Marketplace All-in-One

China, the world's second-largest economy, sent several cargo ships through an Arctic route over the weekend, along waters hugging Russia's northern coast. The two countries are trying out a path that could become a new shipping lane from China's East Coast to the largest port in the U.K. — one that could avoid U.S.-controlled choke points for trade. But first, big retailers will report quarterly earnings this week. What could they tell us about the U.S. economy?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Could an Arctic shipping route transform global trade?

Get used to paying higher gas prices — they’re the cost of curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions. That was the message from President Donald Trump at a rally on Friday. Today, the temporary ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran expires, and ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is now essentially halted. We'll have the latest. Plus, the $46 billion tribal gambling industry lacks a leader, and that could hamper business growth and investment.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:What happens when a $46 billion industry doesn't have a leader?

Forecasters predicted we’d see a slight increase in retail sales in July, but instead, Census Bureau data released this morning revealed a significant drop. As high energy prices persist and tax refunds run out, it appears that consumers have begun to pull back. Should we be worried? Plus: 200 Nebraskans have lost Medicaid coverage in the first wave of terminations under the government’s new “work requirements.” Many more Americans may soon follow.Stories featured in today’s episode:Roughly 200 people in Nebraska lost Medicaid on Aug. 1Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The federal budget picture for 2026 is not looking too hot. Just in July, the government borrowed $432 billion — that’s $14 billion a day. We explain what’s behind the record-breaking national debt, and what it would take to pay it back. Then, we explore how relentless heat waves in Italy are creating dire conditions for the country’s cheese banks — yes, literal banks, where wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano are held as collateral.Stories featured in today’s episode:This year's budget deficit has almost reached $2 trillion. It's not over yet.Climate change is causing trouble for Italy’s cheese banksEvery story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Cloud computing providers, chip makers, server makers, and even construction companies like Caterpillar all boasted stellar quarterly earnings, sending the message that demand for the development and upkeep of AI is still surging. However, the question remains whether the tech giants pouring cash into data centers will see a return on these enormous investments. But first: Tomorrow we get July’s retail reports, and analysts predict that they’ll show they same thing we’ve been seeing for months: Even though consumers are stressed, they’re still spending. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Treasury Department is changing the rules on which businesses have to report their ownership to the government. The Biden-era requirements were intended to prevent money laundering, but critics say they were too onerous. Will the changes make it easier for dirty money to get into the U.S.? Then: Even though the Trump administration says we’re in control of the Straight of Hormuz, barely any ships are getting through. But unlike at the start of the war, oil markets don’t seem spooked. We explain. Stories featured in today’s episode:Treasury changes rules for business reporting ownershipEvery story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Magic: The Gathering is considered the first modern trading card game. It's a big business, too. Hasbro reported that the game's revenue jumped to a record $545 million in Q2. Today, as a continuation of our "What's That Like?" series, we'll hear from one of the artists who helps bring this fantastical world to life. Also on this morning's program: What do oil disruptions mean for consumer prices going forward?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:How Magic: The Gathering cards come to life

Baby boomers make up the biggest share of homebuyers. Most downsize in their golden years, selling a bigger house and purchasing something smaller. But an increasing number are bucking that trend by buying larger homes or holding on to their bigger houses and renovating them. All of this has implications for a housing market where inventories are below historic norms. But first, more than 10% of student loans are at least 90 days past due.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The student loan delinquency rate is ticking upBaby boomers are supposed to downsize. Some are doing the opposite

We have the latest reading on how small businesses are feeling in this economy, courtesy of the National Federation of Independent Business's Small Business Optimism Index. Small businesses are more upbeat and are looking to hire. We discuss that and other economic data drops. Then, as part of Marketplace's "What's That Like?" series, we hear what it takes to become a game designer behind Hasbro's Magic: The Gathering.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:How Magic: The Gathering cards come to life

Up until last year, construction workers were not in high demand. The data center construction boom has been changing that. Wage growth in the sector is outpacing the rest of the labor market. But the benefits of that growth are relatively limited. This morning, we'll dig in. Plus, President Trump is extending his waiver of the Jones Act to counteract oil disruptions, and the demand for EVs has risen alongside higher gas prices.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Dealers are paying more for used EVs and smaller cars as gas prices stay highHow data center construction is affecting the labor market

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the K-shaped economy is turning C-shaped, meaning low-income wage growth is beginning to outpace growth for higher earners. But experts said the evidence for that claim may be lacking. This morning, we’ll discuss if it’s a fair characterization before diving into the latest attempt to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Then, we’ll look at how hospitals are turning to career academies and other programs to tackle a crisis in recruitment and retention.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:Is the K-shaped economy over?Hospitals are turning to career academies to combat a retention crisis

Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate adjourned for its August recess without passing the “Clarity Act,” which would change the way cryptocurrencies would be regulated. The bill, largely backed by the crypto industry, would treat many cryptocurrencies like commodities rather than securities. This morning, we’ll look at how that would change which agency has oversight, then look at how fairs and carnivals can be a barometer for consumer spending.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:What fairs and carnivals can teach us about the economy

The latest jobs report for July is out. The economy lost 23,000 jobs last month, but analysts were expecting more than 80,000 jobs to be created. This morning, we have some context behind the headline numbers. Plus, we got dozens of financial results this week. Some of the big names were Uber, Palantir, McDonald's, Disney, and CVS. What stood out? And later, Meta was fined $567 million over social media's harm to kids.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Yesterday, a New Mexico court ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay more than $500 million to address harms to young people from its platforms. It's the second phase of a landmark trial, and the combined fines from both parts are north of $940 million. This morning, we'll have an explainer. Then, we'll parse the economics of launching the first female American professional baseball league in over 70 years.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:Women's pro baseball is back

We got the latest reading of jobless claims today. Last week, 199,000 people filed for first-time unemployment claims. Thing is, there were large-scale firings of Haitians and Syrians with Temporary Protected Status, but because they aren't eligible for unemployment insurance, they won't show up in unemployment claims. We'll discuss how these job losses can be tracked and more of this low-hire, low-fire economy we can't seem to shake. Plus, we'll explore how local utilities are grappling with the potential costs and benefits that data centers can bring.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:As more data centers hook up to the grid, how will electric companies keep prices down?

We've been reporting a lot on the rural healthcare crisis recently. Later today, a community in rural Maine will likely learn whether its local hospital will lose labor and delivery services. The state’s largest health system has proposed closing the birthing unit at Lincoln Hospital in the state’s Midcoast region. It would be the fifth rural Maine hospital to stop delivering babies in the last two years, but the community is fighting hard to keep it open. Also: more people are swiping credit cards just to get by.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Credit cards are becoming easier to access for subprime borrowers“Nobody wants this”: Community protests possible L&D closure at rural hospital

The Associated General Contractors of America recently issued a report that finds job gains in the building trade are uneven, with residential construction still lagging. The reasons are a combination of supply chain uncertainty, immigration policy, and high mortgage rates. We'll unpack. Plus, AI and online gambling are following crypto's lead in campaign spending. And, from "Marketplace Tech," can AI tackle some of the biggest failings of our justice system?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in today’s show:From “Marketplace Tech”: AI-driven law could be an answer to accessible legal helpWhat's behind the slowdown in construction jobs?

The music industry is wrestling with the best way to incorporate and acknowledge artificial intelligence in the business. AI tools are one thing, but what about AI-generated music or AI-generated artists? Record labels are now proposing new guidelines on how music generated by artificial intelligence should be treated. Today, we dig into what it means for chart eligibility and the task of finding human-made music. But first: World Cup fans boosted U.S. service exports.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:World Cup fans drove up U.S. service exports in JuneRecord labels push for AI music guardrails

From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. “The Midnight Rebellion” is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It's fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family. You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight Rebellion. Each chapter ends with a choice. YOU decide what’s next. Choose wisely. And if you liked what you heard, listen to the rest and follow The Midnight Rebellion wherever you get your podcasts.

California voters will decide this November whether to impose a one-time wealth tax on the state's richest residents, setting up what could become one of the most expensive ballot measure fights in state history. Proposition 40 would levy a one-time 5% tax on the total wealth — not just income, but stock holdings, real estate, yachts, and other assets — of roughly 200 of California's richest residents. We’ll dig in. Also: a stopgap funding bill and Treasury term premiums.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories covered in this episode:Why term premiums on U.S. Treasurys have been risingCalifornia voters weigh $100 billion wealth tax to offset Medicaid cuts

Seven states are set to hold primary elections this week. Polls open today in Washington, Kansas, Virginia, Missouri, and Michigan. This morning, we'll dig into where exactly dollars are flowing, as well as their sources. Then, Maryland was hit hard by the Trump administration's DOGE cuts. It lost close to 25,000 federal jobs last year. So, to help out their neighbors, some Marylanders have formed a kind of club whose goal is to redistribute money.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Would you join a club where the goal is to redistribute money?

