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The Indicator from Planet Money
The Indicator from Planet Money
NPR

A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening... more

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Episodes

Not too hot, not too cold: a 'Goldilocks' jobs report

It's Jobs Friday and the jobs report is in! There's more jobs! ... but not as many as expected. And... more

03 May 2024 · 9 minutes
Protesters want schools to divest from Israel. How would that work?

College campuses nationwide are erupting with protests against Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza. A consistent theme among these actions:... more

02 May 2024 · 9 minutes
What a cabinet maker can teach us about interest rates

The Beigie Awards are back to recognize the regional Federal Reserve Bank with the best Beige Book entry. This time,... more

01 May 2024 · 9 minutes
Is the federal debt REALLY that bad?

Sandwiched between a burger joint and an oyster bar in New York City hangs a daunting image: The National Debt... more

01 May 2024 · 9 minutes
Taxing the final frontier

Launches by commercial space companies are becoming more frequent. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration licensed 117, an all-time high.... more

29 Apr 2024 · 8 minutes
Video Game Industry Week: The Final Level

We wrap up our series on the economics of the video game industry with a triple roundup. Today, how the... more

26 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Work. Crunch. Repeat: Why gaming demands so much of its employees

Employees at video game companies are known for working long hours to meet product launch deadlines. This pressure, known in... more

25 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
The boom and bust of esports

The origins of competitive gaming are rooted in college campuses going back to the early 1970s. Now a globally popular... more

24 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Designing for disability: how video games become more accessible

Gaming provides entertainment and community for billions of people worldwide. However, video games haven't always been accessible to those with... more

23 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Forever games: the economics of the live service model

People used to pay one standard price for their favorite games in a one-off transaction. But now, many game companies... more

22 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Ticketmaster's dominance, Caitlin Clark's paycheck, and other indicators

It's highs and lows in this edition of Indicators of the Week! The surprisingly high amount of electricity needed for... more

19 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Inside the epic fight over new banking regulations

After the financial crisis of 2008, regulators around the world agreed banks should have more of a cushion to weather... more

18 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Profiting off greater risk: the reinsurance game

When an insurance company can't cover all of its claims, it actually has its own insurance. This is called "reinsurance."... more

17 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
What is a 'freedom economy'?

Anti-vaccine activists, far-right groups and some religious conservatives convened in Las Vegas this spring to discuss the creation of a... more

16 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions

We are back to answer your listener questions. On today's show, we explain reverse mortgages and their risks, why insurance... more

15 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
What Subway's foot-long cookie says about inflation

In this edition of Indicators of the Week: the new incentive for speed in cash prizes for Olympic track and... more

12 Apr 2024 · 8 minutes
The IRS wants to do your taxes for free. Will it last?

With tax season upon us, many people are paying someone or a software to get their tax returns done. A... more

11 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Why the EU is investigating China's wind turbines

Europe wants clean energy, but it's struggling to compete with the low cost of China's green technology. The E.U. just... more

10 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
What do the royals do all day, anyway?

You've heard of the British royal family, but what about the "working royals?" Today on the show, an expert on... more

09 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Why companies spin off

General Electric has been staggering along for years as a conglomerate. But recently, it's turned to a popular strategy to... more

08 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Do I need a four-year degree?

The U.S. labor market continues its hot streak, adding 303,000 jobs last month — more than expected. Many of these... more

05 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
How the 'shadow fleet' helps Russia skirt sanctions

"Shadow fleet" refers to the collective of ships used by countries that have sanctions against them, like Russia, to transport... more

04 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Can an old law bring down grocery prices?

Since 2020, grocery prices have shot up. If you're looking to save a buck, it's often more affordable to shop... more

03 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
The Indicator Quiz: Labor Edition

The sun is shining, birds are singing, and...our allergies are going NUTS. That can only mean one thing: It's time... more

02 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Can breaking the law be good for business?

Does breaking the law ... make financial sense? Paying future fines and settlements at the risk of harm to people... more

01 Apr 2024 · 9 minutes
Three ways consumers are feeling the pinch

Many broad economic indicators are positive, but consumer sentiment is negative. Even with cooling inflation and low unemployment, consumers are... more

28 Mar 2024 · 8 minutes
Should schools be paying their college athletes?

March Madness is in full swing as Men's and Women's college basketball teams across the country compete for the NCAA... more

27 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
Help Wanted at Boeing

Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun has resigned and will step down at the end of the year. It comes after a... more

26 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
Name our mascot. No, really.

You might notice we're looking a little refreshed thanks to our new podcast logo. Today on the show, we ask... more

25 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
The interest-ing world of interest rates

Countries all over the world are making big moves in monetary policies. From unexpected cuts to long-awaited hikes to a... more

22 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
How ski resorts are (economically) adjusting to climate change

Snowmaking has helped cover up the effects of climate change for a long time. But by the turn of the... more

21 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
When does youth employment become child labor?

The number of teenagers in the workforce today is at its highest level in about 20 years. At the same... more

20 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
Tick tock for TikTok?

