving behind her material life wasn’t as simple as it sounded. This week: how paying off debt was only the beginning – and how money still finds a way to complicate life within...
UnitedHealthcare is facing a lawsuit claiming it defrauded shareholders — by denying fewer claims but not warning ahead of time that its profits would decline. The nation’s largest health insurer has been under heightened scrutiny following the killing of its then-CEO in New York late last year. And later: President Donald Trump is expected to announce a trade deal with Britain, and consumer advocate Ralph Nader reflects on the drawbacks of going cashless.
The "Marketplace Morning Report" team is cooking this morning. First, we hear from the CEO and founder of Beyond Good, a company known for its artisanal Madagascar vanilla and chocolate, about how tariffs are stirring up business. We also discover how import duties are riling the U.S. blueberry industry, which has a close relationship with processors and packagers in Canada. But first: why home prices and sizes are going down in some metro areas.
From the BBC World Service: President Donald Trump is expected to announce a deal on tariffs with Britain later today. The agreement would be the first since sweeping tariffs were unveiled for dozens of America's trading partners. Plus, remember when a fire near London's Heathrow Airport threw worldwide air travel into chaos a few weeks back? Officials still don't know the cause. And, China is experiencing a shortage of qualified cosmetic surgery practitioners and clinics....
Vibe coding is having a moment. The buzzy new phrase was coined earlier this year by OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy to describe his process of programming by prompting AI. It's been embraced by tech professionals and amateurs alike. Google , Microsoft and Apple have or are developing their own AI-assisted coding platforms while vibe coding startups like Cursor are raking in funding. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino recently spoke with Clarence Huang, vice president of technology at the fin...
As tariff pressures mount, China’s vice president and other leaders have agreed to meet with top U.S. officials. If history is any guide, substantial change to the tense trade relationship between the two countries will take time. So what’s urgent enough to discuss this week? Plus, some big companies issue more Eurobonds, small businesses tread lightly when discussing the trade war and “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal explains the latest Fed decision.
On today’s episode: Marketplace’s Reema Khrais joins Kimberly to discuss two stories from opposite ends of the housing spectrum – cuts to rental assistance programs and the soaring cost of starter homes. Then, Kimberly explains yet another reason why the rest of the world is giving the U.S. major side-eye. And we’ll smile about a slimy substance that might help keep microplastics at bay and parrots connecting over Facetime. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Proposed cuts to housing progr...
And it’s looking like they won’t. As the Federal Reserve meets to determine the future of interest rates, don't hold your breath for any rate cuts. We'll give a preview of what to expect and hear about the added pressures the Fed is under given President Donald Trump's trade war. Plus, a handful of companies are responsible for major productivity growth, and Canadian truckers are being hit hard by tariffs.
A PSA for those whose homes burnt in the LA-area wildfires earlier this year: If the insurance company writes a check, it comes with two names on it — the property owner's and the bank's. But the bank may keep interest earned on that insurance payout. Now, a California assemblyman is trying to change that. We'll check in. Also: China lowers interest rates, and fewer international students come to the States for higher education.
From the BBC World Service: The Yemeni group started attacking shipping lanes around the Red Sea after the war in Gaza began. It's hoped the ceasefire will stop disruptions to major trade routes. Then, China and the U.S. are set to hold their first trade talks since sweeping tariffs were announced. Later: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on last week's massive power outage and former U.S. President Joe Biden on defense and international trade.
E-commerce sites like Temu and Shein might not be quite as cheap as they were a week ago now that tariffs are kicking in on even small-dollar imports. But these platforms known for selling low-cost goods from China have also sought to cut costs on delivery. They contract in the U.S. with companies like UniUni, which promises to dispatch packages for $3 or less — well below the industry standard. How UniUni delivers on those low rates is the subject of a recent investigation by reporter Theo Wayt...
The U.S. trade deficit hit a record high in March, as businesses rushed to bring in goods ahead of new import taxes. Now that President Trump’s tariffs on goods from China have set in and globally targeted tariffs are set to resume in July, what happens to the trade deficit? Plus: Lab-grown diamonds disrupt a centuries-old industry, a few big companies are back in the bond market and how the trade war could disrupt retirement plans.
