It's ... Indicators of the Week! We cover the numbers in the news that you should know about. This week, we cover mortgage applications increasing, China's home prices decreasing, and Carrie Bradshaw ... Indices -ing? Related Episodes: When mortgage rates are too low to give up Are both rents AND interest rates too dang high? The highs and lows of US rents The mess at the heart of China's economy For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple P...
Aug 16, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some bank customers are jumping to high-yield savings accounts to escape the shockingly low interest rates of personal savings accounts at big banks. So why aren't these banks raising their rates to attract more customers? Today on the show, we explore why big banks may not care about your savings account anymore. Related episodes: The dangers of money market funds ( Apple / Spotify ) Interest rates up, but not on your savings account ( Apple / Spotify ) Bad Form, Wells Fargo For sponsor-free ep...
Aug 15, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former President Donald Trump recently suggested that if elected in this year's presidential election he would want more say on decisions made by the Federal Reserve. Presidents taking a more active role in monetary policy would mark an extraordinary shift in U.S. economic institutions, and mark the end of central bank independence. Today on the show, why the Federal Reserve insulates itself from day-to-day politics, and what it looks like when central banks are influenced by politicians. Relate...
Aug 14, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Homelessness is a pervasive issue that cities across the country struggle to address. This led an entrepreneur to team up with researchers and local foundations for an experiment called the Denver Basic Income Project. The goal was to see how different variations of a basic income program would impact the local homeless population. What the researchers found could become a guide for how localities in the United States could address the problem of homelessness. For sponsor-free episodes of The In...
Aug 13, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's that time of year when we want to lie on a beach and lose ourselves in a good book. Today on the show, three summer reading recs that got our hosts thinking about economics. Remember, anything read on the beach is, in fact, a "beach read." Books recommended in this episode: • Exit West by Mohsin Hamid ( B&N , Bookshop ) • Everything Is Predictable: How Bayesian Statistics Explain Our World by Tom Chivers ( B&N , Bookshop ) • Range: Why Generalist Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epst...
Aug 12, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Indicators of the Week is a show dedicated to highlighting some of the most interesting numbers in the news. Today, we break down our favorite indicators in Google's antitrust defeat , the currency trade in Japan that jolted global markets and another way of creating an Olympic medal tally . Related episodes: Is Google search getting worse? ( Apple / Spotify ) Why the Olympics cost so much ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money...
Aug 09, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The International Olympic Committee has developed a reputation over the years for stringently enforcing its trademarks during the summer games. It has good reason to, with brands like Coca-Cola and Visa paying top dollar for exclusive sponsorship rights. Today on the show, the lengths the IOC will go to protect its trademarks and how smaller brands try to avoid their dragnet. Related episodes: Why the Olympics cost so much ( Apple / Spotify ) Peacock, potassium and other Paris Olympics Indicator...
Aug 08, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Globalization, as we once knew it, is dead ... well, that's according to the UK's new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves. Chancellor Reeves has run the UK Treasury since July 2024. She's facing an economic backdrop familiar to many countries: hollowed-out industrial towns; climate change; global wars and conflicts. Today on the show: Our conversation with Chancellor Reeves on her visit this week to the US. What she thinks went wrong with globalization, and the new economic map she's cour...
Aug 07, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The U.S. wants to become a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. That will mean a lot of new generation from renewable energy. It also means more transmission networks are needed to bring it onto the grid. But there's a debate over how that new transmission should be built — between a competitive or monopoly approach. Today, we look at why competition is so divisive and why each side thinks they should build the next generation of transmission infrastructure. Related Listening: Texas' new power gr...
Aug 06, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's been a turbulent couple of days for financial markets around the world. Japan's biggest stock market saw its worst day in decades. Corporate earnings disappointed investors. And last week's jobs report here in the US showed disappointing numbers. Is this a sign of a recession or just some temporary turbulence? Today, we speak with two economic analysts to make sense of what's really going on. Related: Matt Klein's newsletter " The Overshoot " Why are we so bummed about the economy? ( Apple ...