The political pressure on TikTok continues to ratchet up. This week Biden administration officials are throwing their support behind legislation... more

19 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
Can Europe fund its defense ambitions?

The majority of European members of NATO are not spending as much on defense as they agreed to. But that... more

18 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
Biden's economic pitch for a second term

It's Indicators of the Week, our up close and personal examination of economic headlines. Today we have three indicators from... more

15 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
How are moving companies faring with high mortgage rates?

HOOAH! It's our first Beigie Award for 2024! The Beigie Award is back to recognize the regional Federal Reserve Bank... more

14 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
Are data breaches putting patients at risk?

Cyberattacks are plaguing the healthcare industry. It's an expensive and dangerous trend that's on the rise. Today, we consider why... more

13 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
What's behind Bitcoin's bullrun?

The introduction of brand new spot bitcoin ETFs has put bitcoin on a bit of a hot streak. Just this... more

12 Mar 2024 · 8 minutes
Is the financial media making us miserable about the economy?

There's been a disconnect between how the US economy is doing and how people actually feel about it. Maybe people... more

11 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
Why wind techs are so in demand

The job that's projected to be the fastest-growing in the U.S. is wind turbine service technician. So we wanted to... more

08 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
How to get Russia to pay Ukraine

Ukraine desperately needs money. And there's a tempting solution sitting in a Belgian financial institution: nearly $200 billion in frozen... more

07 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
What would it take to fix retirement?

The rising cost of living and longer life expectancy is making it harder for Americans to retire comfortably. Millions of... more

06 Mar 2024 · 9 minutes
How the SEC's new rule could reveal more about a company's emissions

The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to issue new rules this week on how companies disclose their greenhouse gas... more

05 Mar 2024 · 8 minutes
The growing industry of green burials

One estimate says 2.4 million people die in the U.S. each year, and burying them is expensive: a typical burial... more

04 Mar 2024 · 8 minutes
Wendy's pricing mind trick and other indicators of the week

It's Indicators of the Week, our weekly look under the hood of the global economy! Today on the show: Tyler... more

02 Mar 2024 · 8 minutes
Why Israel uses diaspora bonds

Israel has long raised money from individual supporters living overseas through a tool called diaspora bonds. This financing tool is... more

29 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
What the data reveal about U.S. labor unrest

From "Hot Labor Summer" to "Striketober," 2023 was another big year for workers joining picket lines. Today on the show,... more

28 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
How to make an ad memorable

Super Bowl ads this year relied heavily on nostalgia and surprise –– a few tricks that turn out to embed... more

27 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
Reddit's public Wall Street bet

Any day now, social media platform Reddit is expected to launch an initial public offering (IPO), earmarking shares for its... more

26 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
An oil boom, a property slump and dental deflation

Indicators of the week is back! This time, we explore why oil and gas companies are pulling in record profits,... more

23 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
A Supreme Court case that could reshape social media

Next week, the US Supreme Court will hear a case that pits the Attorneys General of Texas and Florida against... more

23 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
Why Capital One wants Discover

Capital One Financial Corporation plans to acquire Discover Financial Services in a $35 billion deal that would combine two of... more

21 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
Could fake horns end illegal rhino poaching?

In business, the million-dollar question is how to get people to buy stuff. But in wildlife conservation, the challenge is:... more

20 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
Chocolate, Lyft's typo and India's election bonds

It's Indicators of the Week — our weekly look under the hood of our global economy. Today we look at... more

16 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
Why banks are fighting changes to an anti-redlining program

In 2023, The Federal Reserve and other banking regulators announced they were making changes to how they grade banks on... more

15 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
How Egypt's military is dragging down its economy

Egypt's economy is facing its worst crisis in decades. The situation could further destabilize the Middle East if it goes... more

15 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
How's your defense industry knowledge?

Roses are red. Violets are blue. We have another Indicator Quiz for you! Today's episode tests one loyal listener on... more

13 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
What's really happening with the Evergrande liquidation

China is in the economic doldrums in part due to its slumping real estate market. And one of the largest... more

12 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
A Swiftie Super Bowl, a stumbling bank, and other indicators

It is Friday, and Indicators of the Week is back — SUPER Edition. Today, what one New York bank's shakiness... more

10 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
Why Saudi Arabia is building a new city in the desert

For decades, Saudi Arabia's economy has been defined by its abundant oil reserves. Its ability to influence global oil supply... more

08 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
Is Wall Street's hottest trend finally over?

WeWork, DraftKings, Lucid Motors. These are a few companies that have taken an untraditional route to go public through something... more

08 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
Did pandemic business support work?

The U.S. launched the Paycheck Protection Program in April 2020 to save jobs and businesses from the worst effects of... more

06 Feb 2024 · 9 minutes
Could cash payments ease recessions?

Although we have dodged the bullet for now, the threat of a recession is always a concern for policy makers.... more

05 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
How local government is propping up the U.S. labor market

The most recent jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the United States economy exceeded expectations by adding... more

02 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
Why the FTC is cracking down on location data brokers

It's no secret — your phone knows where you are, and if that data exists, someone else might have it.... more

01 Feb 2024 · 8 minutes
How to transform a war economy for peacetime

In the 1980s, California was the heart of the aerospace industry. But when the Cold War ended, military spending cuts... more

31 Jan 2024 · 8 minutes
Can Just-In-Time handle a new era of war?

Just-in-time manufacturing began as a way to save space, remove costs and improve efficiency ... for Toyota. The U.S. defense... more

30 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Are we overpaying for military equipment?

