Week of July 23rd, 2018

Amazon reported some blockbuster numbers this week, with quarterly profits of $2.5 billion — a nearly 1,200 percent increase over this time last year. When you think of Amazon, you probably think of its giant online store where you buy a year’s worth of paper towels or order groceries delivered to your house. But one […]

(Markets Edition) Second-quarter GDP numbers are out, revealing that the economy grew 4.1 percent. A major driver of this: increased consumer spending. We’ll take a look at some of factors that are fueling this behavior. Afterwards, we’ll recap yesterday’s testimony from Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative,  in front of Congress about major trade issues, and then we’ll discuss how Puerto Rico is looking to private investors to help with its financial struggles. Today’s show is sponsored by Abby Connect (Abbyconnect.com/morning), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace). (07/27/2018)

Private companies now manage public airports, water meters and the electric grid.

How parents can navigate the minefield of kids and devices

This is the fastest pace since 2014.

(U.S. Edition) It’s GDP Day! Get ready, because the Commerce Department is going to tell us how fast the economy grew in the last quarter, and expectations are high. We’ll talk about how consumer spending in particular is expected to show significant growth. Afterwards, we’ll look at how the U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm and the Dutch-based company NXP have abandoned plans to merge, and then we’ll discuss a recent survey that shows many CEOs feel they weren’t fully prepared to take on the top job. Today’s show is sponsored by Abby Connect (Abbyconnect.com/morning), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace). (07/27/2018)

This post was updated on July 27 at 7:54 a.m. CT. The Commerce Department has released second-quarter gross domestic product numbers this morning, showing that the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 4.1 percent — the fastest pace since 2014. That figure was driven by exporters rushing to get products delivered ahead of […]

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Oil giant BP announced today it’s agreed to buy more than $10 billion in U.S. shale assets from British oil miner BHP. We’ll explore the motivation behind the revival of BP’s ambitions in America after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Then, as the tenth-annual BRICS Summit wraps up today, we look at how meaningful the alliance is amid widening economic disparities between its members.  Afterward, while the U.S. and EU agreed this week to negotiate toward ending tariffs, barriers, and subsidies, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods are about to go into effect. Now, U.S. bourbon producers and European fans alike are bracing for impact. Today’s show is sponsored by Abby Connect (Abbyconnect.com/morning), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace). (07/27/2018)

In the last installment of our series on the trade-offs of technology, a discussion about screen time. How much is too much? And is there a right kind of screen time and a wrong kind? To answer that, we kind of need to know: What are screens doing to our children’s brains? One person studying that is Dr. Megan Moreno, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin. She’ll talk with us on today’s show about how media use affects kids. (07/27/2018)

GDP growth for the latest quarter is expected to be robust, but that is due in part to some unique elements of the quarter.

Plans to negotiate with the European Union and aid plan fall short for farmers.

With the chemical industry challenging the cancer link, the agency has held off on action.

New work requirements may change things for those who receive food and housing assistance in the Pennsylvania city.

(Markets Edition) Following Trump’s meeting with the European Union yesterday, we’re talking to one Congress member who’s been critical of the president’s trade policy: Sen. Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania. He joined us to discuss how he felt about their conversation and why he wants Congress to have  more power when it comes to tariffs. Afterwards, we’ll speak with Diane Swonk, chief economist at the firm Grant Thornton, about one sector of the economy that’s not looking so great: housing. Then, we’ll take a look at where NAFTA negotiations currently stand. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Anchor, LLC (anchorbooks.co/marketplace), Battelle (Battelle.org/QI), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace). (07/26/2018)

He was credited with turning around both Fiat and Chrysler.

The former "Buffy" showrunner's got three shows on the air this summer.

"It's gotten to the point where a president can, in complete compliance with the law, invoke national security and slap tariffs on our closest allies and friends," Toomey said.

Growth is down and spending is up.

