Week of November 19th, 2018

Workers on Wall Street got a half day, but for those in retail it’s going to be a long one. We’ll talk about what the retail landscape looks like this holiday season. Plus, the NFL is trying to grow internationally, but is it going to work? Another question we have in the “is it going to work” department is what the terms will look like for Brexit. We hear from one fisherman in Scotland about his concerns. And we kick off the show with the Weekly Wrap and details of a new report on climate change and what it could mean for the U.S. economy.  

Retailers are trying to make it easier for online shoppers to pick up their stuff at the store. But, of course, there’s a catch. We’ll explain why companies love it when you come inside to grab your purchase. Afterwards, we’ll talk about BP’s decision to produce oil out of a massive well off the Northwest coast of Scotland — one of the largest new oil developments in Britain in decades. Then to cap off our show, we’ll look at the legal conflict between Pabst Blue Ribbon and Miller Coors. Coors had a 20-year contract to brew Blue Ribbon’s beer, and with that contract running out, Miller has no plans to renew it. Today’s show is sponsored by Indeed and Forex.   

Big box and department stores have invested heavily on making it easy for customers to pick up stuff they order online at the store. That’s because research shows that most of those pick-ups actually become shopping trips, where the customer buys more than just what was in the online cart. That’s a growing Black Friday […]

Toy trucks for boys, lacy dolls for girls: these stereotypes are still hard for toymakers to shake, even with the growing trend in the toy industry toward gender-neutral toys. We’ll look at how companies actually benefit from gendered marketing. Afterwards, we’ll explain why the stock exchange can’t be closed for more than three consecutive days, and then we’ll discuss how companies assign customers “lifetime value scores,” which tells them how valuable *you* are. Today’s show is sponsored by Indeed and Forex. 

This week, we’ve partnered with CNET to talk about big trends in consumer technology. To hear Twitter users and the press tell it, the biggest trend in tech is everyone being mad at tech. So we wondered if that might show up in the holiday shopping season. Are people worried about tech being bad for their mental health or their privacy? Will the “techlash” seriously affect spending on consumer technology? Molly talks about it with Lindsey Turrentine, editor-in-chief of “CNET Reviews.”

From the BBC World Service … Samsung has formally apologized to employees who developed cancer and other serious diseases after working at one of the South Korean electronics giant’s semiconductor factories. The company said employees can apply for compensation, but some families say these actions aren’t enough. Afterwards, the turkey’s been carved and the leftovers are safely stowed away. Now it’s time to shop … at least that’s the case for U.S. consumers. But how does the biggest shopping day of the year translate in the U.K.? Let’s just say, things are a little bit more tame. We take you to one of the busiest shopping streets to find out why. Today’s show is sponsored by Indeed and Forex. 

U.S. Markets are closed today, so we’ll do some turkey economics for you instead. It’s Thanksgiving, aka the day before Black Friday. We’ll tell you what retailers want from you this season, besides cash. Plus, we look at how to make design more inclusive, and we talk to a woman who has made animation her career. But first, let’s start with a side dish. A good chunk of the country’s sweet potatoes — you know, the ones that end up on your Thanksgiving day table — are grown in North Carolina, but supply may be sparse this year after Hurricane Florence. 

One of the auto industry’s most powerful executives, Carlos Ghosn, is out as Nissan as of this morning. But Ghosn, who was arrested in Japan Monday for underreporting his income, presides over three automakers. Mitsubishi and Renault might not be so quick to drop him. Then: How globalization and technology have grown smuggling exponentially. 

All this week on Marketplace Tech we’re partnering with CNET to talk about big trends in consumer technology. Once upon a time, laptops and desktop computers were cool and not just the thing you used for work. Then phones and tablets came along, gaming consoles got more popular and computers did not make the holiday shopping list. But that might be changing. CNET’s holiday shopping survey finds that young people are lot more interested in computer hardware this year, mostly to play video games. Between “Fortnite” and esports streaming, kids want more powerful systems than an Xbox or a PS4. Molly Wood talks with Dan Ackerman at CNET Reviews, where he focuses on PCs and laptops. He said there is a minor resurgence in the PC market. (11/22/18)

Hopefully you already have your turkey, if you’re cooking one today. You might have noticed that bird is cheaper than its been in years, so what’s that mean for the farmers? We’ll talk with a turkey farmer about the holiday rush — or lack thereof. Then: Part of President Trump’s recent aid package for farmers hit by tariffs will take extra product off their hands and send it to food banks. We’ll look at how those charities are handling the influx of new food. Plus: A recent survey says a quarter of Americans have left a job over the commute. Today’s show is brought to you by Indeed and Forex.com. 