If the proposed defense budget is passed, it will account for roughly 3.5 % of U.S. GDP. The military buys... more

29 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Tumbling Chinese stocks and rapid Chipotle hiring

It's Indicators of the Week, that time each Friday when we look at the most fascinating numbers from the news.... more

26 Jan 2024 · 8 minutes
How niche brands got into your local supermarket

From salsas to barbecue sauces to refrigerated beverages, small artisanal brands are infiltrating grocery shelves everywhere. How did this happen?... more

25 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
A manifesto for feeding 8 billion people

In her new book, Our World In Data's Head of Research Hannah Ritchie investigates how to meet the needs of... more

25 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Are we counting jobs right? We answer your listener questions

Listener questions are back! On today's show, we answer whether universities are banks, how — or if — 401(k) contributions... more

23 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
The tensions behind the sale of U.S. Steel

In the 1980s, economic tensions between the U.S. and Japan permeated American politics and pop culture. Similar tensions are resurfacing... more

22 Jan 2024 · 8 minutes
Walmart scams, expensive recycling, and overdraft fees

It is Friday. And Indicators of the Week is back — Plastics Edition. Today, we dig into how fraudsters have... more

19 Jan 2024 · 8 minutes
Five tips for understanding political polls this election season

Election season is upon us, and so is the barrage of election polls. What differentiates a good poll from a... more

18 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
The surprising leader in EVs

The number one producer of electric vehicles in the world is ... BYD? On today's show, we look at how... more

18 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
How the world economy could react to escalation in the Middle East

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been going on for more than three months, and is now beginning to... more

17 Jan 2024 · 8 minutes
Offloading EVs, vacating offices and reaping windfalls

It's Indicators of the Week, that time each Friday when we look at three of the most fascinating numbers from... more

12 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
The lawsuit that could shake up the rental market

A number of lawsuits against Texas-based company RealPage are putting increased attention on how algorithms can interact with the rental... more

12 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Why oil in Guyana could be a curse

In 2015, Guyana changed forever when ExxonMobil discovered major oil deposits off its coast. The impoverished South American country known... more

10 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Ad targeting gets into your medical file

More doctors' offices are ditching clunky clipboards and embracing digital records and online check-ins. But some patients may be unaware... more

10 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Five reasons why Americans and economists can't agree on the economy

One of the most puzzling developments for economists in recent months is the disconnect between positive traditional economic data and... more

08 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Higher wages, fewer temp workers and indicators of the year results

The U.S. economy added a solid number of jobs, the unemployment rate held steady, and a lot of people got... more

06 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
WTF is a bitcoin ETF?

On today's show, we find out what the buzz is around something called a "spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund." Despite a... more

04 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
What a pot of gumbo can teach us about disinflation

News about inflation made a lot of noise in the past two years, but the national CPI reports seem to... more

03 Jan 2024 · 9 minutes
Red Sea tensions spell trouble for global supply chains

The Red Sea is a crucial piece of the global supply chain, accounting for around 15% of the world's shipping.... more

03 Jan 2024 · 8 minutes
Chasing the American Dream at Outback Steakhouse (Classic)

How often do you hang out with people in a different socioeconomic bracket than you? And where do you meet... more

29 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
'Let's Get It On' ... in court (Update)

*This episode originally aired on April 20th, 2023*When it comes to making art, what's the difference between inspiration and theft?... more

28 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
A lesson in Barbie labor economics (Classic)

*This episode originally aired on July 24th, 2023*After a stunning box office opening of more than $300 million worldwide for... more

27 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
The echo of the bison (Classic)

*This episode originally aired on August 21st, 2023*For over 10,000 years, many peoples in what's now known as North America... more

26 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
Predicting next year's economic storylines

It's time for another intra-Family Feud! The friendly game-show competition where our hosts from Planet Money and The Indicator duke... more

22 Dec 2023 · 8 minutes
The 'Yellowstone' effect on Montana

Yellowstone first aired in 2018, quickly becoming one of television's most popular shows. The show follows John Dutton, played by... more

21 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
How economics can help you stick to your New Year's resolution

Talk of New Year's resolutions is bubbling up as 2024 quickly approaches. Whether it's a fitness goal, wanting to learn... more

20 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
Coyote vs. Warner Bros. Discovery

The movie Coyote vs. Acme was set to release this summer featuring characters from the iconic Looney Tunes cartoons. The... more

20 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
Would-be weed merchants hit a 'grass ceiling'

For decades, states have prosecuted and imprisoned people for selling weed. Today, recreational marijuana is legal in almost half of... more

19 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
The Indicator of the Year

By many measures, 2023 was a decent year for the U.S. economy, but that's not how people necessarily felt. So... more