(U.S. Edition) President Trump and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker met yesterday and say they’re in a new phase in their relationship. We’ll take a look at a list of the issues that the two sides want to iron out, which include subsidies on non-auto industrial goods. Afterwards, we’ll discuss Facebook’s stock decline after executives announced they project lower-than-expected profits in the next few years. Then to cap off the show, we’ll chat with Chris Farrell, senior economics contributor at Marketplace, about what we should anticipate from tomorrow’s GDP report and what it could mean for U.S. investors. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Anchor, LLC (anchorbooks.co/marketplace), Battelle (Battelle.org/QI), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace). (07/26/2018)  

A former Googler weighs in on how much time we should spend with technology and how we should make those choices.

Finding an affordable place to live in Miami-Dade is hard. The area consistently ranks as one of the most unaffordable places to live in the nation. And for moderate to low-income LGBTQ seniors, it can be even harder to find housing. “They are four times less likely to have children,” said Cindy Brown who manages the […]

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … After progress on trade talks between the EU and the U.S. yesterday, the focus now moves to NAFTA today with negotiations scheduled in Washington. So, have President Trump’s negotiating tactics been successful, or is more confrontation on the horizon? Then, it’s not just politicians keeping tabs  on trade – monetary policy makers at the European Central Bank have a keen eye on the impact the global spat is having on its efforts to tighten policy. Afterward, a former cricket player is closer to becoming prime minister in Pakistan after elections yesterday. But alleged vote-rigging is complicating a final result. If Imran Khan does prevail, what will a government under his direction in the country look like? Today’s podcast is sponsored by Anchor, LLC (anchorbooks.co/marketplace), Battelle (Battelle.org/QI), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace). (07/26/2018)

From recommendations to notifications to endless scrolling that never stops giving you something new, today’s tech is designed to be irresistible. But some designers of these products now say these techniques are damaging. James Williams is one of those people. He spent 10 years at Google and then co-founded a movement called Time Well Spent, which aims to get tech companies to re-think how they grab and monetize our attention. He’s also the author of the book “Stand Out of Our Light: Freedom and Resistance in the Attention Economy.” He talked with Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood about the way forward for tech companies.

The American semiconductor titan Qualcomm found itself in the crosshairs of the US-China trade spat when its mega deal — as in $44 billion dollars — to buy a Dutch chip-maker has cleared every global regulatory approval required — except in China. With no approval from China in sight and a deadline looming at midnight tonight, Qualcomm […]

Ronnie Smith at McMahon Steel Supply says buying foreign steel is "just an economic fact of life."

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump met today with top European Union officials amid concerns of a growing trade dispute between the two economies over automobiles. During the meeting, European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told President Donald Trump that the EU and U.S. are partners and allies, “not enemies,” and must work together at the […]

Patty Delgado started with $500, working from her parents' couch.

Riverdale's favorite son was in danger of fading into obscurity when Jon Goldwater breathed some new life into the franchise.

Jon Goldwater, co-CEO of Archie Comics, talks about overhauling the iconic comic book brand, and more.

(Markets Edition) The White House says it’s going to dish out $12 billion in emergency aid to American farmers affected by tariffs. But many lawmakers and farmers are skeptical. We’ll look at some of the criticisms they’ve raised. Afterwards, with earnings season in full swing, we’ll discuss why the release of these company reports are good for investors, and then we’ll talk with economist Torsten Slok about his theory on why wages have been stagnating: we have more monopolies and bigger companies. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Purple Mattress (purple.com), Alliance for Lifetime Income (retireyourrisk.org/advisors), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (planetm.michiganbusiness.org), and USPS (USPS.com/future). (07/25/2018)

One economist shares his theory about why wages might not be growing: companies are just too powerful right now.

