❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now
By The Numbers

I’m a Barbie girl, in an Instagram world

Beidi Zhang Apr 15, 2015
7 percent

That’s China’s latest growth rate. The numbers cover January to March, and annualized it’s down from previous growth rates. While that’s magnificent by U.S. standards, it’s a lackluster figure for China, which has to keep creating jobs for people pulled into the economy from the hinterlands.

700,000 followers

That’s how many followers (and counting) Barbie (yes, the doll) has on Instagram. @BarbieStyle is meticulously managed by vice president of design Kim Culmone, director of design Robert Best, and the main creative thinker for the account Zlatan Zukanovic. Modeled after popular style blog Instagram accounts, Barbie’s photos include selfies, closeups of accessories, and outfit of the day shots. Racked has the origin story of what it’s like to photograph a Barbie girl living in a Barbie world.

2.9 billion miles

That’s about how many miles NASA’s New Horizons probe has traveled thus far on its journey to Pluto. When it does reach the dwarf planet in July, it will be the first time a spacecraft will have visited. In the meantime, VOX has the first color photos sent back from the probe.

225th

This month marks the 225th anniversary of the Patent Act, celebrated by the patents and trademarks industry nationwide. In honor of this landmark, Marketplace Morning Report talked with Michelle Lee, newly confirmed director of the U.S. Patent and Trade Office. The former Google attorney prefers the term “abusive litigation” to instead of “patent trolls.” She also talked about how women in STEM field can encourage innovation for companies and society. 

11:59:59PM

This is your income tax deadline today…unless you filed for an extension. Turns out, it’s a popular course of action. Listen to our resident explainer Paddy Hirsh on why we have a nation of procrastinators here in the U.S. 

25 percent

That’s the percentage of part-time college faculty that receive public assistance. And as Slate points out, that’s a lot of highly educated individualsmost hold Ph.D degrees and Master’s degreesneeding help to provide for themselves and their families.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.