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@marketplace.org
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Every story has an economic angle. We break it down to help you live smarter. marketplace.org 📧 Want even more Marketplace? Subscribe to our newsletters: www.marketplace.org/newsletters

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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 1h
Nike used to be the king of the hill. But in the last decade, the company lost its way. What actually went wrong? And can it be turned around?
marketplace.org
Can Nike get its mojo back?
The company said this week to expect layoffs.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 7h
For many workers, commute time is an essential factor in taking a job.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 20h
Affiliate marketing drove over $200 billion in U.S. e-commerce sales last year. And the custom link commissions aren’t just for influencers anymore.
marketplace.org
Here, take my link! The rise of affiliate links
Once reserved for major influencers, new e-commerce platforms have brought affiliate links to the group chat.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 03/10/2026
Nike has been losing market share for a while now. Plus, state EV incentives, affiliate links, and a mini retirement. Today on Marketplace.
marketplace.org
Nike's not just doing it
The brand has been losing market share for a while now. Plus, state EV incentives, affiliate links, and a mini retirement.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 03/10/2026
Does higher education still guarantee financial security? Or are there other paths to stability? This week on This is Uncomfortable, we chat with author Min Jin Lee to talk about her new novel, “American Hagwon,” and the precariousness of the middle class.
marketplace.org
Min Jin Lee asks, is college still a reliable investment?
The bestselling author talks about family, class and higher education in her latest book, “American Hagwon."
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
Designed for 9-to-5 work, research parks have traditionally emptied out after hours. That’s starting to change.
marketplace.org
Research parks were designed for working. That's starting to change.
Research Triangle Park in North Carolina is one of the country's largest research parks, but for most of its 65-year history it was designed for exactly one thing: weekday work.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
A new nationwide school choice program could end up providing billions of dollars to private school students.
marketplace.org
Private schools are likely to be the beneficiaries of new federal school voucher program
The program is also designed to benefit some public school students, but public school advocates are skeptical.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
Is it possible to just outgrow your problems? Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has suggested that might be the case for the U.S. national debt.
marketplace.org
Can the U.S. just grow its way out of debt?
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that the country can “grow” its way out of debt. Is growth enough?
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
Seasonal hiring is down 23% from this time last year. Where did all the holiday jobs go?
marketplace.org
More people are looking for seasonal work this year. So far, it's hard to find
Seasonal hiring announcements are unusually quiet heading into the holiday season, according to new data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
The southern border is watched by hundreds of surveillance cameras, and yet, migrants keep dying in plain view. A recent investigation by MIT Technology Review and the Times of San Diego found more than 1,000 migrants have died over the last decade within range of one of these cameras.
marketplace.org
Flaws in AI-powered surveillance tech are costing lives at the southern border
Eileen Guo coauthored a recent investigation for MIT Technology Review, looking at the latest generation of surveillance towers that failed to detect people in distress crossing the border.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
If progress continues at the current rate, it will be 200 years before Black women close the gender wage gap with white men.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
Annual inflation stayed at 3.4%, according to the latest PCE report. Plus: Construction workers, security guards, and growing out of debt. Today on Marketplace.
marketplace.org
Inflation held steady in August. Yay?
Annual inflation stayed at 3.4%, according to the latest PCE report. Plus: Construction workers, security guards, and growing out of debt.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 02/10/2026
Loan delinquencies are climbing, according to new data from the Federal Reserve. At La Salle State Bank in Illinois, chief lending officer Chris Duncan said he’s recently been noticing some late payment creep — something likely driven by rising inflation.
marketplace.org
As inflation stretches paychecks, some lenders report "late payment creep"
Some lenders surveyed by the Federal Reserve recently reported that they’ve been noticing a pickup in delinquencies, as higher costs burden both families and businesses.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 01/10/2026
How do businesses deal with rising prices? And what does shrinkflation have to do with it? On a brand new episode of "Million Bazillion," hosts Ryan and Bridget put on their detective hats to get to the bottom of things. Listen with your family now. 👇
mktplc.org
What is shrinkflation?
Bridget and Ryan try to find the answer, but they come up a little short.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 01/10/2026
Bad news for mustard-lovers of a mild palate: “When you have hotter, drier growing conditions, you get hotter, spicier mustard seeds.”
marketplace.org
Is your Dijon spicy? Heat and drought might be the cause
When his Dijon mustard chicken recipe went awry, Jake Edmiston launched an investigation to find out what was making his mustard so spicy.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 01/10/2026
It's thanks to investors like you that Marketplace is free and accessible to everyone. Haven't given yet? Donate now to support the economic journalism that you rely on: mktplc.org/4iL3lC6
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 01/10/2026
Consumers continue to carry the economy, but businesses did their part by investing in… you already know what. It could be the motto of American companies right now: “Put some AI on it.”
marketplace.org
Second quarter GDP growth is brought to you by the letters A and I
The U.S. gross domestic product grew 2.2% this spring, an upward revision of 0.7%.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 01/10/2026
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh says the unemployment rate is running “basically consistent with full employment.” What the heck does “full employment” mean? Dip your toes into this metaphor!
marketplace.org
Why full employment is like filling a bathtub with water
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh mentioned at his last press conference that he believed the unemployment rate was running “basically consistent with full employment.” What does that mean?