The Department of Agriculture announced a $12 billion aid package on Tuesday for farmers impacted by U.S. trade disputes. The money would go to pork, soybean and dairy farmers among others who have been slapped with retaliatory tariffs in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods. But how much can the government do […]

The American Association of Retired Persons estimates about three-quarters of people 45 and older want to stay in their homes as they age.  One way for them to do that is co-housing. It gives people the opportunity to live independently but in a community where they share some expenses and activities including chores. There are 165 […]

It’s a busy week for General Motors. The automaker reported quarterly earnings this morning, with a profit of $2.38 billion ($1.66 a share).  GM has also announced its foray into car-sharing. Think Airbnb, but for your Chevy, Buick, GMC or Cadillac. Several apps already exist for people to rent out their cars. GM has its […]

(U.S. Edition) The European Union is sending the head of the EU commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to the White House this morning with the aim of getting Trump to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum. We’ll look at what we can expect from these talks. Afterwards, we’ll explore how car-sharing works amid GM’s decision to allow GM owners to rent out their cars, and then we’ll discuss how older Americans are participating in co-housing, which allows them to live on their own, but in a community where they can share expenses. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Purple Mattress (purple.com), Alliance for Lifetime Income (retireyourrisk.org/advisors), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (planetm.michiganbusiness.org), and USPS (USPS.com/future). (07/25/2018)

“We can kick them off of Twitter," Danah Boyd of Data & Society says. "It's not that hard, but that won't make the problem go away."

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service …  Ahead of a meeting today with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, President Trump tweeted he was “ready” to drop all tariffs, barriers and subsidies between the U.S. and EU. But how realistic is that outcome? Then, Sergio Marchionne – the former CEO of Fiat Chrysler who unexpectedly stepped down over the weekend – has died. We look at the legacy of the auto-industry titan who turned around fortunes of the company during his tenure at the top. Afterwards, millennials cling to job security and worry they’ll never own a home …. that is, everywhere except oil-rich Norway. We’ll take you there and talk to members of that generation who don’t worry so much about their futures. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Purple Mattress, Alliance for Lifetime Income (retireyourrisk.org/advisors), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (planetm.michiganbusiness.org), and USPS (USPS.com/future). (07/25/2018)

This week we’re looking at the grand bargain of technology with the next generation of users in mind. Today we’re looking at how kids deal with the complexity of digital life and how companies could make things easier or safer. Danah Boyd is a principal researcher at Microsoft and the founder of the research organization Data & Society, and much of her research looks at how kids are affected by the digital societies they live in. She talked with Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood. (07/25/2018)

We need high expectations for kids along with investment in schools, Arne Duncan says.

And how it's the latest in a series of policing data initiatives that top brass officers have used to shape American policing.

Why do the media, Tesla fans and Musk himself always cast him as the lead in an epic tale?

The closure comes amid flagging sales and ethics restrictions with the First Daughter's work at the White House.

However, the funding may need to be approved by Congress and the aid would be temporary.

(Markets Edition) As tensions between the U.S. and Iran persist, prices for crude oil in New York have risen. We’ll discuss what the energy markets are looking like long-term. Afterwards, we’ll look at how your foreign car may very well have been made in the U.S., and then we’ll explore how one nonprofit in Miami is trying to help people in the LGBTQ community find affordable housing. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Abby Connect (abbyconnect.com/morning), Avast (avast.com), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace) (07/24/2018)

Tariffs against car parts would impact all vehicles, even ones widely recognized to be American.

(U.S. Edition) Let’s recap where the U.S. is at in its trade conflict with China. In June, Trump announced tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, which the U.S. is planning to completely implement soon — but not before a hearing today and tomorrow with business leaders. We’ll look at which products are being targeted and why. Afterwards, we’ll discuss how a key Chinese biotech company — Changsheng — has apologized for falsifying production data for one of its vaccines. Then, we’ll look at how a survey from the anonymous app Blind shows that many tech employees have faced backlash from management or HR for reporting incidents like sexual harassment. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Abby Connect (abbyconnect.com/morning), Avast (avast.com), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace) (07/24/2018)

We need to work with designers so children don't think of digital assistants as buddies, one expert says.