15 Dec 2023 · 8 minutes
What women want (to invest in)

Women lag behind men when it comes to investing. Combine this with the fact that women tend to earn less... more

15 Dec 2023 · 8 minutes
The 'physics' behind potential interest rate cuts

In the world of science there are laws—rules that describe how the universe works. The Federal Reserve has its own... more

13 Dec 2023 · 8 minutes
Are the products in your shopping cart real?

How often are you shopping online and think to yourself, is that shirt/dress/jeans in my shopping cart ... even real?... more

12 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
A countdown to climate action

Since the end of November, diplomats, scientists, activists and lobbyists from nearly every country on Earth have come together for... more

12 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
AI creates, transforms and destroys... jobs

We often talk about the jobs lost due to artificial intelligence. But what about the ones created or even transformed?... more

08 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
The wheel's many reinventions

"Don't reinvent the wheel" is a common phrase, but structural engineer Roma Agrawal doesn't buy it. Roma has a new... more

07 Dec 2023 · 8 minutes
What can we learn from the year's most popular econ terms?

In 2021, the most popular term on Investopedia was "capital gains tax." In 2022, it was "poison pill." These top... more

07 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
Americans don't like higher prices but they LOVE buying new things

Eight times a year, regional Federal Reserve Banks release a collection of anecdotes that reveal stories about the economy. These... more

05 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
Who can and cannot get weight-loss drugs

Drugs used for weight loss like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are nearly everywhere in popular culture, but many patients struggling... more

04 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
Endless shrimp and other indicators

On the latest edition of Indicators of the week, inflation in the U.S. and Europe is slowing down. Plus, a... more

01 Dec 2023 · 9 minutes
Could SCOTUS outlaw wealth taxes?

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next week on whether the federal government can tax some "unrealized" gains.... more

01 Dec 2023 · 8 minutes
Putting the 80/20 rule to the test

A favorite of productivity hackers, the Pareto Principle, aka the 80/20 rule, has taken on a life of its own... more

29 Nov 2023 · 8 minutes
Oil prices and the Israel-Hamas war

The Middle East is synonymous with oil production. And historically, oil prices usually surge when there's a conflict there. ... more

28 Nov 2023 · 7 minutes
Texas' new power grid problem

In 2021, a huge winter storm hit Texas. It caused a days-long blackout that resulted in hundreds of deaths. The... more

27 Nov 2023 · 8 minutes
A salary to be grateful for, and other Thanksgiving indicators

It's an Indicator Friendsgiving! You're not alone in feeling the news has been awfully grim this year. So we're taking... more

22 Nov 2023 · 8 minutes
How "dark defaults" could cost you

A lot of people have experienced some version of this: You sign up for the free one-week trial of some... more

22 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
The messy human drama behind OpenAI

The company behind ChatGPT pushed out its CEO Sam Altman on Friday. OpenAI's board gave the public little insight into... more

21 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
Prices fall, unemployment rises and Boomers have all the houses

We've been on a wild economic ride lately so let's find the key trends to make sense of where the... more

17 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
How do cheap cell phone plans make money? And other questions

You ask, we answer! Today we answer listener questions on whether certain jobs are becoming "feminized" since COVID started and... more

17 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
The evidence on school vouchers that'll please nobody

School vouchers, or school choice as it's known among advocates, is public funding for children to attend private schools. It's... more

16 Nov 2023 · 8 minutes
Xi and him

President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping have not sat down for a face-to-face discussion in a year. In... more

15 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
When a staple becomes a luxury

Fish and chips have long been a staple cheap comfort food for millions of people in the U.K. However, economic... more

14 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
Actors back. Pandas gone. WeBankrupt.

This time on Indicators of the Week: actors reached a deal with Hollywood studios after their months-long strike. The once-popular... more

11 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
A radical plan to fix Argentina's inflation

In a little over a week, Argentines will head to the polls to pick a new president. Polls show a... more

09 Nov 2023 · 8 minutes
Bond. World's oldest living bond.

Hidden deep in an archive in New Jersey is the world's oldest living bond. Originally issued to fund a dike... more

08 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
A bad economy can be good for your health

When economist Chris Ruhm first got the results from his study on the possible connection between recession and health, he... more

07 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
The spectacle of Sam Bankman-Fried's trial

Last week, the former crypto wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty for his role in the collapse of the cryptocurrency... more

07 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
Why everyone in the labor market is being picky

The American economy is still running hot and the labor market is showing astounding resilience despite elevated interest rates. Things... more

03 Nov 2023 · 8 minutes
How the South is trying to win the EV race

A new Hyundai plant in Georgia. A Ford mega campus in Tennessee. The Southeast is quickly becoming a hub for... more

02 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
Trying to solve the mystery of big bond yields

If you're wincing at high interest rates on a potential loan right now, it's not just you. And the Federal... more

01 Nov 2023 · 8 minutes
Are real estate agent fees a racket?

In the typical home sale, the home seller pays a commission, not just to their agent, but also to the... more

01 Nov 2023 · 9 minutes
A finance fright fest

Halloween is just around the corner and our hosts are scrambling to find the perfect costume. Today on the show,... more

30 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
Europe vs. US economies... and a dime heist

This time on Indicators of the Week: the U.S. is seeing massive economic growth, but there are a couple of... more

27 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
What happened to the internet without net neutrality?

