Penny for your thoughts? Today we open our mail bag to hear from Indicator listeners. A college graduate tells us about their job search, a researcher discusses why products advertised as 'simple' may not be so straightforward, and another listener thinks the debate over Fed independence is a little more nuanced than we let on. Heard something on the show you liked (or didn't)? Have an insight to share about the economy? Send us an email: indicator@npr.org ! Related episodes: Should presidents h...
Sep 30, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's time for ... Indicators of the Week! It is our show where we talk about fascinating numbers from the news. On today's episode, America's small GDP increase, a big assist from China's government to its lower income residents, and a high-grossing, centuries-old Monkey King. Related Episodes: How Red Lobster got cooked and other indicators China's luxury liquor indicator For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.o...
Sep 27, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Peak 65 is here. More than 4 million Americans will turn 65 each year between 2024 and 2027, representing the largest retirement surge in history. Years ago, older Americans could count on Social Security. But today there is some uncertainty on the program's solvency in the next decade plus. Now, many are entering their golden years with financial insecurity. Today on the show, how did Social Security become a thing? And what could the safety net for the Peak 65 generation and beyond look like? ...
Sep 26, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast A group of obscure yet powerful players in the prescription drug industry are under the microscope. On Tuesday, at a Senate hearing in D.C., the head of pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk blamed the health insurance industry and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs , for allegedly making products like the weight loss drug Ozempic way more expensive in the U.S. than it is in other countries. A few days before that, the Federal Trade Commission sued three of the country's largest PBMs for allegedly u...
Sep 25, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rupert Murdoch took an Australia paper in Adelaide and turned it into one of the most influential media empires in the world. The question of who will run it after he's gone though is the subject of speculation both in reality and on the HBO fictional series "Succession." Now, a small probate court in Nevada will weigh in on that very question. Today, how did the drama come to be? And what will the decision mean for the future of Fox, one of the most influential networks, on the planet and our p...
Sep 24, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast A recent survey found that nearly half of all Americans say they could not live without GPS in their car. The American economy couldn't live without GPS, either! Clocks on Wall Street, commercial fishermen, and of course, your Lyft driver, all rely on satellite navigation services. An outage in those services, however, would cripple the U.S. economy. A study found that an outage could cost at least $1 billion a day ... and we don't have a backup. Today on the show, we explain who owns GPS and wh...
Sep 23, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's ... Indicators of the Week! We roundup the economic indicators that caught our eyes and ears. This week, all our attention was on the Federal Reserve, which cut interest rates by half a percentage point. (Egad!) On today's episode, we've got dot plots, why the Fed rate cut may not bring immediate relief, and ... Sasquatch?! Related Episodes: Has the Fed lost the dot plot? Are both rents AND interest rates too dang high? When mortgage rates are too low to give up Related Reading: Mortgage Ra...
Sep 20, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yesterday we looked at Donald Trump's key economic proposals for a second term. On today's show, we do the same for Kamala Harris, examining the Democratic nominee's plans for taxes, housing and grocery store prices. Related episodes: What are Trump's economic plans? ( Apple / Spotify ) Three Kamala Harris indicators ( Apple / Spotify ) Bad economics, smart politics ( Apple / Spotify ) How much do presidents ACTUALLY influence the economy? ( Apple / Spotify ) When Uncle Sam stops paying the chil...
Sep 19, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast With less than two months before election day in the U.S., there's still a lot to learn about both major candidates' economic platforms. Today we look at some key proposals from Donald Trump for a second term, including tariffs and immigration. Tomorrow: Kamala Harris' plans. Related listening: Bad economics, smart politics ( Apple / Spotify ) How much do presidents ACTUALLY influence the economy? ( Apple / Spotify ) Do immigrants really take jobs and lower wages? ( Apple / Spotify ) Why tariffs...
Sep 18, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast The co-hosts return with answers to YOUR questions. In this episode of listener questions, we dive into why storefronts don't just fill up, how Tiny Desk found its secret sauce, and whether there's an ideal level of staff turnover. Tiny Desk Donation Page Related episodes: Anatomy of a Layoff ( Apple / Spotify ) Pay Cuts Vs. Layoffs 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: Ti...