Japan's yen is up against the dollar this morning. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. Treasury Department bought up yen, boosting its value. Japan has been struggling with the low value of its currency. The purchase could help the U.S. though, too. We'll explain. Then, Trump also said over the weekend that the U.S. would back down from fresh attacks on Iran. What's that mean for oil prices?Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The latest news on mortgage rates — crucial for would-be buyers and sellers — is not great. According to Freddie Mac, the average interest on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up again last week to 6.66%. That puts the cost of borrowing to buy a home at the highest level we’ve seen in a year. We explain what's going on. Then, Google's AI summaries are leaving many publishers searching for new ways to reach customers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Mortgage rates just hit a one-year highGoogle's AI search is changing who gets web traffic

The federal government is proposing a rule allowing its agencies to require that their workers sign non-disclosure agreements. That rule has yet to be finalized. But another rule, which is final, says workers could be fired for refusing to sign an NDA or violating one after signing it. This is raising alarms for advocates. We dig in. But first: what the performance of some of the country's biggest companies tells us about the rest of the economy.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories in this episode:Trump wants to require NDAs for federal workers, worrying advocates

Inflation data out yesterday showed the pace of price increases slowed a bit in June, but that may be short-lived when it comes to food. Prices for commodities like wheat, corn, and rice could jump 10% to 18% by next summer because of ongoing wars in Iran, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as what’s forecast to be a “super El Niño” this year. Then, we check in on the state of remote work.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Food commodity prices predicted to jumpTurns out, remote work has staying power

The Federal Open Market Committee decided to hold interest rates steady yesterday. The central bank has a dual mandate from Congress to manage inflation while maximizing employment. Today, we'll dig into some warning signs in the current long-term unemployment figures, as well as the "low-hire, low-fire" environment. Then we'll learn why the Bureau of Economic Analysis is updating its inflation calculation and why it matters for everyday consumers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Why the government is updating how it calculates inflation

You may have heard that a diamond is forever. Turns out, a diamond's value is not. Overall, global rough diamond prices are down 20% year over year and 40% from a decade ago. That's just for natural diamonds — not the increasingly popular lab-grown diamond category. And legendary diamond mining company De Beers announced it's suspending diamond production at its largest mine. We'll unpack. But first: why Fed officials are so confident about hitting their inflationary target.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:What's behind the diamond downturn?

Today, the key stock index in South Korea — the Kospi — was down almost 6% at close. That’s after dropping 10% yesterday. We’re starting to see somewhat of a change in investor emotion for tech stock, prompted by questions over big tech companies spending on AI. What else is driving the sell-off, and what does it mean for the broader market? Plus, we look at how AI is shaping the job market for younger job seekers.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The U.S. Federal Reserve will wrap up a two-day meeting today with an announcement from Chair Kevin Warsh on interest rates. In the middle of uncertainty regarding the war in the Middle East, oil prices, and inflation, experts say rates could remain unchanged — for now. Also, we look at how consumers are pulling back on grocery spending and why the Trump administration is arguing some countries have “excess capacity” in certain manufacturing sectors.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The number of Americans 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2060 — reaching 95 million people. You may have heard about the massive wealth transfer slated to come from Baby Boomers to younger generations, but new reporting finds that the high cost of elder care is wiping out the money some older adults had hoped to leave to their heirs. Also, we'll parse some of the economic data the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee is considering as it convenes today and tomorrow.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The "Great Wealth Transfer" may be smaller than expected

The ocean is already one of the best climate solutions we’ve got. It absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that would otherwise contribute to global warming. But what if it could store even more CO2? Marketplace’s Amy Scott, host of our climate podcast “How We Survive,” looked into one strategy to achieve that goal. And she set sail for a demonstration.This feature is part of “How We Survive.” You can hear more of Amy’s reporting on marine carbon removal and other geoengineering solutions on their new season, wherever you get your podcasts.

More than 330,000 Haitians lost their ability to legally live and work in the U.S. this week. A recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for refugees from certain countries. In this episode, why the policy change will deliver a swift blow to the healthcare sector. Plus: Economists weigh the Fed’s next interest rate move, businesses report cautious optimism in new survey, and a Baltimore club redistributes wealth to neighbors in need.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Economists share their Fed expectationsBusinesses report optimism, despite all the economic uncertaintyA new kind of club wants people to share the wealthWhat the end of TPS for Haitians could mean for the labor forceTo reduce their climate impact, airlines target contrailsCircus school balances world-class programs with small town values

On Monday, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will open to traffic for the first time. The structure connects Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, and provides a new link between the two countries. The opening also comes at a time of increased trade tension, with the U.S. proposing new tariffs on certain Canadian goods. We'll dig into the economic benefits of the new bridge — and its significance. Also, we'll look at the declining number of Ph.D. students and proposed cuts to federal research agencies.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in today’s episode:Gordie Howe Bridge cuts U.S.-Canada trade tension — tariffs add it backPh.D. admissions have dropped 15% for the new school year

A proliferation of AI apps that allow users to create sexualized images of real people have grown into a multi-million dollar industry.Social media platforms are serving as de facto gateways to these services, despite the fact that most prohibit the sharing or promotion of this kind of non-consensual intimate imagery, according to Sina Laubenstein, director of programs at the Institute for Strategic Dialogues, which recently published a report on this.

Intel’s sales jumped by 25% last quarter, the largest increase in over a decade — making the U.S. government’s stake in the company around $40 billion after the administration invested last year. In this episode: Was Trump’s Intel deal a win-win? Plus: Why Gen Z’s not drinking regular soda, rates on business loans might climb, and a 63-year-old pivoted to statue restoration after a career in tech.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Weekly Wrap: Are tariffs just white noise?Rates on business loans have held steady, but they might climb soonIntel is booming a year after the U.S. government bought a stake. Is that a win-win?Mushroom soda and other functional drinks make a splash in the beverage marketHow a 63-year-old took statue restoration from a side hustle to full-time job

The reasons for premature retirement are plentiful: Companies downsize or go bust, partners get sick, kids need childcare help. A new survey finds that, on average, workers think they’ll retire at around 62, but the average age at which retirees actually leave the workforce is closer to 57. Thing is, most said they wished they’d saved more — or sooner. Plus, we dig into the latest round of tariffs from the Trump administration and debrief the past two weeks of earnings reports.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories included in this episode:Americans are retiring earlier than they'd like to. And not because they can afford to.

Sounds rosy, right? Not if you’re long-term unemployed, underemployed, or a new grad. In this episode, the labor market’s low-hire, low-fire status quo reaches a new extreme. Plus: States sue over new Medicaid work requirement protocols, Uber lays off a tenth of its customer service workers with plans to replace them with AI chatbots, and a family travel boom reshapes luxury resorts.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:It's still a tight job market, despite record-low initial unemployment claimsAs yields on Treasury notes rise, the bond market is changingStates sound alarm over new Medicaid work requirement ruleAn AI customer service agent will take your call nowThe life of a Hollywood freelancerFamilies are crashing honeymoon hot spots

A missing package can easily ruin a day, but chasing where that package went — or even a refund — is like following Odysseus on his treacherous journey.And in the age of AI chatbots, the process is a whole lot less human.Dillon Thompson is currently on such a journey. He is looking for an e-bike that FedEx said had been delivered. In his search, Thompson found himself in the AI chatbot hellscape that customer service lines have become.“Marketplace Tech” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Thompson about his trials and tribulations as he chased his tail from company to company and chatbot to chatbot in hopes of finding his missing bike.

The yield on a 30-year Treasury bond has been hovering above 5% for a couple weeks — the longest stretch since the Great Recession. One reason is Treasury bonds are competing with Big Tech debt. We’ll explain, with help from one reporter’s shady gym membership deal. Also in this episode: AT&T attributes strong earnings to service bundles, a customs broker updates us on shipping logistics amid tariff changes, and Kai explains why Fed economists want to keep inflation expectations "anchored."Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:30-year Treasury yields stick above 5%China's consumer economy is losing steamAT&T's service bundles make for an earnings boonInside the "tariff whirlpool" with a brokerage managerWhat “anchored inflation expectations” mean for the Fed

Across Europe, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and pushing temperatures into the triple digits in some places. The heat has been slowing trains, straining power grids, and making it harder for people to work. All of this comes at an economic cost. This morning, we'll unpack. Then, private equity-backed firms now own about one in 10 U.S. community hospitals, but takeovers don't guarantee profits. We'll hear about one private equity-backed hospital chain becoming a nonprofit.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:The economic costs of Europe's heatwavesQuorum Health, a private equity-backed hospital chain, is going nonprofit

President Trump said on Truth Social last night that he's planning a 100% tariff on generic drugs coming into the U.S. starting in 2028, which would jump to 200% a year after. This threat comes as the Trump administration is poised to announce another round of sweeping tariffs, which would replace existing import duties expiring this Friday. Also: one of the world's largest health databases and a pause in federal Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:New tariffs covering 60 countries to replace existing import dutiesWhy one of the world's largest health databases matters

Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino has been using chatbots pretty intensively the last couple years. And there are some details she’s shared about herself that chatbots seem to think are really important. For instance, Claude is obsessed with the fact that she sometimes gets up for work at 4 a.m.It comes up constantly in their chats — apropos of nothing. So, why do large language models latch on to these random tidbits? It's the first topic in our new series “Uncanny AI.” Those moments when it becomes clear AI doesn't think like us.Here to help us unpack what might be going on is Janelle Shane, a laser scientist who writes the AI Weirdness blog.