The fiery debate over how the government should regulate the internet came to a head in 2017. That's when the... more

26 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
The Beigie Awards: Why banks are going on a "loan diet"

Every time a new Beige Book report rolls around, we honor the regional Federal Reserve bank with the best anecdote... more

25 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
Why offshore wind is facing headwinds

The Gulf of Mexico saw its first-ever auction of leases for offshore wind this summer. It was another sign of... more

24 Oct 2023 · 8 minutes
How IBM's gamble ushered in the computer age

In the book of corporate folklore, former IBM CEO Thomas Watson Jr. deserves a special spot. Specifically, the massive... more

23 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
More fraud, higher bond yields, and faster airline boarding

On this edition of Indicators of the Week: older Americans recorded higher losses to certain scams, the yield on the... more

20 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
What could convince Egypt to take in Gaza's refugees?

One of the most crucial players in the war unfolding in the Middle East is Egypt, which neighbors Gaza and... more

19 Oct 2023 · 8 minutes
There's one business like show business

There's no business like show business. Or is there? It turns out the business of producing a Broadway hit shares... more

19 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
How a consumer watchdog's power became a liability

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created in 2010 as the legislative response to the Great Recession. It's an aggressive... more

17 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
The Indicator Quiz: Climate Edition

What's spicier than a pumpkin spice latte in the fall? The Indicator Quiz! The show where we bring a lucky... more

16 Oct 2023 · 8 minutes
Junk fees, unfilled jobs, jackpot

On this edition of Indicators of the Week: the FTC wants to ban hidden fees on what feels like every... more

13 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
Taking the temperature of the US consumer

Economic indicators like the Consumer Price Index can tell us a lot about the past, but what about the future?... more

12 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
A treacherous descent? What will the Fed do next?

In the world of summiting mountains, more accidents happen on the way down than on the climb up. Today on... more

11 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
A conversation with Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin (Update)

This episode was originally published on November 30, 2021Earlier this week, Harvard economist Claudia Goldin won the economics Nobel for... more

10 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
Wanted: Social workers

U.S. job growth just surged way past expectations. But one area of employment continues to need more hands on deck:... more

06 Oct 2023 · 8 minutes
Body Electric: What digital jobs are doing to our bodies

TED Radio Hour's Manoush Zamorodi joins us today to talk about her new series Body Electric. It's looking at... more

05 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
You tell us how to fix mortgages, and more

We love getting listener mail! Especially when it makes us think about a topic differently. Today on the show, we... more

04 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
EVs killed the AM radio star

When some automakers confirmed this year that they were phasing out AM radio in their electric vehicles, the political backlash... more

03 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
When Uncle Sam stops paying the childcare bill

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the United States took dramatic action to invest in child care. Now in 2023, the majority... more

02 Oct 2023 · 9 minutes
Twerking, tote bags, and the top of the charts

On this musical edition of Indicators of the Week: Live Nation stops taking a cut of small artists' merchandise sales.... more

29 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
The walking dead NFTs

The NFT mania may have finally run its course. Not too long ago, these pieces of digital art exploded in... more

28 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
How EV batteries tore apart Michigan (Update)

This episode was originally published on November 14, 2022This week, Ford announced it was pausing work on a new $3.5... more

27 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Chasing the American Dream at Outback Steakhouse

How often do you hang out with people in a different socioeconomic bracket than you? And where do you meet... more

27 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Is the Canada, Meta news standoff coming to the US?

Canadians are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to getting timely news updates through Facebook. The Canadian... more

25 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
A million-dollar fossil, and other indicators

Today on the show, we cover this week's top indicators in new work permits for Venezuelan migrants, behind-the-scenes climate meetings... more

22 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Selling safety in the fight against wildfires

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and serious due to human-caused climate change. This is prompting a new industry focused on... more

21 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
The rat under the Fed's hat

The Federal Reserve said today it wasn't raising interest rates, but left the door open to keep hiking later. But... more

20 Sep 2023 · 7 minutes
The Beigie Awards: Manufacturing takes center stage

The Beigies roll around once again to recognize the regional Federal Reserve Bank with the best Beige Book entry. This... more

19 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Coca Cola v. Coca Pola

The coca leaf has been an important part of Andean culture for thousands of years. But when one indigenous woman... more

18 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Economics, boosternomics and Swiftnomics

For this week's Indicators of the Week, Darian is joined by NPR colleagues Jeff Guo and Sydney Lupkin. We get... more

15 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Wait — did we really need to raise rates?

Inflation remains stubbornly high as the Federal Open Markets Committee weighs whether they will raise interest rates again. However, new... more

15 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Giant vacuums and other government climate bets

Yesterday we brought you a debate over whether the government should subsidize industries in the name of economic growth and... more

14 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Industrial policy, the debate!

There is a lot of taxpayer money going into propping up industry in the U.S. From semiconductor chip fabrication in... more

12 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Is retail theft getting worse?