Sep 17, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nippon Steel says it wants to keep jobs in America as it looks to buy out US Steel. And economists say: that makes sense. But U.S. presidential candidates are pushing back. Today, we'll look at the role politics plays in distorting economics and find out whether that's what's happening in Pennsylvania and some other battleground states. Related episodes: The tensions behind the sale of U.S. Steel ( Apple / Spotify ) How much do presidents ACTUALLY influence the economy ( Apple / Spotify ) For sp...
Sep 16, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's ... Indicators of the Week! We roundup the economic indicators that caught our attention. On this (kinda) spoOoOooky Friday the 13th, we were morbidly curious about higher household incomes, a Keurig K-Cup kerfuffle and, believe it or not, the return of Fyre Festival. Related Episodes: Wake up and smell the fraud How much would you do this job for? And other indicators For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr....
Sep 13, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Department of Justice thinks Apple has violated an antitrust law, pointing to its ecosystem of apps and products. Apple, for its part, thinks the DOJ is wrong on both the facts and the law. Today on the show, why the DOJ brought this lawsuit against one of the largest companies in the world and why it matters for all you smartphone owners out there. Related episodes: How Fortnite brought Google to its knees ( Apple / Spotify ) Can an old law bring down grocery prices? ( Apple / Spotify ) For...
Sep 12, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Barcelona has always attracted crowds, but now it's attracting protests from locals angered at the negative consequences of being one of Europe's most popular destinations. This is especially true as large cruise ships can dock close to some of the city's most famous landmarks. On today's show, we look at how cruise ships are both driving revenues and frustrations in Barcelona, and we consider what the city's options are for regulating the flow of visitors. Related episodes: The return of Chines...
Sep 11, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast A weird thing is happening in West Texas. Natural gas prices have gotten so low, energy producers are actually paying to give it away. Today, why it's happening and whether it's a big concern. Plus, who else won a Beigie award! Related episodes: Texas' new power grid problem ( Apple / Spotify ) The debate at the heart of new electricity transmission ( Apple / Spotify ) The rise of American natural gas ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to ...
Sep 10, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 2019, Philip Esformes went on trial for one of the biggest Medicare fraud cases in history . His longtime family rabbi said Philip Esformes was an upstanding citizen ... when he lived in Chicago. Malcolm Gladwell was fascinated by this case and the prospect of a city changing a man. He covers this in his forthcoming book Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering . Today on the show: How Miami became known as the capital of Medicare fraud. We...
Sep 09, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast There is expected to be a lot of demand for manufacturing jobs in the coming decade, but many of those positions will be left unfilled. So Darnell Epps set out to close that gap by connecting employers with workers and showing potential workers what's appealing about these jobs. Today, we dig into Darnell Epps journey through both law school and trade school. Related episodes: One of the hottest jobs in AI right now: 'types-question guy' ( Apple / Spotify ) Why it's so hard to mass produce house...
Sep 06, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Recently, singer/rapper/entrepreneur Pitbull agreed to pay $6 million to Florida International University for the naming rights to its football stadium ... an unusual move for both parties: a musician paying for their name on a stadium, and for a college to name their stadium after a musician . How does this move benefit the college? How does this move benefit Mr. Worldwide? In today's episode, what Pitbull and FIU's deal tell us about the fast-changing economics of college sports. Related Episo...
Sep 05, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The once-thriving Japanese hamlet of Nanmoku was known for its silk and timber industries. Today, it is the country's most aged village, with two-thirds of residents over age 65. On today's show, how the Japanese government is trying to address rural depopulation and attract younger residents to villages like Nanmoku. Related listening: Japan had a vibrant economy. Then it fell into a slump for 30 years ( Apple / Spotify ) Japan's ninja shortage For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Pl...
Sep 04, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Reclassing, when a student repeats an academic year by choice, is a popular way for kids trying to land a spot in a top college athletics program. But it can also come with some heavy costs. Today on the show, we explore the reclassing phenomenon and pressures kids and their parents face in a competitive environment for young athletes. Related episodes: Should schools be paying their college athletes? ( Apple / Spotify ) The monetization of college sports ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free epi...