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 01/10/2026
Social Security beneficiaries retiring this decade are getting about 133% as much in benefits as they and their employers paid in taxes over their working lives. Understanding this gap is crucial in creating meaningful reform — the Trust Fund is currently only six years away from being insolvent.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 01/10/2026
Open AI says it will delay its IPO. Where's its funding coming from in the meantime? Plus: agritourism, full employment, and too-spicy mustard. Today on Marketplace.
marketplace.org
OpenAI is staying private (for now)
The company says it will delay its IPO. Where's its funding coming from in the meantime? Plus: agritourism, full employment, and too-spicy mustard.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 30/09/2026
October is around the corner, and for millions of Americans, that means rent is almost due. But, with rising costs across the economy, meeting those monthly payments is becoming increasingly difficult. A new analysis finds that one in five working-age renters struggled to pay rent last year.
marketplace.org
People are increasingly struggling to pay rent
A new report from the Urban Institute found that one in five working-age renters struggled to pay rent last year. The share of middle-income renters that are facing these challenges grew by the bigges...
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 30/09/2026
Wired headphones are back in style. According to industry advisors at Circana, consumers spent 16% more on wired headphones in 2026. It’s all part of a larger, “old-is-new” analog tech comeback.
marketplace.org
Wired headphones and other retro gear are having a comeback
Younger generations who grew up on the latest tech seem particularly nostalgic for a simpler era.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 30/09/2026
Recent industrial growth has spurred demand for skilled trade workers in South Texas — a much-needed opportunity for locals in the area, where unemployment outpaces the rest of the state and the nation.
marketplace.org
Industrial growth boosts demand for skilled trades in South Texas
As liquefied natural gas facilities, SpaceX, and other industrial projects expand in the Rio Grande Valley, trades programs are training local residents for jobs.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 30/09/2026
“Companies are now increasingly collecting data on us to get a better sense of how much they think they can get away with charging us.” What does it even mean anymore to find fair pricing?
marketplace.org
The price tag might be an endangered species
In her new book, “Gouged: The End of a Fair Price — and What That Means for Your Wallet,” Lindsay Owens writes that personalized prices are, in some cases, replacing set prices — and that might not be...
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 30/09/2026
Consumer sentiment beats its own recent record in a game of limbo. How low can you go?
marketplace.org
Consumer confidence falls to its lowest level in 12 years, survey shows
The survey also showed that the confidence of upper-middle class consumers has declined the most over the past six months.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 30/09/2026
3.3 million people were displaced from long-held jobs from January of 2023 to December of 2025. For people who lost their jobs but then found new ones, less than half were making the same amount of money or more than in previous jobs.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 30/09/2026
So far, consumer spending remains resilient. Plus: Price gouging, Gulf shrimpers, GDP growth, and the still-sluggish labor market. Today on Marketplace.
marketplace.org
Consumer confidence slides to 12-year low
So far, consumer spending remains resilient. Plus: Price gouging, Gulf shrimpers, GDP growth, and the still-sluggish labor market.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 29/09/2026
We’re excited to be nominated for a Signal Award in Money & Finance! Please vote for This is Uncomfortable at the link below! Thank you for being the best audience and navigating these uncomfortable conversations about life and money with us 💚 #SignalAwards vote.signalaward.com
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 29/09/2026
Rising energy prices are expected to drive up heating costs this winter. There is some federal help to pay those bills — it’s called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — but that pool of money could be stretched thin this year.
marketplace.org
Energy assistance programs stretched thin by higher demand
More Americans are concerned about paying their energy bills this winter.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 29/09/2026
Haven’t been to the mall in a long time? It might be worth a revisit. Malls around America are reinventing themselves post-pandemic for a better future.
marketplace.org
The mall isn't dead, yet
During the pandemic, America’s malls were left empty and struggling to survive as visitors dwindled. But six years later, they have given themselves a facelift and are luring customers back.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 29/09/2026
Holiday shopping season is rapidly approaching, and Adobe expects U.S. online sales to hit $275 billion this year. But all that shipping is gonna need a heck of a lot of fuel.
marketplace.org
Adobe forecasts record U.S. spending online this holiday season
Adobe forecasts U.S. online holiday spending will hit a record $275 billion this season — up 6.7% from 2025 — but the energy crisis is complicating the picture for retailers.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 29/09/2026
Are you experienced in a specific trade? Because 82% of Gen Zers say that skilled trades offer better job security than many office jobs in today's economy.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 29/09/2026
Nvidia is flush with cash from the data center boom, and is giving back to its shareholders. Plus: the holiday spending season, the volunteer firefighter shortage, and the return of malls. Today on Marketplace.
marketplace.org
Nvidia's record-breaking stock buyback
The chipmaker is flush with cash from the data center boom, and is giving back to its shareholders. Plus: the holiday spending season, the volunteer firefighter shortage, and the return of malls.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 29/09/2026
LIMITED OFFER: Get your half-price hoodie when you start a sustaining donation of $10/month or more! Available until tomorrow, 9/29, so start your donation today at mktplc.org/4yY6kvJ.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 28/09/2026
Have you talked to Alexa in a while? She’s changed. You can still talk to Alexa+ using Amazon echo devices, but it also now operates as a text chatbot, capable of conversational searches, managing to-do lists and even generating podcasts.
marketplace.org
Amazon wants Alexa to finish your to-do list, not just research it
Daniel Rausch, Amazon's vice president of Alexa and Echo, says embedding the latest AI capabilities to the digital assistant has proven to deliver on tasks from start to finish — whether it be making ...
