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Mitchell Hartman

Correspondent

SHORT BIO

Mitchell’s most important job at Marketplace is to explain the economy in ways that non-expert, non-business people can understand. Michell thinks of his audience as anyone who works, whether for money or not, and lives in the economy . . . which is most people.

Mitchell wants to understand, and help people understand, how the economy works, who it helps, who it hurts and why. Mitchell gets to cover what he thinks are some of the most interesting aspects of the economy: wages and inflation, consumer psychology, wealth inequality, economic theory and how it measures up to economic reality.

Mitchell was a high school newspaper nerd and a college newspaper editor. He has worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer, WXPN-FM, WBAI-FM, KPFK-FM, Pacifica Radio, the CBC, the BBC, Monitor Radio, Cairo Today Magazine, The Jordan Times, The Middletown Press, The New Haven Register, Oregon Business Magazine, the Reed College Alumni Magazine, and Marketplace (twice — 1994-2001 & 2008-present).

Mitchell has gone on strike (Newspaper Guild vs. Knight Ridder, Philadelphia, 1985) and helped organize a union (with SAG-AFTRA at Marketplace, 2021-23). Mitchell once interviewed Marcel Marceau and got him to talk.

Latest Stories (1,999)

Continued troubles for housing market

Jan 14, 2011
RealtyTrac's report today on housing revealed ongoing troubles concerning the housing market. Mitchell Hartman reports more on the details.

Could there be a double-dip in housing?

Jan 13, 2011
New data shows that home prices are falling again, while mortgage rates are up .75 percent since late fall. Foreclosures are dragging the market down even farther. Mitchell Hartman reports on the possibility of a double-dip in the housing market.

Jobs report reveals discouraged workers giving up job hunt

Jan 7, 2011
Although the jobs report today showed the unemployment rate dropping from 9.8 to 9.4 percent, it's estimated that half of that drop is from people who have given up the job hunt altogether. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Economy created fewer jobs than expected

Jan 7, 2011
The U.S. economy created far fewer jobs than expected in December, even though the unemployment rate dropped to 9.4 percent from 9.8 percent, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday.

New Balance faces lawsuit for 'toning shoes'

Jan 7, 2011
'Toning shoes' -- athletic shoes with rounded soles that make it harder to maintain balance -- are often promoted as a way to help slim down. But one maker, New Balance, is facing claims that they don't work as advertised. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Wikipedia puts a face on donation

Jan 3, 2011
How did Wikipedia raise $16 million -- twice the amount it raised last year -- in just six weeks? Mitchell Hartman reports that it may have had to do with the face of founder Jimmy Wales.

December unemployment rates to be released on Friday

Jan 3, 2011
On Friday we'll get the first big employment report of the New Year from the Labor Department. It'll tell us what the unemployment rate was in December. Mitchell Hartman examines the job market.

Economic wishes for 2011

Jan 1, 2011
It's time to look forward to the new year. Here's what Marketplace's regulars are wishing for in 2011.

NASA must spend $500 million on a canceled project

Dec 30, 2010
Because Congress didn't pass a budget, taxpayers will be spending $500 million on a NASA program that's been canceled. Mitchell Hartman explains.

In the third quarter, foreclosures were up, and loan modifications were down

Dec 30, 2010
New figures out from the the Controller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision show just how much trouble the housing market still faces. Mitchell Hartman explains.