Marketplace®
Every story is an economic story
 

Erika Soderstrom

Associate Producer

Erika works with a group of extraordinary producers to chase business and economic stories heard on “Marketplace Morning Report.”

Latest from Erika Soderstrom

  • The dark cost of tea farming in Kenya
    Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

    From the BBC World Service: A BBC investigation has uncovered widespread sexual abuse on tea farms which supply some of the world’s biggest international tea brands. Plus, the brewer Brewdog is expanding into China in a tie-up with Budweiser. And, we take a look at the economic implications of war in Ukraine on the eve of the first anniversary. Please be advised content featured in this podcast includes a story about sexual abuse that listeners may find difficult to hear or inappropriate for younger audiences.

    Read MoreDownload
  • Consumers are really, really indebted
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York says credit card debt reached all-time highs at the end of 2022, around $986 billion in total. A look into why that matters, and what it says about the economy. As Turkey recovers from a devastating set of earthquakes that rocked the country’s southern region this month, questions are arising about a so-called “earthquake tax” that’s been in place since 2004. And, while revenue from online ads shrinks for giants like Meta and Alphabet, small businesses are keeping up their advertising campaigns.  

    Read MoreDownload
  • The job market is sending mixed signals
    Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

    There have been some contradictory signs coming out of the job market in the past month — some big tech companies are announcing layoffs, but other places say they’re hiring lots of workers. We look into what to make of the wider labor market picture. It’s time for the renewal of the Farm Bill, the massive agricultural spending law, and Congressional Republicans are aiming to trim SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. And, we talked to the head of a Pennsylvania department store that’s been open for 118 years. 

    Read MoreDownload
  • How much will it cost to rebuild in Turkey and Syria?
    Mehmet Kacmaz/Getty Images

    From the BBC World Service: After the United Nations launched a $1bn appeal to help those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria we speak to our reporter to find how much it will cost to rebuild the affected areas. We hear about a major Chinese businessman who has been reported missing, and we ask Manchester United fans who they want to buy their club with a deadline looming.

    Read MoreDownload
  • Theatre jobs are still recovering from pandemic shocks
    Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

    Theatres were one set of businesses that were hit hardest by pandemic shutdowns, which forced many workers to be cut or furloughed. We check in with the Minneapolis-based Children’s Theatre Company to see how things are going. Today’s Producer Price Index data confirms what other recent inflation data is showing: rising prices aren’t slowing down nearly fast enough. And, a new report from the Congressional Budget Office says that the U.S. could default on its debt as soon as July should Congress fail to agree to raise the debt limit. 

    Read MoreDownload
  • A stage production of Cinderella plays at the Minnesota-based Children's Theatre Company. Kimberly Motes, head of the theater, says it is still recovering from pandemic shutdowns that saw many employees furloughed.
    (David Rubene/Children's Theatre Company)

    How a children’s theater company is ensuring the show will go on after pandemic.

    Read MoreDownload
  • U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai explains why addressing economic coercion from China is a challenge.
    cbarnesphotography/Getty Images

    China announced this morning that defense giant Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon would go on a blacklist, which follows similar American moves last week. It’s the latest incident in the Chinese balloon saga that has seen the U.S.-China relationship sour further. The White House’s new standards for electric vehicle chargers could bring about new business opportunities. And, we check in with an egg farmer about how the industry is doing amid its recovery from a severe avian flu outbreak.

    Read MoreDownload
  • In Nigeria, more money means more problems
    PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images

    From the BBC World Service: Nigeria allows the use of old notes to ease new problems – for now. A plan to replace notes has been beset by problems with a scarcity of cash leading to riots in some cities. Our reporter explains the backdrop and we hear from those affected in Lagos. Plus, one of the world’s biggest chip companies says its intellectual property has been stolen. And, why New Zealand is struggling with a shortage of eggs.

    Read MoreDownload
  • Sam Krouse, co-head of MPS Egg Farms, says the industry is recovering well from a widespread outbreak of avian flu that caused prices to skyrocket.
    David Silverman/Getty Images

    Sam Krouse, co-CEO of MPS Egg Farms, says wholesale prices are down as farms recover from avian flu and consumer demand eases.

    Read MoreDownload
  • Consumers just keep on buying stuff
    lechatnoir

    The latest number on consumer spending are out this morning, and they indicate that people are continuing to buy stuff despite economic anxiety and inflation. Susan Schmidt walks us through what that could mean for rising prices. Meanwhile, at the Fed, central bankers are signaling that further interest rate hikes are needed after yesterday’s less-than-great inflation data. The EU is looking into using seized Russian assets to fund the rebuilding of Ukraine. And, the economic point of view from Rockwell Automation, a company that specializes in being a sort of “manufacturer for manufacturers.”

    Read MoreDownload