Aug 06, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jobs numbers came out today and they weren't great: Unemployment hit 4.3% and only 114,000 jobs were added to the economy in July. The U.S. economy's downshifting gears ... but there are bright spots. Care jobs grew. Like social assistance: 9,000 new jobs in July. Social work organizations have been calling out for more men in particular ... and with unemployment rising for men, a lot of them want jobs. So why aren't they meeting? Today on the show: Getting more men into so-called pink-collar jo...
Aug 02, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The modern Olympic Games are notorious for saddling host cities with burdensome cost overruns into the billions . Organizers for the Paris 2024 Olympics were aware of this and planned to put on one of the most cost-effective Olympics in recent memory. They still went over budget. Today on the show, why the Olympics almost always costs host cities much more than they anticipate and what we can learn from the Olympic Games' original economic sin. Related episodes: Peacock, potassium and other Pari...
Aug 01, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Federal Reserve has once again opted to leave interest rates unchanged. That appears to be creating a big challenge to one part of the economy: housing prices. Today, we look at how elevated interest rates may actually be keeping home prices and rent high. Plus, we see how one community is taking the issue of housing affordability into its own hands. Read the research paper co-authored by Julia Fonseca, Lu Liu, and Pierre Mabille. Related episodes: When mortgage rates are too low to give up ...
Jul 31, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's time for The Indicator Quiz! We test you, dear listener, on your knowledge of topics that we've covered on The Indicator! Today's quiz focuses on our June episodes, in which we covered a lot of... well, a little bit of everything! NVIDIA, ChatGPT, and...Peppa Pig? Play along with us and see how you do! Are you interested in being a contestant on our next Indicator Quiz? Email us your name and phone number at indicator@npr.org and put "Indicator Quiz" in the subject line. Related Episodes: S...
Jul 30, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The childcare industry has been having a tough go of it. It's already expensive; pandemic-era programs have ended; plus there are too few providers. Enter a new challenge: increasing liability insurance premiums. Today, we look at why these premiums are rising for childcare providers, and how they're impacting both businesses and consumers. Related episodes: Baby's first market failure ( Apple / Spotify ) When Uncle Sam stops paying the childcare bill ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episode...
Jul 29, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Indicators of the Week is BACK, and this time, we're going for the gold! (...In educating our listeners on the economics and business stories behind the Olympics.) In this Olympics-themed episode, we'll learn what economic factors help countries win more medals, how NBCUniversal is betting on these games to support its streaming service, and what it takes to feed 15,000 hungry athletes. (Hint: A LOT of potassium. And pain au chocolat. And baguettes.) Related Episode: Why Host The Olympics? For s...
Jul 26, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are the promises made by AI boosters mostly hype, or are we actually underappreciating the transformative potential of AI? This week, The Indicator hosts a two-part debate on the hype around generative AI. Today, the second episode: Despite the tech world's love affair with the technology, is AI overrated? Related episodes: Is AI underrated? ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Music b...
Jul 25, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are the promises made by AI boosters all hype, or are we actually underappreciating the transformative potential of AI? This week, The Indicator hosts a two-part debate on the hype around generative AI. Today, the first episode: Despite all the news coverage and money, is AI underrated? Guest Tyler Cowen's book that he published as an AI chatbot is GOAT: Who is the Greatest Economist of all Time and Why Does it Matter? and his interview with an AI Jonathan Swift is on his podcast, Conversations ...
Jul 24, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Even before the Dune: Part 2 popcorn bucket went viral this year, movie theaters have been trying all types of ways to lure customers back. There's reclining seats, expanded menu options and even more merchandise. Today on the show, we track the rise of the popcorn bucket and its afterlife on eBay. Related episodes: Coyote vs. Warner Brothers Discovery ( Apple / Spotify ) Why platforms like HBO Max are removing streaming TV shows ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator f...
Jul 23, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast You may have heard some big news this past weekend: Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential election. This leaves Kamala Harris as the favorite to be the Democratic nominee. On today's show, We imagine what can be, and we're unburdened by what has been: Kamala Harris' economics, delegate math in deciding the nominee and ... can Kamala Harris use Joe Biden's campaign money? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr...