Anthropic settled a copyright case Monday, agreeing to pay out $1.5 billion to authors whose material had been scraped to train its AI chatbot. It comes out to roughly $3,000 per work used after legal fees and other costs. But the outcome isn’t as decisive as it seems. In this episode, what Anthropic’s decision to settle means for future AI copyright cases. Plus: What we lose when we rely on digital downloads, why Jersey Mike’s is soaring while Subway slumps, and how small business owners are handling higher trucking costs. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:How business owners are grappling with higher trucking costsJersey Mike's filed to go public. What advantages does it have over other sandwich chains?A GM vehicle will set you back around $52,000. Here's why that's higher than average.In the digital era, what media do we still own?Anthropic pays $1.5 billion to settle a copyright caseBreckenridge's dark night skies are dreamy — but they come at a cost

Canada and Mexico are getting very different treatment from the Trump administration when it comes to trade. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will travel to Mexico tomorrow for talks on revising the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada is not invited. In fact, it’s facing new U.S. tariffs. We dig in. Then, the transition to an AI economy could benefit some workers and displace others, but who gets to decide just how this transition will go? The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest coalition of labor unions, is demanding a role.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:How labor unions are tackling AI and midterm elections

Organized labor could play a major role in this year’s midterm elections. The nation’s largest federation of labor unions says it plans to mobilize 16 million voters with ties to the labor movement. "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams recently joined Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, at the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Summit, to discuss how the AFL-CIO is factoring in union members' concerns and opportunities regarding AI in the lead-up to the midterms. But first, Boeing eases back into the good graces of federal regulators.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Boeing may soon be able to deliver two models of its troubled 737-MAX to airlinesHow labor unions are tackling AI and midterm elections

The Big Tech companies driving the AI boom are expected to spend more than $700 billion on data center infrastructure this year. To finance this spending spree, they're increasingly looking to debt. Hyperscalers like Alphabet, Oracle, and Meta have been issuing corporate bonds at a scale the industry has never seen — nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars this year so far. The bond market could be considered a less risky way than stocks for investors to get a piece of the AI hype. To explain what the flood of AI debt means for the bond market, we’re joined by Julie Ask, an independent industry analyst at Ask Advisory. More on this: “The Quarter-Trillion-Dollar Onslaught of AI Bonds Is Testing Investors’ Limits” from the Wall Street Journal “AI has taken over the stock market. The bond market is next.” from The Economist

Blink and you’d miss it — gas prices cooled earlier this summer as the Iran war reached a ceasefire, but the national average is back up to $4 a gallon, according to AAA. In this episode, will U.S.-Iran negotiations drive fuel prices even higher? Plus: Starter home supply eases in some parts of the country, regional bank earnings reveal what’s going on in the consumer economy, and Kai discusses changes to the Fed under Chair Kevin Warsh.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Gas prices hit $4 a gallon againRegional bank earnings will tell us a lot about the health of the economyAll engines go as U.S. shipping speeds upStarter home supply is starting to pick up, particularly in the SouthFor this Texas park worker, home is about the location — not the house

We're more than a week into renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran after the ceasefire collapsed. The escalation is starting to show up at the gas pump, sending prices up to more than $4 a gallon, according to AAA. That’s 13 cents a gallon more than we were paying last week. The average price a year ago? Was $3.14 a gallon. Also: an Nvidia stock sell-off and changing conversations around AI.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Why Nvidia briefly lost its crown as the world's most valuable companyHow to approach the AI revolution

As top AI firms race to develop a “superintelligent” agent — one that surpasses human cognition — are they prioritizing safety guardrails along the way? Not according to the Future of Life Institute’s AI Safety Index, which reported that companies have gone back on their own promises to take a pause if their technology ever got close to certain risky points. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Sabina Nong, AI safety investigator at the Future of Life Institute, about what measures might ensure durable safety around AI moving forward.

The short answer is no, the Chevron-Iraq deal won’t solve the problem. So why did the U.S.-based energy company sign a vague, preliminary deal to negotiate a pipeline that circumvents the Strait of Hormuz? It’s another sign that energy firms expect the war with Iran to drag on. Also in this episode: Talent managers represent more social media influencers as sponsored content spending grows, a food critic delivers the history of iconic Las Vegas buffets, and the U.S. experiences a fun shortage.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Inflation is softening. Can it last with war and tariffs?Chevron seeks new route to transport oil from IraqThe professionals behind that sponcon on your feedThe economics behind America’s fun shortageThe Las Vegas buffet, from 1946 to today