Kristin Schwab

SHORT BIO

Kristin Schwab is a reporter at Marketplace focusing on the consumer economy. She's based in Brooklyn, New York.

Before Marketplace, Kristin produced narrative and news podcasts for The New York Times, New York Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. She teaches audio journalism at her alma mater, Columbia Journalism School.

Kristin also has a BFA in dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. After performing with ballet and modern companies, she got her start in journalism as an editor at Dance Magazine. Kristin grew up in Minnesota and has been a bit reporting obsessed since watching the '90s PBS show "Ghostwriter" as a kid. Yes, she had one of those necklace pens and a marbled composition notebook.

Episodes by Kristin (10)

Marketplace

Steel tariffs déjà vu

Apr 17, 2024

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Marketplace

“This is the time to be a saver”

Apr 2, 2024

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Marketplace

Ultimately, the joke's on Gmail rivals

Apr 1, 2024

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Marketplace

Can we break out of the mortgage lock-in effect?

Feb 19, 2024

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Marketplace

Shoppers love easy returns. But retailers aren't sold on 'em.

Nov 24, 2023

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Marketplace Minute

Wall Street rallies on inflation

Nov 14, 2023

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Marketplace

A closer look at unemployment and wealth gap data

Oct 19, 2023

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Marketplace

How water moves — or stalls — the economy

Oct 18, 2023

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Marketplace Minute

Oil prices are in flux

Sep 6, 2023

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Marketplace

Tracing the roots of Labor Day

Sep 4, 2023

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Latest Stories (505)

COVID-19

How much of our labor force has been lost to COVID-19?

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 24, 2022

According to one expert, COVID deaths and workers left on the sidelines from long COVID account for 18% of unfilled jobs.

New data show that hourly wages are up by 5.6 percent on average as of March, but employees are demanding more from employers in a strong labor market.

Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

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COVID-19

Adele "gutted" over canceling Vegas shows, but, hello, it's not just Adele

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 21, 2022

The singer's residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas was supposed to start Friday.

Live performances across the country are being canceled due to the omicron surge.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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It's no longer just "dry January" – sales of nonalcoholic beverages skyrocket

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 18, 2022

Much of the boost has to do with wellness, but it also has to do with cost.

Sales of nonalcoholic beverages have spiked as people are becoming more health- and cost-conscious.

Koen Van Weel/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

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Expect a messy tax season after last year's delays

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 17, 2022

Some 6 million returns from last year have yet to be processed. Delays could snowball for seasons to come.

File your taxes early, experts advise. Delays in moving last year's returns through the system could stall processing this year.

Drew Angerer via Getty Images

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For many retailers, business has never been better. The future? Uncertain.

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 13, 2022

Millions of Americans are still shopping like crazy. But retailers worry their voracious appetite won't last much longer.

Americans have been eager to shop in recent months but haven't been able to find everything they want. Fresh retail sales data will come out Friday.

Raul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images

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IRS tells payment apps to report business transactions over $600

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 7, 2022

The threshold used to be much higher.

As the number of self-employed workers expands, the IRS is requiring online payment platforms like PayPal to report transactions greater than $600. The threshold used to be $20,000.

Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images

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Restaurants risk losing big cash if takeout liquor is off the menu

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 7, 2022

Liquor laws have historically been slow to change, but the past nearly two pandemic-years have fostered major updates.

A sign in a restaurant window advertises beer and margaritas for takeout during the coronavirus pandemic in New York City.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

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Recruiters and hiring platforms are having a busy but challenging time

by Kristin Schwab

Jan 4, 2022

They're facing the same labor market gap everyone else is. Employers need to sell themselves more than ever, one recruiter says.

With 11 million job openings and 7 million people searching work, employers are turning to recruiters and hiring sites to help fill worker shortages.

Joe Raedle via Getty Images

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Make money versus stay healthy: That's the New Year's Eve choice for bars, restaurants

by Kristin Schwab

Dec 30, 2021

Omicron is dashing hopes for a return to normal after last year's subdued celebrations.

A closed restaurant in New York during last year's holiday season. As omicron spreads, restaurants are weighing whether to remain open for New Year's — normally one of their most profitable times.

Spencer Platt via Getty Images

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Retailers grapple with returns as online sales surge

by Kristin Schwab

Dec 29, 2021

Optoro, which manages returns for Target and Ikea, says consumers will send back $120 billion worth of goods this season.

Consumers will return $120 billion worth of products between Thanksgiving and the end of January, according to Optoro. Above, a UPS package handler loads a truck.

Jon Cherry via Getty Images

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