Jul 23, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's Indicators of the Week! We cover the numbers in the news that you should know about. This week, we cover climbing corporate bankruptcies, J.D. Vance's potential to bring the dollar down, and the NBA's new super serious salary cap. Related episodes: The Science of Hoops Why Ecuador Uses The Dollar? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Music by Drop Electric . Find us: TikTok , Instagram , Facebook , N...
Jul 19, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Supreme Court's decision to quash Chevron deference means countless agency regulations are now more vulnerable to being challenged and struck down. Think the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to boost electric vehicle sales, discrimination protections against transgender people, and rules that expand eligibility for overtime. Yesterday , we explained the history that led to this moment. Today, we look at the how the decision will play into a wave of regulatory lawsuits. Related episodes...
Jul 18, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast When the Supreme Court decided Chevron U.S.A., Inc v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. 40 years ago, it didn't turn many heads. But eventually, it became the most widely cited case in all of administrative law. It set a legal precedent to give federal agencies the benefit of the doubt when the law is ambiguous, known as Chevron deference. Now, a recent Supreme Court decision has set in motion another tectonic shift, effectively ending that precedent. Today, we dig into what Chevron defere...
Jul 17, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Digital Markets Act is a new piece of European legislation aimed at making markets in the digital sector "fairer and more contestable." It's essentially antitrust regulation—rules to ensure that no one company or group of companies makes an area of business uncompetitive. And these rules are making some big companies sweat, not because they're afraid of monetary penalties, but because they could have an effect on antitrust regulations around the world. Today on the show, we examine the diffe...
Jul 17, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you regularly listen to The Indicator, you know China's economy is not doing great. Over the last few years, indicators like unemployment and local debt are up, and consumption and property sales are down. There is one big indicator that's been a bellwether for China's economy ... booze. One specific kind: Baijiu. In today's episode, a quick history on baijiu and how the liquor is a potent symbol for consumer confidence in China. Related Episodes: China's weakening economy in two Indicators T...
Jul 15, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you regularly listen to The Indicator, you know China's economy is not doing great. Over the last few years, indicators like unemployment and local debt are up, and consumption and property sales are down. There is one big indicator that's been a bellwether for China's economy ... booze. One specific kind: Baijiu. In today's episode, a quick history on baijiu and how the liquor is a potent symbol for consumer confidence in China. Related Episodes: China's weakening economy in two Indicators T...
Jul 15, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast On Indicators of the Week, we cover the numbers in the news that you should know about. This week, we cover an encouraging trend for global wealth, closing Mexico's tariff loophole and the European nation bucking the trend of shorter work weeks. Related episodes: Why tariffs are SO back ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Music by Drop Electric . Find us: TikTok , Instagram , Facebook...
Jul 12, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are currently just under 65,000 migrants in New York City's shelter system, stretching the city's outworn social service systems. Today on the show, we follow one asylum seeker's journey from Venezuela to New York and explore why the process is lengthy and complicated. Related episodes: Is the 'border crisis' actually a labor market crisis? ( Apple / Spotify ) 'Welcome to the USA! Now get to work.' ( Apple / Spotify ) The migrant match game ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of ...
Jul 11, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Voters have a bleak outlook on the economy right now, and many are pointing the finger at President Biden. At the same time, many voters have a rosy view of the economy when Donald Trump was president. But how much credit or blame should a president get for the economy? And how do partisan politics play into our perception of the economy's performance? Related episodes: Common economic myths, debunked ( Apple / Spotify ) Not too hot, not too cold: A 'Goldilocks' jobs report ( Apple / Spotify ) F...
Jul 10, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Children of U.S. military families, a.k.a. brats, are known for their adaptability when relocating to new neighborhoods and schools every few years. This migratory population became the basis for brand new research on how the neighborhood you grew up in affects your economic success later in life. Today on the show, how a place influences your financial destiny. Related episodes: Chasing the American Dream at Outback Steakhouse ( Apple / Spotify ) The secret to upward mobility: Friends For spons...
Jul 09, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