From the BBC World Service… The chairman responsible for an alliance between auto giants Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi, Carlos Ghosn, is set to face the panel that will decide his fate, after he was accused of misusing company funds; Facebook has admitted that a top executive hired a PR firm to target the company’s critics and Washington is trying to combat China’s rising influence in Papua New Guinea. It’s announced plans to redevelop a naval base in the Pacific, as well as a billion-dollar investment to build electricity infrastructure there. 

What’s this holiday weekend all about? Let’s see. Travel? We’ll tell you why more international carriers are popping up in unexpected U.S. cities. Family? We’ll explore the data privacy issues around home genetic testing. Shopping? We’ll tell you Target’s plans to win back your business. Or maybe the holiday makes you want to float away and leave all that behind. We’ll tell you how to become a blimp pilot.

Your parties might feel a bit deflated this holiday season as the price of helium, like the gas, goes up. Brexit, the low interest rate and cheap oil are not not pointing to a recession. And we look at the fine print to uncover the actual cost of flying cheap. Today’s show is sponsored by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, the Alliance for Lifetime Income and Indeed.

As millions of Americans hit the road and sit in traffic to get their Thanksgiving grub on, there is one silver lining: (relatively) cheap gas prices. And will China’s rampant theft of intellectual property get them kicked out of the World Trade Organization? Several large retailers crack down on gift card scamming. Plus, French car maker Peugeot is heading to the U.S., but in app form. Today’s show is sponsored by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, the Alliance for Lifetime Income and Indeed.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service… All eyes are locked on Italy this morning as the European Commission readies an assessment on the country’s budget proposal. If it rejects the plan, Italy could face fines or even sanctions. But reports suggest the nation might finally be ready to compromise. Then, the OECD is out with new data that says global growth has peaked. What exactly does that mean? Plus, New York Stock Exchange President Stacey Cunningham crashed through Wall Street’s glass ceiling this year to become the first woman to lead the exchange in its 226-year history. She tells us why she was so surprised by the reaction to her appointment and shares what fears keep her up at night.

All this week we’re partnering with CNET Reviews to talk about the big trends in consumer technology. TVs, which used to be in the pipe dream category of holiday gift ideas, are now more in the stocking stuffer price range. Television prices have been in free-fall for over a decade, and manufacturers tried to keep people buying with gimmicks like 3D and ultra high-resolution 4K, except there still aren’t many shows being broadcast in 4K. As a result, TV prices just keep getting lower, and the only thing that is getting people to buy them is streaming. For more, Molly Wood spoke with David Katzmaier, an editor at CNET who covers TVs and home theater.

As stock prices fell today, so did the price of oil. The price of crude has dropped 30 percent since last month amid signs the world economy and oil demand are slowing down. And there’s plenty of oil about. Even so, you might want to fill up your tank now and be worried. Influential voices […]

What does this mean for the overall nonprofit sector, which is made up of small groups, too?

We have a series around here called “How to Be a …” where notable people tell us how they got their interesting jobs. Today, just in time for the holiday, we have Dominique Crenn. “Not everybody understands how to cook … they don’t have to know how to cook,” she says about people who work in her restaurants. “But I hope they can know how to eat.” But first: American household debt has reached a record high, topping its previous peak in 2008. We’ll look at what that means for the holiday season. Also at a record high: homelessness among students at the largest school district in the nation. We’ll look at why. Plus, a conversation with actor Frank Grillo about his new Netflix show.

