Marketplace®
Every story is an economic story

Stacey Vanek Smith

Reporter, Marketplace

Stacey Vanek Smith is a former senior reporter for Marketplace.

Latest from Stacey Vanek Smith

  • A woman buys grapes at a market in Beijing.
    Getty Images

    The first California grapes to arrive in China 10 years ago were a big deal, and the appreciation for California produce hasn't worn off. Stacey Vanek-Smith has more.

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  • A sign announcing a reduced price of $695,000 hangs in front of a home for sale.
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    One consequence of the subprime collapse is that mortgage lenders have made it lot harder to get a home loan. Some say too hard, especially in cities where home prices are high. Stacey Vanek-Smith explains.

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  • Thermostat set to 64 degrees

    As California sizzles in triple-digit temperatures, it's expected to break the record for power usage. But Golden State residents still won't pay higher energy rates, and that could be part of the problem, Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

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  • A $100 U.S. EE Savings Bond embossed with Thomas Jefferson

    Investors are flocking to the safety of bonds as subprime lending fallout continues to drag Wall Street on a wild ride. The returns are nothing special, but some folks just want to know their nest egg is protected. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

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  • A foreclosure sign hangs in front of a home in Miami.
    Joe Raedle, Getty Images

    With 4.5 million unsold homes sitting on the market, could we be looking at a recession? Stacey Vanek-Smith talks to economists and takes a look into the markets.

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  • A Gap store in Corte Madera, Calif.
    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    Things seem to be falling apart at the seams for some of this country's biggest clothing retailers. Ann Taylor posted a 27% decline in profits, and the Gap is cutting 2,200 jobs with sales down 5%. But both announced big stock buybacks. Why? Stacey Vanek-Smith found out.

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  • New York Mercantile Exchange
    Stephen Chernin (c) Getty Images

    The New York Mercantile Exchange is looking for merger partner and it has a lot to offer potential mates. NYMEX stock has been rising by leaps and bounds since it went public late last year. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

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  • Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    William B. Plowman / Getty Images

    The subprime lending fiasco has left the entire banking system a little tight on cash. And it couldn't have come at a worse time for college freshmen in need of student loans. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

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  • A can of Sparks Plus is clearly marked 7.0% ALC/VOL. Is that enough to distinguish it from the wall of nonalcoholic energy drinks?
    Justin Foster via Flickr

    Caffeinated beer may sound like a college student's dream, but some worry the drinks are being marketed to underage consumers as beverage companies grab for their share of the multi-billion dollar energy drink market. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

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  • Foreclosure sign
    Getty Images

    Three large mortgage lenders — Luminent, Thornburg and Countrywide — reported steps they are taking in their attempts to recover from the liquidity crisis. Stacey Vanek-Smith has the details.

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