So far, President Trump’s “drill, baby, drill,” agenda has proven to be a sharp turn from Biden-era climate initiatives, including the landmark spending bill the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). And thanks to President Trump’s attempts to claw back control over IRA funds, as well as his recent budget proposal which drastically cuts climate spending, the future of America’s fast-growing clean energy economy looks uncertain. “The world is switching to electric vehicles, the world is switching to sol...
Ford Motor Company reported first-quarter results yesterday and said it’s suspending financial guidance for the rest of this year because of uncertainty resulting from tariffs. We'll hear more. Plus, some companies in Mexico are recruiting recently deported migrants from the States. And the guardians of interest rates at the Federal Reserve meet today and tomorrow on what to do about an economy under stress. Will they be hawkish or dovish?
On Wednesday, 133 Cardinals are expected in the Sistine Chapel to start choosing the next pope. And people worldwide are placing millions of dollars in bets over who they think will get the two-thirds majority required to become the Catholic Church’s next leader. Also on the show: OpenAI hits a roadblock in trying to become a for-profit company, and China's offering cash and more parental leave to encourage a baby bump.
From the BBC World Service: DoorDash is paying $3.8 billion to take over U.K. food delivery app Deliveroo as it looks to gain a footing in the market there. Elsewhere, Germany's DAX is down 2% after the leader of Germany's conservative party, Friedrich Merz, unexpectedly failed to win the parliamentary majority needed to become chancellor, New Zealand's prime minister wants to keep kids off social media and some businesses in Mexico are hiring English-speaking deportees....
In an internal memo to his staff in April, Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman wrote that “AI is coming for your jobs. Heck, it's coming for my job too. This is a wake-up call. It does not matter if you are a programmer, designer, product manager, data scientist, lawyer, customer support rep, salesperson, or a finance person - AI is coming for you.” Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Kaufman, about his "radical candor" on the subject and how he wanted to spur them to think creatively about how ...
Oil companies are barely breaking even on crude oil right now — a barrel of West Texas Intermediate started Monday at a paltry $58. If prices stay low, firms will have a choice to make: invest in new production, or pay investors dividends. Plus, the services sector expanded but remains wary of tariffs, health care hiring may not weather major cuts to Medicaid and we visit an electric vehicle showcase in Shanghai.
The Trump administration is hoping tariffs will spur companies to bring manufacturing back to the United States. But a new survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found that most companies are planning to deal with tariffs another way. (Spoiler alert: we totally saw this coming!) We’ll also discuss how the Department of Homeland Security is hoping to cut the cost of mass deportations. Plus, did Trump get the idea to reopen Alcatraz from a movie? Here’s everything we talked about today: - ...
It’s been almost a month since President Donald Trump announced 145% tariffs on all Chinese goods. One of the places we’re starting to see the impact of that announcement is at U.S. ports. Almost as soon as Trump raised tariffs on China, U.S. importers started canceling orders. And it could lead to a major supply chain shock. Also: tariffs on international films and strategies for older adults to work down credit card debt.
Warren Buffett is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway after 60 years, though he'll still stay on as chairman. The legendary investor, age 94, announced at Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. We'll hear more. And later: Have you ever wanted to spend your days with seals, sea lions and turtles? Today, we'll chat with an aquatic veterinarian who does just that, as part of our series "What's That Like?"...
From the BBC World Service: U.S. President Donald Trump says he will hit movies made in foreign countries with 100% tariffs, as he ramps up trade disputes with nations across the globe. Plus, Skype will officially stop operating today, although Skype for Business will continue. And the Maldives has signed a deal with a Dubai-based company to establish an $8.8 billion investment zone aimed at diversifying the tourism hotspot into a "financial freezone."
People are using chatbots in all kinds of ways — to search the web, get help with an online purchase, sometimes even for counseling. But there's a lot about this human-AI interaction we don't fully understand. Do these chatbots effectively combat loneliness or worsen social isolation? The answer — so far — is complicated, according to Cathy Fang, a second-year PhD student at MIT Media Lab who, along with researchers from OpenAI, studied how chatbot use affects human social and emotional wellbein...