Sep 03, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this Indicators of the Week, we take you to a Manhattan bar to watch NVIDIA's latest earnings reports. Plus, how publishers are trying to keep their books in Florida school libraries and what private equity is doing in Football. Related episodes: The tower of NVIDIA ( Apple / Spotify ) What do private equity firms actually do? 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: TikTo...
Aug 30, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast While the 2024 Paris Olympics are over for some athletes, many competitors are still seeking to capitalize on their fame back on their college campuses. Thanks to the NCAA's 2021 rule changes for Name, Image and Likeness, college athletes are now able to leverage their stardom to maximize their earning potential. Today on the show, we talk to University of Michigan men's gymnastics star and Olympic medalist Frederick Richard about how he's playing the business game for the long term. Related epi...
Aug 29, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Even with falling interest rates in recent weeks, mortgage rates are still higher than you'd expect. Mortgage interest rates are usually a little less than two percentage points higher than what you would get on a 10-year Treasury bond. But for the last couple of years that difference has been noticeably higher: 2.6% at the moment. New borrowers have been paying potentially thousands of dollars extra each year on their mortgages. Today on the show, how mortgage interest rates work and why they'r...
Aug 28, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Shi Zhengrong started making solar panels at the turn of the century, there was basically no solar industry in China. But in the decades that followed, the nation started heavily investing in renewables. Today, we dig into how China became a leader in solar power while following the story of one man: the Sun King. Related episodes: Rooftop solar's dark side ( Apple / Spotify ) The debate at the heart of new electricity transmission ( Apple / Spotify ) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indica...
Aug 27, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast The ascendance of Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has made the topic of free school lunch a political flashpoint. Over the past several years, several states—including Walz's home state of Minnesota—have created free school lunch programs, to the dismay of some House Republicans who believe government subsidies should go only to needy students. Today on the show, we break down the economics of school lunch and explore whether universal programs are more effective than targeted pr...
Aug 26, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to another edition of Indicators of the Week! On today's show, the large downward revision to jobs numbers, the awkward release of that news and a survey that asks U.S. workers for the minimum salary they would accept a new job for. Related listening: Getting more men into so-called pink collar jobs ( Apple / Spotify ) Do I need a four-year degree? ( Apple / Spotify ) Indicator exploder: jobs and inflation Our 2023 Valentines For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, ...
Aug 23, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Earlier this month, the White House unveiled a new initiative aimed at trying to serve and protect American consumers: Time is Money. It's an array of actions the Biden Harris administration is taking to stomp out business processes that waste consumers time and money, like, for example, making it unnecessarily difficult to cancel a subscription, get an airline ticket refund, or file an insurance claim. On today's episode: In a competitive market, companies want to treat their customers well or ...
Aug 22, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Like several aspects of the travel economy, renting a car is more expensive than it was before the pandemic. Today on the show, we explore the great reset happening in the U.S. rental car industry that's kept prices elevated, left fleets leaner, and customers frustrated. Related episodes: The semiconductor shortage (still) Offloading EVs, vacating offices and reaping windfalls For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.n...
Aug 21, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast By now, you've probably heard a lot from both presidential nominees about getting rid of taxes on tips. The idea may sound good on first go, but it has its detractors, namely economists and tax experts. Their fears include unfairness and people gaming the system. On today's episode, how to put in place guardrails for a policy that many economists believe is likely to go off the rails. Related episode: Why Americans Can't Quit Tipping For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, ...
Aug 20, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Unlimited paid time off may sound like a nice perk, but it's not always what it appears. Employers aren't typically obligated to pay out unused vacation balances when a worker leaves, and it can be hard for workers to understand just how much time they can actually take off. And yet ... endless leave?? It doesn't sound so bad. Today on the show, is unlimited paid time off really a benefit? We try to figure out whether it works. Related episodes: Vacation, and why the U.S. takes so little of it (...
Aug 19, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