In June, President Donald Trump announced tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods, most of which went into effect earlier this month. Now U.S. trade officials are set to impose the rest of them, but not before a hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday with U.S. business leaders. The list of products includes industrial machinery, communications […]

The anonymous app Blind shows that over 40 percent of tech employees who reported incidents to management or HR faced backlash.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service …What do you do when your country’s inflation rate is expected to hit 1 million percent by the end of the year? That’s what the International Monetary Fund is predicting for Venezuela, a country in economic crisis. Then, shares in Chinese biotech firm Changsheng plunged for the seventh straight day after regulators accused it of fabricating data on some of its vaccines. Afterwards, a Syrian family whose chocolate factory was destroyed in 2012 by bombs fled to Canada. There, the brand is booming and set to expand nationwide. We’ll hear from them about their newfound success. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Abby Connect (abbyconnect.com/morning), Avast (avast.com), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), and Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace) (07/24/2018)

As part of our series on the grand bargain of tech and what it means for kids, we are taking a look at what happens when children form a bond with the robotic toys and digital assistants in their lives. MIT researcher Sherry Turkle has been studying what happens to empathy when products are designed to make kids get attached to them like a buddy, not a machine. Turkle spoke with Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood about how robots and their attempts at empathy affect the kids they’re targeting. (07/24/2018)  

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the U.S. is ready to negotiate with China, the EU, and Japan on trade. But at the conclusion of a G-20 finance leaders meeting in Argentina this weekend, Mnuchin said our trading partners would have to remove tariffs on U.S. goods — and get rid of “non-tariff barriers” on U.S. […]

It's a supply problem.

We look at how things are currently looking for cannabis companies.

Check out the national data and then use our tool to run the numbers on your state.

(Markets Edition) GDP figures are out later this week, and it’s possible that the economy grew more than 4 percent from the spring to the summer. We’ll discuss how tariff fears might actually be contributing to this boost. Afterwards, we’ll talk about news that Fiat Chrysler’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, is stepping down after surgery complications, and then we’ll chat with one credit card aficionado about how cred card reward programs can help you save on insurance costs. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Michigan Economic Development Corporation (planetm.michiganbusiness.org), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace), and USPS (USPS.com/future). (07/23/2018)

Toymaker Hasbro will report second-quarter earnings later this morning. Earlier in 2018, the company reported that first-quarter revenue had fallen by 16 percent compared with the same period last year. It’s been a tough couple of months as retailer Toys R Us went bankrupt and closed hundreds of stores. But Hasbro is finding new shelves […]

(U.S. Edition) A G-20 summit of financial ministers has ended with the U.S. signing (for a change) a joint statement about potential risks to global economic growth, which include trade tensions. We’ll recap some of the key highlights from the event. Afterwards, we’ll discuss how shifts in the toy and retail industry — like Toys R Us’ bankruptcy — are affecting toymakers. Plus: We talk to Alan Brochstein, founder of the platform 420 Investor,  about what the stock market for weed is looking like. Today’s podcast is sponsored by Michigan Economic Development Corporation (planetm.michiganbusiness.org), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace), and USPS (USPS.com/future). (07/23/2018)  

"If I don't understand the trade-off that I'm making, how can I help make decisions for my child?" one marketer asks.

Credit Card reward programs are not just about travel perks.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … G-20 leaders have been meeting to try and head off a global trade war. We’ll bring you the latest. Then, in India, at least 18 people have been killed in a series of lynchings after a video spread widely via WhatsApp groups. The killings have prompted WhatsApp to take action. We’ll explain what it plans to do and how misinformation is being transmitted widely among those groups. Then, Americans streamed more than 400 billion songs in the first half of this year, a trend that’s upending the way the music industry works. But is every artist embracing the change? Today’s podcast is sponsored by Michigan Economic Development Corporation (planetm.michiganbusiness.org), Carbonite (Carbonite.com), Indeed (Indeed.com/marketplace), and USPS (USPS.com/future). (07/23/2018)

Between social media, election meddling, privacy concerns and fears of internet addiction, we are at a time when we are re-evaluating the grand bargain that we have made with technology. We’ve gotten used to trading personal information for tailored ads and letting devices into every part of our lives for convenience. But, as we develop these habits and make these trade-offs, what does it mean for our kids? For the next week, we’re going to look at this tech bargain and its impact on the next generation. We’re starting with a conversation about marketing. Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood talked to Marcus Collins, chief consumer connections officer at the Doner creative agency, about how advertisers think about reaching kids. (07/23/2018)