The price of mailing a first-class letter in the U.S. went up to .66 this month, part of a series of price hikes that the postal service hopes will put it on a pathway to profitability. But from its inception, the United States Postal Service wasn't designed to run much like a business. Today on the show, how the U.S.P.S. went from a public service to a business burdened by debt. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 21, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cryptocurrency's rise attracted the endorsements of several high-profile celebrities during the pandemic. Actor Ben McKenzie, however, wasn't really convinced by the promise of crypto and has emerged as a surprising skeptic of the industry. Today, we talk to him about his journey from former teen idol to outspoken crypto critic. Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via A...
Jul 19, 2023•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Beigies are back and headed down south! From boats and bikes to pigs and cows, you could call this one a wild ride. Eight times a year, the 12 regional Federal Reserve banks come together to share anecdotes from businesses and other industry experts in their respective parts of the country. These stories are published in the "Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District," more commonly known as the Beige Book. We pick our favorite anecdotes and crown a win...
Jul 18, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast When we talk about classic economic texts, you might think of something like Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations." But how about the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov? One of the big ideas at the heart of this science fiction saga is that math can predict and shape the future. We hear from two economists who tell us how the ideas in Foundation helped set them on their career path. Related episodes: The carbon coin: A novel idea Beach reads for econ nerds For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicato...
Jul 17, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's time again for our Indicators of the Week! Today on the show, we've got a new social network, a new lineup for an old stock index and some new fines for old grievances. Listen to the numbers that caught our attention on the launch of Threads, the Nasdaq 100's stock shake-up and Bank of America's big fine. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 14, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stress tests are one of the many tools the Federal Reserve has to regulate the financial system. So why didn't stress tests help prevent the bank failures of Silicon Valley, Signature and First Republic? Today, we explain how stress tests work and why the Fed is considering an overhaul. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy P...
Jul 14, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Earlier this week, China reported a headline CPI of zero. Observers are concerned about the potential for a deflationary environment in China that could have ripple effects for the rest of the world. Today, we find out why prices are falling in China and what the CCP could do to reverse that trend. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices N...
Jul 12, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's another Indicator Quiz episode! We bring a listener onto the show and test their econ knowledge. Today's quiz is all about jobs and employment. Play along with us and see how you do! Are you interested in being a contestant on our next Indicator Quiz? Just email us your name and phone number at indicator@npr.org and put "Indicator Quiz" in the subject line. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 11, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Government websites and online services leave a lot to be desired. Today we look at California's unemployment insurance fiasco as a test case for how government can do digital services better. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 10, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The US economy added more than 200,000 jobs in June. But are these good jobs? Today, we look at some ways to answer this question, and what it takes to transform a job from bad to good. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 07, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the past few years, Shein has grown into the world's largest online-only fashion retailer. And in the process, it has also drawn criticism, a cultural backlash, and the ire of U.S. lawmakers. Today on the show: how Shein's unusual business model helped it grow from a small internet startup to a global retail behemoth, and why it is so controversial. If you enjoyed this episode, check out our series on the influencer industry . For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subs...
Jul 07, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In early 2016 the U.S. barely exported any liquified natural gas at all. Now it's the leading exporter of the fossil fuel — on track to way surpass Qatar and Australia. How did that happen? Today on the show, we talk to one of the men who triggered the American exporting revolution. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 05, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast We have a few fascinating fireworks facts for your Fourth of July picnics! Over the last few decades, states and counties across the U.S. have liberalized fireworks laws. It's just one reason why sales of backyard pyrotechnics have exploded. So what happened to safety over this period? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy P...
Jul 03, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast On today's edition of Indicators of the Week, we cover the numbers behind stories relating to the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action, the Wagner rebellion's effect on the Russian currency, and some huge 2023 sales numbers for the video game industry. Related Episode: How ending affirmative action changed California (June 8, 2023) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor mes...
Jun 30, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Online banking has become so common that some banks don't have any physical locations at all. Today we track the transition to online banking in Mexico, where startups are eager to win over new customers who are tech-savvy but don't have any kind of bank account. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 29, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The recent mutiny in Russia has put a spotlight on the quasi-military organization responsible: the Wagner Group. Today, we talk to an expert on the Wagner Group to get a sense of how it operates and what its failed rebellion against the Russian government means for the group's future. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Po...
Jun 28, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is affecting our planet, a lot of people out there are still not convinced it's a problem. Today on the show, a tool that might actually shift people's opinions on climate change: gambling. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 27, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast American public transit is notoriously expensive to build compared to countries in Europe and Asia. Today, we visit a $837 million subway station in New York to learn why these projects come with such a high price tag all across the country. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 26, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Housing prices are easing! Good news for homebuyers, not great news for Adrian. Turkey's new central bank governor raises its interest rates. And is the FTC's Lina Khan riding into Amazon in a trojan horse? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 23, 2023•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Climate change is changing the property insurance market. California is one state where major insurers have opted out of writing new property insurance policies. So how does that affect the people living in these states? Today, how climate change is breaking down the insurance market. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Pol...
Jun 22, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Arizona officials announced this month that all the groundwater in the Phoenix metro area is spoken for, potentially affecting its fast-growing suburbs. Despite the initial shock, the news hasn't exactly slowed development — or home prices. On today's show, we ask whether Greater Phoenix, and the west overall, is inching closer to a reckoning over water. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 21, 2023•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast About 2 percent of the global population lives in countries where they're not citizens, and many of these migrants are seeking economic opportunities. This flow of people can benefit countries with aging populations and shrinking workforces, but only when migrants' skills are in demand in the places where they land. Today on the show, we look at what it can take to make a good match. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at...
Jun 20, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast How boxes contain all of our consumer goods, hopes and dreams. Why communities on Reddit went dark this week. And the European Union's plan to regulate AI. It's Indicators of the Week! For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 16, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Across the U.S. each month, utilities send meter readers out to record how much water their customers are using. Smart readers can do this virtually, and detect leaks, but many utilities have been slow to adopt the technology. On today's show, we dig into utilities' disincentives to save water. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 15, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Fed just announced a pause on interest rate hikes for the first time in over a year. With inflation still double the Fed's 2% target, what's the plan here? Today on the show, how a shower helps explain the Fed's incremental approach. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 15, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Who's to blame for current inflation? It's one of the spiciest debates these days, with many fingers pointed at one villain: corporations. Today on the show, an economist who looked for evidence on whether or not greedflation is the answer. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Jun 13, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's another listener questions episode where we take on what you want to know! On today's show... The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. It's a cornerstone of the U.S. housing market, but not so much in the rest of the world. Why? We also look at upgrade auctions in the economy and a measure of inflation often overshadowed by the CPI ... PCE. If you have a question you'd like us to answer, email us at indicator@npr.org. Please include your name and number. Learn more about sponsor message choices: po...
Jun 12, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Too many texts? Some of them could be scams! Plus the SEC is trying to play sheriff in the wild west that is crypto. And we remember the late economist William Spriggs who died this week, and read his open letter to economists. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 09, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast California's 25-year-old ban on affirmative action at public universities offers clues into how a Supreme Court ban on the policy would affect students and schools nationwide. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 08, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Turkey's strong-arm President Erdogan is at war with interest rates, which he's called the mother and father of all evil. But inflation is out of control and the Turkish lira keeps losing value. How did Turkey get here, and what's the plan to turn things around? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 07, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast