Marketplace All-in-One

Tomorrow, the Social Security Administration will announce their Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and seniors are expected to see a small increase in their monthly checks next year. It could be a meaningful change for struggling retirees: 74% of people on Social Security have reported making financial changes due to rising costs outpacing their benefits. Then, an update on the global bond market.

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Inflation, war, high borrowing costs, and of course, the Fed’s rate hikes: There’s a lot of reasons why mortgage rates have shot through the roof recently. Because of this, when we get the National Association of Realtors report on existing home sales for September, experts expect to see sales in decline — again. Usually that has a lot of spillover effects on the economy. Is that true today? Then: how much it costs to keep a data center cool.

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An increasing number of schools are offering classes and even majors and minors in the art of influencing.

Charlie Randall is a senior pursuing a double major in theater and content creation at Arkansas Tech University, which launched their digital content creation degree about three years ago.

He hopes to use the degrees to break into voice acting.

Hear ye, hear ye! Bridget and Ryan have received this question from listener Perry: “How do companies get on the stock market?” which the pair intend to answer while spending the day at the Renaissance Fair. With a wizard as their guide, they discover that taking a company public on the stock market is a lot like a Renaissance-Fair styled obstacle course with three paths to the finish line! Plus, get ready to meet the world’s boniest insult comic.

As the workforces of the U.S., U.K., and similar wealthy Western nations age, other countries with younger populations grow at a clip. Nowhere is this more true than India, where the median age is 29 (a decade younger than the U.S.) and GDP is growing at nearly 8% annually. As part of our ongoing “Age of Work” series, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal and ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson visited Mumbai to understand a workforce and economy that is very different from our own. In this episode, they visit a bustling bazaar where young jewelers are inheriting family businesses.

To kick off this morning's show, a survey by the National Association for Business Economics shows that economic forecasters predict lingering inflation and higher interest rates. We'll dig into those outlooks. Then, big banks report their financial results this week, and they could give us a sense of how higher interest rates and higher long-term bond yields are working their way through the economy. Plus, we'll hear what this year's Nobel Prize in Economics win means for the field of macroeconomics.

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Two Americans, Stanford's Robert E. Hall and Columbia's Michael Woodford, have won this year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and will split the almost $2 million prize for models that help governments maintain stability while navigating big swings in the economy. To mark the occasion, we reached out to a couple of past prize winners to hear how things have been going since. Then, we hear why some schools are paying influencers to lure in new prospects.

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There's a growing market for AI models that promise to recreate the experience of interacting with a lost loved one. They're sometimes called generative ghosts, and they're the topic for today's “Uncanny AI,” our series about sometimes-unsettling experiences with this technology.

Jack Manning, a Ph.D. candidate studying information science at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been looking into this. He recently published a study on how people experience talking to generative ghosts.

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“Designing Conversations with the Dead: How People Engage with Generative Ghosts” from Association for Comp...

A 2020 law aimed at eliminating surprise medical expenses has shifted some unpredictable costs away from patients. The law was supposed to incentivize jointly set reasonable prices between hospitals and insurers, but instead, there’s been a whole lot of finger pointing — and employers are left holding the bag. Also in this episode: The agriculture economy goes K-shaped, a sailor finds a support network in her solo circumnavigation, and we talk through the week’s economic headlines.

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Two years ago, Congress approved millions of dollars in funding to clean some of the nation’s dirtiest beaches. Many of those beaches are also some of the hardest to access. But then, cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency effectively killed the project. Now, there’s no clear future for all that trash. In this morning's podcast, we head to a remote Alaskan beach to hear where cleanup efforts stand now. Plus, economist Judy Shelton is joining the Treasury Department as a counselor to Secretary Scott Bessent.

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The Trump administration announced yesterday that it will no longer allow Microsoft, Adobe, and a handful of other companies to sponsor foreign workers for green cards and accused nine universities of abusing the J-1 temporary student visa program. Earlier this week, it also proposed a rule raising the fee for international students who want to stay in the U.S. and work temporarily through the Optional Practical Training program from about $500 to $70,000. We have more. Then, will Minnesotan restaurants be willing to dish up invasive crayfish?

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President Donald Trump named a new superhero-sounding AI task force this week dubbed the “Super Intelligence Force.” It's led by Jay Clayton, the new AI Czar and also director of national intelligence.

Plus, Democrats in the Senate blocked a bill to address data center energy costs ahead of the midterm elections, and a new poll shows Americans are not feeling too great about how our leaders in government are dealing with the risks from AI. Cristiano Lima-Strong, senior AI and government reporter at Bloomberg Government, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino to break down these stories on thi...

First-time unemployment claims (layoffs, basically) have come in below 200,000 for four weeks running — the longest stretch since 1969. At the same time, the economy only barely added jobs in September. Few layoffs, barely any new jobs, and it makes ya start to wonder, just how petrified can this labor market get? Also in this episode: AI doomers touch grass at a monthly Bay Area picnic, the personal savings rate ebbs to a 4-year low, and Kai explains central bankers’ balance sheet agita.

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There's been a lot of mixed data coming out about how AI is affecting the labor market. An analysis by writer and economist Joey Politano found that the U.S. has lost more than 200,000 creative sector jobs over the last four years. But just how much can we blame AI? Plus, we continue our conversation with WUSF reporter Jessica Meszaros about the high cost of energy bills in Florida.

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Energy bills in Florida have jumped by as much as 70% over the past 10 years, according to reporting by WUSF reporter Jessica Meszaros. This morning, we'll help explain why that is and discuss rate hikes by investor-owned utility companies, the role of government-appointed approval commissions, and whether there are any alternatives. But first, a snapshot of consumers' expectations for the future of the economy shows that it's a mixed bag.

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Are you more likely to buy some spicy mayo because it’s made by a blockbuster star? What about pet food or a mobile network? It used to be that you’d just buy a ticket to your favorite actor’s movie or your favorite singer’s concert, but as more celebrities cash in on their fame with product endorsements and brand extensions, what does that do to us and our relationship with celebrity culture? And how does that impact the way that we spend money on our favorite stars? Guest host Alice Wilder talks to Lindsey Weber and Bobby Fi...

It started when Kalie Robins posted an Instagram video with her kid. Meta's built in AI chatbot, Muse, started prompting her to ask questions about her daughters and personal life, which sent her down a social-media-privacy rabbit hole.

Robins took to her feed — at the time, with only a few hundred followers — to share her experience. “It starts pulling completely separate information for each of my kids: their names, birth information, pictures and videos of them. And then it says, ‘pinpointing Kalie Robbins' location,’” she said in her now viral video.

Meta responded to the incid...

The S&P 500 has hit more than two dozen record highs this year, and it’s got AI firms to thank. In fact, it’s easy to forget that a lot of other public companies are in a tough spot. In this episode, why there’s a widening bifurcation of the stock market. Plus: Rising auto loan delinquencies could be a warning sign for broader consumer strife, financial institutions kick off Q3 earnings season, and Kai explains what the yield curve tells us about the bond market.

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Like so much else in the economy, the cost of hobbies — recreational activities, the ways we fill our free time — is on the rise. But according to recent analysis from the Bank of America Institute, consumers aren’t shying away from those higher prices. We hear more. Also in this episode, we have a preview of meeting minutes from the Federal Reserve, then examine mortgage rates and Treasury notes.

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An initiative on the California ballot would levy the nation’s first wealth tax on billionaires. Supporters say the proceeds would help offset President Donald Trump’s sweeping healthcare cuts and that it could be a blueprint for other states, but critics argue that the temporary infusion of cash is a giveaway to politicians. We dig into the arguments. But first, it’s been a bit of a rough year for toy maker giants Hasbro and Mattel. What gives?

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OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife recently backed out of a planned $25 million donation to Leading the Future, an artificial intelligence-focused political action committee.

Brockman said the PAC had become a “distraction” at OpenAI. But only after the executive had already given an initial $25 million.

AI-focused PACs are spending big to shape competing visions for AI policy in the midterm elections.

Brendan Glavin, Director of Insights at OpenSecrets, explains how these PACS are looking to influence elections this year.

We got fresh data showing imports and inventory levels are up. Is it a sign of a strong economy, or a sign businesses are bracing for impact? In this episode, AI remains a major driver of this strange economy. Plus: The U.S. is simultaneously importing and exporting a ton of semiconductors, the euro drops to a 17-month low, and monetary policy disproportionately impacts Black employment rates.

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Diesel is still hovering at around $6 a gallon. President Donald Trump says Ukrainian air strikes on Russian oil refineries are exacerbating a global shortage of diesel and pushing up prices, but Ukraine isn’t letting up. We have the latest this morning. Then, a recent proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for communities to find out about AI data centers — and their potential effects on air quality — before they're constructed.

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More Americans than ever are questioning the value of higher education. A new survey from Gallup finds that just 31% of adults in the U.S. think a college education is “very important.” That’s the lowest since Gallup first asked that question nearly 50 years ago. Some of the big reasons? The cost of a college education and employment concerns in the AI age. And later, more than 2 million young people between 19 and 24 could lose Medicaid in the next few years. We hear why.

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The AI industry appears to be getting more serious about safety.

Leaders of top companies signed a non-binding agreement at the White House Sept. 30, laying out standards and best practices for responsible development of advanced AI. OpenAI delayed the release of its latest model due to safety concerns. And Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called on the sector to slow things down and "pace the frontier."

Wall Street initially wasn't too happy about that push and stocks related to the AI buildout took a momentary tumble.

But Jordan Nanos, at the...

Tula wants to know, "what is a credit score," which is perfect timing for Bridget, her board game crew, and Ryan to play Credit Score Quest: Path to 850. As the players roll the dice and pull cards, they navigate credit score myths, surprising score twists, and learn some valuable lessons about how to build an "exceptional" credit score.

Despite Trump’s best efforts (a flurry of loosely targeted tariffs), the U.S. trade deficit is widening. But why is it widening? And what does it all have to do with foreign investment in government debt and the strength of the U.S. dollar? We’ll explain. Plus: Electric truck sales rev up amid record-high diesel prices, a 19th-century novelist popularized economic theory for her broad audience, and investors prep for upcoming Treasury auctions.

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More Americans are familiar with autonomous vehicles than they were a decade ago. But if a self-driving car is in their future, most still want the option of taking the wheel, a new survey finds. This morning, we explore consumers' thoughts on driverless cars. Also on this morning's program: we keep an eye on the bond market and the oil market. Plus, how one Brooklyn-based makerspace is helping people unplug and work with their hands.

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This year has been dominated by headlines about artificial intelligence. But as the AI buildout accelerates, some are looking for ways to slow down. This morning, "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams takes a trip to MakerSpace NYC, a community workshop where people were busy sewing, welding, drilling, and more. For some, it's just for fun; for others, it’s helping launch small businesses. Plus, promises from OPEC might not mean much.

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We've been hearing a lot about the threat of out-of-control of AI in recent weeks; mostly, from the people making the technology. There was the Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who publicly quit and kicked off the whole discussion. Others, including that company’s CEO Dario Amodei, chimed in with alarming appraisals of AI's existential risk.

Making sense of all this as an outsider can sometimes feel like decoding an unfamiliar civilization. So, we called Spencer Kaplan, a Ph.D. candidate at Yale, who studies anthropology and researches AI workers.

In Nike’s earnings report this week, the brand said it may begin shrinking its operations and laying off workers. It’s been losing market share for a while now. We look at what went wrong in the last decade. Also in this episode: the government-funded EV discounts that still remain, the business of affiliate links, and a former business owner’s mini retirement during fatherhood.

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This week, the Treasury Department released rules for a new nationwide school choice program that could end up providing billions of dollars to students attending private schools. Taxpayers will be able to opt in to the program by giving up to $1,700 to third-party groups that provide scholarships to students, and can later deduct that donation from their taxes. Many public school advocates, however, oppose the program. Also in this episode: weaker-than-expected jobs data and reimagined research parks.

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After being laid off this summer, Montrose Fell felt the pressure to scramble and find a new position. But after a year of funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the biomedical industry was flooded with overqualified candidates. So, Fell decided to pursue permanent residency in Canada. “The current scientific climate in the United States was not one where I thought I would thrive in,” they said. We hear more as part of our "Clocked Out" series. But first, we have a preview of the September jobs report.

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While the White House hosted tech luminaries this week to sign a voluntary agreement on AI safety standards, the Federal Trade Commission opened a broad investigation into AI labs over potential safety risks their products may pose to consumers.

Plus, a nearly four-hour documentary on Elon Musk is stirring up controversy over whether social media platforms will run ads for it.

We’ll get into it on today’s “Bytes: Week in Review.”

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The PCE price index (that's the Fed's preferred measure of inflation) held steady year-over-year in the latest report. Economists expected it to move up. So, why didn't it budge -- and why aren't we all celebrating? Also in this episode: Seasonal work is hard to find so far this fall, Trump's immigration crackdown weakens construction productivity in South Texas, and Kai explains the long-term implications of rising borrowing costs.

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On Mortgage News Daily, the average rate for a 30-year fixed is now up to 7.6%. And as the cost of a mortgage has gone up, the demand for home loans has dipped to a two-year low, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Then, some lenders surveyed by the Federal Reserve reported that they’ve been noticing a pickup in delinquencies, as higher costs burden both families and businesses.

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Starting today, states are now responsible for a bigger share of the administrative costs that come with running the SNAP food assistance program. It used to be a 50-50 split with the federal government, but now states will take on 75% of the costs. We explore the impacts. We also discuss fresh inflation data and consumer spending figures. Plus, should Big Oil pay for some of the damage caused by burning fossil fuels?

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Over the last 25 years, the U.S. government has spent billions of dollars to build a "virtual wall" of video surveillance at the southern border. The network can signal Border Patrol to respond when it detects suspicious activity. And officials have touted the benefit of providing aid to migrants in distress.

But 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. Eileen Guo co-reported the series, “Dying on Camera.”

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Does higher education still guarantee financial stability? How can parents set their kids up for success, without subjecting them to overbearing pressure? Reema talks to writer Min Jin Lee to talk about her new novel, “American Hagwon.” They discuss the precariousness of the middle class, and how love, fear, and money get tangled up in what parents want for their children … and what those kids can feel like they owe in return.

This Is Uncomfortable is nominated for a Signal Award! We’re up for Best Show in the Money & Finance category, and now we n...

OpenAI just announced it will delay its IPO due to ongoing AI safety concerns. But when you’re a company as big as OpenAI, where does your funding come from? In this episode, venture capital doesn’t cut it. Plus: Second quarter GDP was revised up thanks to all that corporate AI investment, Kai breaks down why the labor market is kinda like a bathtub, and farmers turn to agritainment as crop revenue shrinks.

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