Lately, retailers have been complaining to their investors about thieves coming to their stores and stealing stuff and blaming them... more

11 Sep 2023 · 8 minutes
Apple, drugs, Grindr

Today on Indicators of the Week: government iPhone restrictions in China that walloped Apple's market value. Plus plans emerge over... more

08 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
'Welcome to the USA! Now get to work.'

When refugees arrive in the U.S. the clock starts ticking. They usually have up to 90 days to get a... more

07 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
The dementia tax

More than 7 million Americans are living with dementia. To take care of this population, family members must often make... more

06 Sep 2023 · 8 minutes
The Beigie Awards: China Edition

The Beigies are back, with a twist! In China, data on the economy is sometimes difficult to come by, ... more

05 Sep 2023 · 9 minutes
Jobs Friday: More jobs and more unemployment

The jobs report is in! And both the rate of employment AND unemployment went up in August. How does that... more

01 Sep 2023 · 8 minutes
A drought, a jam, a canal — Panama!

The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It sees hundreds of billions worth of stuff pass through it... more

31 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Young, "spoiled and miserable" in China

Every day, A Ze, a young woman in Beijing, would wake up early, do her makeup, and walk to her... more

30 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
The problems with the US's farm worker program

Over the years, U.S. agriculture has grown increasingly dependent on the H-2A Guest Worker program to bring in foreign workers... more

29 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
The Indicator Quiz: The Internet

What's hotter than a leather car seat in the late summer? The Indicator Quiz! We bring a listener onto the... more

28 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
AI chips, shared trips, and a shorter work week

It's Indicators of the Week, our weekly news roundup. Today, AI doesn't want to invest in AI, a county in... more

25 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Why a weak ruble is good for Russia's budget but not Putin's image

Russia's Ruble is hovering around its lowest value against the dollar since June 2022. A weak currency is already a... more

24 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
How fed up farmers started the only government-run bank in the US

The idea of a state-run bank in the United States feels like a foreign concept. While public banks are fixtures... more

23 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Why pizza costs more in Iceland and other listener questions

You ask, we answer! We help a parent explain exchange rates to their kid, a high school teacher explain bond... more

22 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
The echo of the bison

For over 10,000 years, many peoples in what's now known as North America relied on bison. Thirty million of these... more

21 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Metals, government debt, and a climate lawsuit

Last year, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law as the Biden Administration's signature attempt to combat climate change.... more

18 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
When mortgage rates are too low to give up

The average mortgage rate in the U.S. just hit 7.09%—its highest level in more than two decades. And that's having... more

17 Aug 2023 · 8 minutes
How Yellow wound up in the red

Yellow stunned the trucking industry when it filed for bankruptcy this month. The nearly hundred-year old company said it will... more

16 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Is math real? And other existential questions

We are often taught to think of math as a rigid set of rules, never to be questioned. But that... more

15 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Breaking up big business is hard to do

The Federal Trade Commission is the sheriff for big businesses. One of its main functions is to stop companies from... more

14 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Tale as old as time: Indicators of the Week

In a week jam-packed with major economic news, we've selected a few of our favorite stories for Indicators of the... more

11 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Is this a bank?

You've heard of The Price Is Right, but what about Is This A Bank? It's a game show where contestants... more

10 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
A night at the museum of the economy

Dinosaur museums have dinosaurs. Space museums have spacecraft. But what would a dedicated museum of the economy have in it?... more

09 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Return of the crab twins

RaeShawn and LaShone Middleton are twin sisters and business owners based in Columbia, Maryland. We last talked to them in... more

08 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
What could break next?

Even if there isn't a recession right now, there are still vulnerable spots in the economy that could cause economic... more

07 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Farm Jobs Friday

Farm employment numbers are historically very hard to track. Partly because they fluctuate a lot from season to season, partly... more

04 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
The life and death spirals of social networks

Meta's new social media platform, Threads, had a rocket-like start when it launched a month ago as a challenger to... more

03 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
Fitch, please! Why Fitch lowered the US credit rating

The credit rating agency, Fitch, caused a stir yesterday when it downgraded the United States' credit rating from AAA to... more

02 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
When remote work works and when it doesn't

Do office workers get as much done working from home as they do in person? We've been debating this question... more

01 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
An economic argument for heat safety regulation (Encore)

It's been a summer of record breaking heat. And for both outdoor and indoor workers, that heat poses a growing... more

31 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
IRS, Ivies and GDP

In this edition of Indicators of the Week, we talk about the end of surprise IRS visits, new research on... more

28 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Why residuals are taking center stage in actors' strike

Hollywood has been on strike for weeks with writers and actors hitting picket lines from California to New York. The... more

27 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Hiking the last mile on inflation

The Federal Reserve finds itself in a tricky spot with inflation just a notch above its target of 2%. This... more

26 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Women's labor comeback

Lots of women left the workforce early in the pandemic. At the time, there were fears these women would stay... more

25 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
A lesson in Barbie labor economics

After a stunning box office opening of more than $300 million worldwide for the new Greta Gerwig film, the Barbieverse... more