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 28/09/2026
Job openings in manufacturing and construction are up, but hiring in the services sector has not been quite as hot.
marketplace.org
Job openings are up, especially in manufacturing and construction
Hiring in the services sector, on the other hand, isn’t quite as hot.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 28/09/2026
Trust in the federal government has slipped to 27%, but Americans view the actual federal workforce more favorably than before.
marketplace.org
Why trust in the federal government is down in the dumps
While there’s less trust in the federal government compared to last year’s survey, the perception of the federal government workforce seems to be improving.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 28/09/2026
The national debt is the highest it’s ever been. If we can’t get interest rates down, here’s what could happen to the debt by 2056.
marketplace.org
What happens to the deficit and national debt if interest rates stay high?
When interest rates rise, everyone — including the federal government — pays more to borrow. What does that mean for the economy in the long term?
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 28/09/2026
Private equity firms have a purpose: to make as much profit as possible for their investors. But now they’re being graded on a new metric: climate risk.
marketplace.org
Private equity gets a grade on climate risks
Amanda Mendoza, the lead researcher on the Private Equity Climate Risks Scorecard, explains its purpose and importance to American consumers.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 28/09/2026
The median household income last year was at its highest on record in more than half a century. Part of the story, though, is the fact that cuts to social safety nets from the big Republican tax and spending law are not yet reflected in the data.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 27/09/2026
How the 2025 growing season lead to an overflow of hot potatoes — and left farmers in a pinch.
marketplace.org
A spectacular 2025 growing season was not so great for potato farmers this year
Farmers nationwide grew way too many potatoes, flooding the market and crashing the price.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 26/09/2026
The hottest trend on the market. No🧢. This weekend only, get the Let's Do the Numbers Baseball Hat for a one-time donation of $25 or more! Support Marketplace this fall and get yours when you donate $25 or more: mktplc.org/4iL3lC6
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 26/09/2026
A recent report calculates the effects of long-term elevated borrowing costs. Plus: Trump-Xi summit, soil conservation, and a private equity climate scorecard. Today on Marketplace.
marketplace.org
High interest rates could balloon the national debt
The Congressional Budget Office calculated the effects of long-term elevated borrowing costs in a recent report. Plus: Trump-Xi summit, soil conservation, and a private equity climate scorecard.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 26/09/2026
Earlier this month, Madrid hosted a Formula 1 race for the first time in 45 years. Events of this scale can have a huge impact on local business — by one estimate, the race is expected to bring in over $500 million and create almost 9,000 jobs in the local economy.
marketplace.org
Madrid welcomed back Formula 1. Here’s what it meant for the city.
The city will host the annual Grand Prix through 2035.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 25/09/2026
For millions of African households, the Iran war has quickly become a cost-of-living shock. That’s because most nations on the continent are net oil importers, so higher oil prices feed into transport, electricity, food distribution, and the cost of basic goods.
marketplace.org
How the U.S. war with Iran is impacting African economies
Countries in Africa are looking toward energy resilience as the war in Iran exposed their dependence on oil imports.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 25/09/2026
Yet another “historic event” could be underway with this year’s El Niño. Here’s what catastrophe modelers have to say about the storm’s unusual behavior.
marketplace.org
A "historic" El Niño is brewing and catastrophe modelers are mapping out the risks
El Niño years bring hurricanes and typhoons to unusual places, says catastrophe modeler Dan Ward.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 25/09/2026
We help you make sense of the economy. And your gift keeps Marketplace paywall-free and accessible to everyone. Support Marketplace by donating a one-time gift or starting a monthly sustaining gift: mktplc.org/4iL3lC6
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 25/09/2026
Fan fiction used to be considered a somewhat “dirty secret,” with authors publishing for free online to their niche but loyal fanbases. This week, cultural commentator Josh Lora and journalist Elizabeth Minkel join us to explain how big money has changed the public perception of fan fiction.
marketplace.org
Is money ruining fan fiction?
Fan fiction was a labor of love, until money entered the equation.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 25/09/2026
The cycle of layoffs and rehires doesn’t work like it used to. Now, if you lose a job, it probably means the job just disappeared.
marketplace.org
Laid off? Odds are a change of job title's in your future
And that change could be for the better.
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Marketplace @marketplace.org · 25/09/2026
​​Medicaid cuts are making access to home healthcare services more difficult — and may force the elderly or those with disabilities to live in a nursing home.
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