(Markets edition) The housing and tech sectors are slowing down, indicating the economy is more “healthy tortoise” than “hare.” Plus, a lot of Americans — nearly half, according to a recent survey — are feeling the pressure to give that awesome gift this holiday season. And 10 years after the government bailed out the auto industry, a two-tiered system of employees has emerged. Today’s show is sponsored by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Alliance for Lifetime Income.

The billions of dollars donated to charitable organizations highlight the disparity between those who can give and those who can give much, much more. Chinese President Xi Jinping forges a trade relationship with Rodrigo Duterte and other Filipino leaders, despite warnings from the U.S. And how is the American auto industry faring 10 years after the government stepped in to save it? It’s part of Markeplace’s Divided Decade series.  Today’s show is sponsored by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Indeed.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service… French automaker Renault is holding an emergency meeting to decide whether or not to keep chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn in his post after his arrest in Japan. What does the ongoing fallout of the executive’s financial misconduct allegations mean for the future of an industry alliance between major global automakers? Then, after the NFL’s success bringing football to London, Major League Baseball is at bat. The league is hoping for a home run when America’s favorite pastime makes its debut in London next year in a showdown between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. We talk to former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez about how to sell baseball in Britain. Today’s show is sponsored Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Indeed.

All this week we’re partnering with CNET Reviews, talking about the big trends in consumer technology as we head into the holiday shopping season. And it appears that the smart home is finally coming home to a lot more people. In 2017, almost 25 million smart speakers were sold, according to the Consumer Technology Association. So far this year, 19 million smart speakers have shipped, and holiday shopping has just begun. And once they’re in a house, they can act like a gateway drug. People buy more connected devices so they can have Alexa or Google control everything in the house. Molly Wood talks with Rich Brown, an executive editor at CNET Reviews covering appliances and smart homes.

Shares of Apple took a hit Monday, declining 4 percent after the Wall Street Journal reported Apple has cut production orders in recent weeks for all three iPhone models launched earlier this year. When Apple runs into trouble, it tends to be a drag on many other companies and the market as a whole. Click the […]

The chairman of Nissan Motors, Carlos Ghosn, has been arrested by Japanese prosecutors. He’s accused of underreporting his income on financial statements. Nissan says it’ll fire him this week and Nissan’s CEO says Ghosn’s arrest shows that too much power had been concentrated in one person for too long. Click the audio player above to […]

Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn has been arrested by Japanese prosecutors, accused of underreporting his income. As the board at Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi votes on dropping Ghosn, industry experts are wondering if CEOs are holding too much power. Then: Why the rest of the stock market could follow Apple’s decline. Plus, how food delivery is changing restaurants and how to make a living designing jewelry.

(Markets edition) Alabama’s booming auto industry braces for a potential downturn as the U.S.-China trade war continues. Nissan’s “rock star” chairman is out following alleged financial misconduct. And as America preps for Thanksgiving dinner, how the ubiquitous green bean casserole is faring in this economy. Today’s show is sponsored by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Forex  and Indeed.

Nissan plans to fire its “rock star” chairman following his arrest in Tokyo over alleged financial misconduct. Undocumented immigrant children in one Arizona school district face an uncertain future as funding for instruction dwindles. Plus, how the term “Black Friday” wasn’t always about post-Thanksgiving shopping. And how self-driving cars might soon be delivering your groceries. Today’s show is sponsored by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage, LinkedIn Sales Navigator and Indeed.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service… E.U. ministers are meeting today to debate any changes to a draft agreement for Britain’s departure from the bloc. It’s happening just days before U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is due to fly to Brussels for further talks even as her leadership future remains in question. We’ll take you to Scotland where the fishing industry highlights just how contentious Brexit negotiations are. Then, the issue of autonomy is front and center at today’s central bank meeting in India as a power struggle between the Reserve Bank of India and the country’s government comes to a head.

It is Thanksgiving week and the official start of the 2018 holiday shopping season. All this week we’re partnering with the online tech reviews and news site CNET to talk about the big trends in consumer technology. This year CNET did a holiday survey asking its users what they’re thinking about when it comes to tech. And this year the research bears out what the retail industry has already been saying: It’s going to be a big year for shopping, especially in tech. Molly Wood talks with Lindsey Turrentine, editor-in-chief of CNET Reviews.