Marketplace®
Every story is an economic story

Meredith Garretson Morbey

Supervisory Senior Producer

Meredith is a supervisory senior producer at Marketplace.

Latest from Meredith Garretson Morbey

  • "What we have learned during the pandemic is that we can be confident in consumers' interest in doing the right thing," said Louie Gong, founder and CEO of Eighth Generation.
    Courtesy of Ken Yu/Eighth Generation

    Eighth Generation is a retailer that had to close its Seattle store early in the pandemic but blossomed online. It features wool blankets and other items produced by Native artists. Also, more signs of recovery in new data on orders for long-lasting goods and weekly unemployment aid claims. And, bank profits were up nearly 30% in the first quarter this year, but the same report finds lending fell, driven by a drop in credit card balances. We take a closer look at how consumers are spending.

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  • The activist hedge fund Engine No. 1 yesterday won enough support from other shareholders to get at least two seats on the board of the oil company Exxon Mobil.
    Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images

    It’s the first time climate change activists have succeeded in challenging a big oil company, says business professor Erik Gordon.

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  • The activist hedge fund Engine No. 1 yesterday won enough support from other shareholders to get at least two seats on the board of the oil company Exxon Mobil.
    Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images

    Activist hedge fund Engine No. 1, pushing for a change in Exxon Mobil’s climate strategy, got enough support from other shareholders to win at least two seats on the oil and gas company’s board. These types of challenges from activist investors tend not to get far. Plus, for the first time since President Joe Biden took office, the top trade representatives from the U.S. and China are talking. And, a study on the need for better, higher-paying jobs for young women as the pandemic recession recovery continues.

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  • A visual representation of the digital cryptocurrency, Bitcoin.
    Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

    From the BBC World Service: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani told a cabinet meeting that the main cause of the blackouts was a drought that had affected hydroelectric power generation. But he also said that cryptocurrency mining, 85% of which is unlicensed, was draining more than 2 gigawatts from the grid each day.

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  • Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos at a press conference on Sept. 6, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.
    David McNew/Getty Images

    The District of Columbia is suing Amazon for allegedly fixing online prices at the expense of consumers. Plus, evidence that investors are seemingly less worried about inflation this week — at least so far. And, a new health care challenge is brewing: The part of Medicare that covers hospitalizations, hospice and skilled nursing is projected to become insolvent sooner than expected.

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  • Spc. Lorrin Rice, 35 weeks pregnant, waiting to get vaccinated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
    Blake Farmer/WPLN News

    We visit the airfield hangar at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for a look at how military leaders are trying to convince soldiers to get vaccinated. Plus, the CEOs of big banks are testifying in Congress this week. We preview what they’ll be talking about. And, with more people out and about, the beauty market is rebounding.

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  • Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak wants more foreign firms to list in the U.K., but faces pressure to ensure it happens safely.
    Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

    From the BBC World Service: Companies could be blocked from listing on the London Stock Exchange on national security grounds, under new rules being considered by the U.K. Treasury.

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  • What Whole Foods and James Bond could soon have in common
    Adam Berry/Getty Images for Sony Pictures

    Amazon is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire MGM, which owns part of the Bond film franchise. The reported price tag at this point in time would make the acquisition Amazon’s second biggest after Whole Foods. Also, the latest national reading on home prices is up yet again. Plus, Peloton plans to build a factory in the U.S. And, an update on efforts to redirect police funding in cities across the country.

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  • "There's a padlock on the front door of the federal courthouse for victims of police brutality," said Marc Morial of the National Urban League
    Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

    There’s legislation in Congress to change policing in the U.S., but it will not come today. We consult Marc Morial, the president and CEO of the National Urban League. Also, a look at the current reading on consumer confidence. There are indications that some folks are ready to go on a spending spree.

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  • Angel Gurría, the outgoing head of the OECD, believes a change in the White House could lead to more cooperation on global tax policy.
    Getty Images

    From the BBC World Service: The outgoing head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Angel Gurría, believes a change in the U.S. administration has improved the chances of setting a global minimum rate for corporate tax.

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