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Matt Levin

Senior Reporter

SHORT BIO

Matt covers AI for Marketplace, where he tries to be as polite as he can to every chatbot he meets … because, well, he’s seen sci-fi movies. Matt also covers some crypto and housing, with a taste for stories that make you say: "huh, that's kinda weird.”

Before joining Marketplace Matt was a data and housing reporter for CalMatters, focused on California politics and policy. Before that he was a statistics jockey for a think tank, focused on poverty and inequality. And long before that Matt was a really terrible teenage cashier for Toys R Us.

Matt’s previous honors include awards from the Online News Association and regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and SPJ awards.

Latest Stories (301)

Be honest? Conceal it? Companies confront how to raise prices.

by Matt Levin
Nov 15, 2021
Rising input costs do not seem to be hurting every business' bottom line.
From major companies to the corner deli, businesses are wrestling with how best to communicate cost increases to customers.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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So what exactly is in the infrastructure bill?

by Matt Levin
Nov 8, 2021
And how exactly does it address the biggest challenges facing this economy?
President Joe Biden speaks Saturday, after the House passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill. It invests in climate-friendly transportation and addresses equity for marginalized communities, among other issues.
Samuel Corum via Getty Images
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Filling office water cooler void, gyms make a comeback

by Matt Levin
Nov 5, 2021
As people look to work out around others again, there's increasing foot traffic at gyms across the country.
Peloton posted disappointing earnings on Thursday. In the meantime, gyms like Planet Fitness have seen an increase in foot traffic.
Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images
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COVID-19

Airbnb takes a more conciliatory approach to communities

by Matt Levin
Nov 4, 2021
Where once the company fought regulations, now its pre-empting them with its own policies designed to curb bad behavior by renters.
Airbnb announced an extension of its ban on house parties this week.
Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images
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How NFTs could change the music industry ... for better or worse

by Matt Levin
Nov 2, 2021
The Grammys' announcement is an example of how the technology underlying cryptocurrency is influencing how musicians make their money.
EDM artist Steve Aoki, seen here at a 2019 performance in New York City, partnered with an Italian digital artist to produce a multimedia NFT during the pandemic.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for All Nippon Airways
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The pandemic has changed the housing market in more ways than one

by Matt Levin
Oct 26, 2021
Pricing may cool down, but the pandemic will likely permanently change the way we buy homes.
A townhouse for sale is seen in Brooklyn, New York in October 2020. Homebuyers may see things like virtual tours and staging long after the pandemic.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
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Online advertising is more expensive since Apple changed its privacy policies

by Matt Levin
Oct 25, 2021
People are opting out of being tracked.
The Snapchat app on an iPhone screen. Snap largely blamed Apple's privacy settings for its recent failure to meet quarterly earnings expectations.
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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You do want fries with that: Wendy's and Google bet on drive-thru AI

by Matt Levin
Oct 12, 2021
The deal could include voice-recognition software, mapping apps and other digital tools to improve the drive-thru experience.
Artificial intelligence may be coming to a Wendy's drive-thru near you, thanks to a new pairing with Google Cloud.
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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Can a platinum coin solve the debt-ceiling standoff?

by Matt Levin
Oct 7, 2021
A legal loophole could let The Treasury Department mint the money it needs to run the government
The logo of the US Treasury Department is seen on the outside of the Treasury building in Washington on August 19, 2011.
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Higher salaries and signing bonuses make it a good time to be a new employee

by Matt Levin
Sep 27, 2021
From first-year investment bankers at Goldman Sachs to cashiers, fresh recruits are enjoying new incentives due to the U.S. labor shortage.
McDonald's is among the companies attempting to lure new hires. At some locations, starting cashiers can get a $500 signing bonus.
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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