24 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Trucks, transfers and trolls

Tired of waiting days for your money to transfer in the bank? So is the Fed. It's just launched a... more

22 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
A first-class postal economics primer

The price of mailing a first-class letter in the U.S. went up to .66 this month, part of a series... more

21 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
A former teen idol takes on crypto

Cryptocurrency's rise attracted the endorsements of several high-profile celebrities during the pandemic. Actor Ben McKenzie, however, wasn't really convinced by... more

19 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Boats, bikes and the Beigies

The Beigies are back and headed down south! From boats and bikes to pigs and cows, you could call this... more

18 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
How Asimov's 'Foundation' has inspired economists

When we talk about classic economic texts, you might think of something like Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations." But... more

17 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
@Threads, @Nasdaq, @Bank of America

It's time again for our Indicators of the Week! Today on the show, we've got a new social network, a... more

14 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Time to make banks more stressed?

Stress tests are one of the many tools the Federal Reserve has to regulate the financial system. So why didn't... more

14 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
What's behind the China deflation scare

Earlier this week, China reported a headline CPI of zero. Observers are concerned about the potential for a deflationary environment... more

12 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
The Indicator Quiz: Jobs and Employment

It's another Indicator Quiz episode! We bring a listener onto the show and test their econ knowledge. Today's quiz is... more

11 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Why government websites and online services are so bad

Government websites and online services leave a lot to be desired. Today we look at California's unemployment insurance fiasco as... more

10 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Good jobs Friday

The US economy added more than 200,000 jobs in June. But are these good jobs? Today, we look at some... more

07 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
How Shein became a fast-fashion behemoth

In the past few years, Shein has grown into the world's largest online-only fashion retailer. And in the process, it... more

07 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
The rise of American natural gas

In early 2016 the U.S. barely exported any liquified natural gas at all. Now it's the leading exporter of the... more

05 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Our fireworks show

We have a few fascinating fireworks facts for your Fourth of July picnics! Over the last few decades, states and... more

03 Jul 2023 · 9 minutes
Legacy admissions, the Russian Ruble and Final Fantasy XVI

On today's edition of Indicators of the Week, we cover the numbers behind stories relating to the Supreme Court's decision... more

30 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
From no bank to neobank

Online banking has become so common that some banks don't have any physical locations at all. Today we track the... more

29 Jun 2023 · 8 minutes
Not your typical army: how the Wagner Group operates

The recent mutiny in Russia has put a spotlight on the quasi-military organization responsible: the Wagner Group. Today, we talk... more

28 Jun 2023 · 8 minutes
Gambling, literally, on climate change

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is affecting our planet, a lot of people out there are still not... more

27 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
Why building public transit in the US costs so much

American public transit is notoriously expensive to build compared to countries in Europe and Asia. Today, we visit a $837... more

26 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
Home prices dip, Turkey's interest rate climbs, Amazon gets sued

Housing prices are easing! Good news for homebuyers, not great news for Adrian. Turkey's new central bank governor raises its... more

23 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
When insurers can't get insurance

Climate change is changing the property insurance market. California is one state where major insurers have opted out of writing... more

22 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
A watershed moment in the west?

Arizona officials announced this month that all the groundwater in the Phoenix metro area is spoken for, potentially affecting its... more

21 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
The migrant match game

About 2 percent of the global population lives in countries where they're not citizens, and many of these migrants are... more

20 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
r/boxes, r/Reddit, r/AIregs

How boxes contain all of our consumer goods, hopes and dreams. Why communities on Reddit went dark this week. And... more

16 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
How saving water costs utilities

Across the U.S. each month, utilities send meter readers out to record how much water their customers are using. Smart... more

15 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
The Fed decides to wait and see

The Fed just announced a pause on interest rate hikes for the first time in over a year. With inflation... more

15 Jun 2023 · 8 minutes
Is greedflation really the villain?

Who's to blame for current inflation? It's one of the spiciest debates these days, with many fingers pointed at one... more

13 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
Listener Questions: the 30-year fixed mortgage, upgrade auctions, PCE inflation

It's another listener questions episode where we take on what you want to know! On today's show... The 30-year fixed-rate... more

12 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
Text scams, crypto crackdown, and an economist to remember

Too many texts? Some of them could be scams! Plus the SEC is trying to play sheriff in the wild... more

09 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
How ending affirmative action changed California

California's 25-year-old ban on affirmative action at public universities offers clues into how a Supreme Court ban on the policy... more

08 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
Erdoganomics

Turkey's strong-arm President Erdogan is at war with interest rates, which he's called the mother and father of all evil.... more

07 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
Freight drivers feel the flip-flop

Today, we power up our CB radios to find out what's roiling the transportation services sector, and talk to a... more

06 Jun 2023 · 8 minutes
A cashless cautionary tale

India's recent announcement that it'll get rid of its highest denomination bill brings back memories of a disastrous experiment to... more

05 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
A troubling cold spot in the hot jobs report

The job market continues to surge despite fears of an economic slowdown. In recent months, Black Americans benefited from strong... more

02 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
The OG of ESGs

Decades before the current debate about ESG and "woke capitalism," there was a guy on Wall Street investing money on... more

01 Jun 2023 · 9 minutes
The inventor's dilemma

New economic research suggests that large companies can hold back inventors, and the overall economy. Today we talk to an... more

31 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Elon's giant rocket

Is this Mars thing really happening? SpaceX did its first test launch of Starship this spring, the rocket that it's... more

30 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Receding rivers, party poopers, and debt ceiling watchers

Indicators all about kicking the can down the road but never far enough. A deal on water in the west,... more

26 May 2023 · 9 minutes
The dangers of money market funds

Money market funds are a key aspect of the financial system and hold about $5.75 trillion of assets. Today, we... more

25 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Bots, bootleggers and Baptists

A corporate titan and a cautious professor face off before Congress and ... agree with each other? From the ivory... more

24 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Is AI a job-killer or an up-skiller?

For all the talk about AI, one of the burning questions is how the technology will affect the workforce. Today,... more

23 May 2023 · 8 minutes
The Indicator Quiz: Banking Troubles

It's another Indicator Quiz episode! We bring a listener onto the show and test their econ knowledge. This time around,... more

22 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Household debt, Home Depot sales and Montana's TikTok ban

It's Indicators of the Week! We round up the economic indicators that caught our attention. On today's episode, we look... more

19 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Can YOU solve the debt crisis?

In the background of the debt ceiling fight between Congress and the Biden administration, we peek inside a little-known program... more

18 May 2023 · 9 minutes
The man who busted the inflation-employment myth

Nobel-winning economist Robert Lucas Jr. died on Monday. His revolutionary theories transformed the field of macroeconomics. His influential "Lucas critique"... more

18 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Does the U.S. have too many banks?

The United States is unusual in that it has thousands of relatively small and specialized banks. Even after adjusting for... more

16 May 2023 · 8 minutes
Do dollar store bans work?

In recent years, we've seen dozens of cities ban new dollar stores from opening up. The thinking goes, by keeping... more

15 May 2023 · 8 minutes
The debt ceiling deadline, German economy, and happy workers

It's Indicators of the Week! We round up the economic indicators that caught our attention ... Germany's economic resilience comes... more

12 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Twitter's concerning surge

Twitter's false labeling of the NPR Twitter account as "state-affiliated" put a spotlight on the website's handling of government-controlled accounts.... more

11 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Congress could do more to fight inflation

The rate of inflation is slowing, but still uncomfortably high, according to today's consumer price index report. The Federal Reserve... more

10 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Housing dilemma in resort towns

Hot, fresh and kinda salty, the Beige Book is back! This time we're headed to the beach as businesses get... more

09 May 2023 · 9 minutes
What's the Commonwealth good for?

The coronation of King Charles III is putting the United Kingdom and its relationship with Commonwealth countries back in the... more

08 May 2023 · 8 minutes
Who's the boss in today's labor market?

It's one thing to quit your job and a completely other thing to get laid off or fired. A new... more

05 May 2023 · 9 minutes
President Biden: Climate champion or fossil fuel friend?

As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden promised to make climate change a major priority, But since taking office, President Joe... more

04 May 2023 · 9 minutes
How the Fed got so powerful

How much power does the Fed have? According to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the limit basically does not exist! New... more

03 May 2023 · 9 minutes
The banking system that loaned billions to SVB and First Republic

Unsung hero of the financial system or enabler of failing banks? Today on the show, how the Federal Home Loan... more

02 May 2023 · 9 minutes
SVB, now First Republic: How it all started

The turmoil in the banking industry isn't over yet. Today, First Republic Bank was seized, following the failures of Signature... more

02 May 2023 · 9 minutes
Our final thoughts on the influencer industry

As we wrap our series exploring the influencer marketing industry, we go to the cutting room floor for some extra... more

28 Apr 2023 · 9 minutes
The dark side of the influencer industry

When your lifestyle is your brand, the line between work and life can start to get blurred. From hate comments... more

27 Apr 2023 · 9 minutes
Gen Z's dream job in the influencer industry

'Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life,' they said. How Gen Z is trying... more

26 Apr 2023 · 9 minutes
The economics of the influencer industry

We wanted to know how many influencers are making a living from their content creation. Turns out, not many are.... more

25 Apr 2023 · 9 minutes
The origins of the influencer industry

This week, we're going deep into the multi-billion dollar influencer industry. Today, a researcher and two generations of influencers take... more

24 Apr 2023 · 9 minutes
Dollar v. world / Taylor Swift v. FTX / Fox v. Dominion

Why does Brazil's President Lula go to bed every night thinking about the US dollar? Did Taylor Swift know crypto... more

21 Apr 2023 · 9 minutes
'Let's Get It On' ... in court

Did Ed Sheeran steal from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in his hit single "Thinking Out Loud"? That case... more

20 Apr 2023 · 9 minutes
The Indicator from Planet Money
The origins of the influencer industry
The Indicator from Planet Money
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Description

This week, we're going deep into the multi-billion dollar influencer industry. Today, a researcher and two generations of influencers take us through... more