Week of January 8th, 2024

Plus, our New Year’s resolutions and tips for keeping yours.

Plus, public domain Mickey Mouse and Stanley tumbler-mania.

The latest iteration is a musical movie, and a chance to make money by presenting old material to a new audience.

“Are there better things I could spend my money on? Absolutely,” said one collector. “But am I taking out loans to afford Stanley cups? Absolutely not.”

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by a classic movie remake. Plus, the difference between the CPI and the PPI.

These measures of inflation track the prices consumers pay and the prices producers receive for their wares. But they don’t always line up.

Stocks close mixed; rising interest rates push up bank profits; banks increase loan loss reserves; producer prices tick down.

The risk of brain injury weighs on participation. Sports writer Dave Sheinin says there’s logic in an eventual move to a safer game.

The U.S. and China loom large over Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 13, but so do domestic bread-and-butter issues.

It keeps the bagel intact and ensures that it stays fresh.

It’s not the only state with a problem.

The producer price index declined for the third straight month; Biden administration moves up student loan cancellations under new repayment plan; FAA to increase scrutiny of Boeing. 

Estimates of California’s budget deficit range from $38 billion to $68 billion. But other states have budget woes too.

The U.S. ally’s increasingly tense relationship with Beijing has dominated the election campaign. But many ordinary people in Taiwan are struggling to earn enough money.

The USDA’s new Summer EBT program fills gaps left by its existing Summer Food Service Program, where families only get free meals at a specific site.

Millions of low-income American families will get help with their summer vacation food bills this year.

From the BBC World Service: Tesla is suspending manufacturing at its only European electric car factory.

Jewel Burks Solomon from Collab Capital and Katie Roof of Bloomberg join Marketplace’s Lily Jamali to discuss the biggest tech stories of the week.

The CPI’s calculation of shelter costs is considered a lagging indicator.

Prices rose in December, so we’ll break down how food costs and rent factored in. Plus, some sectors are still stuck with excess inventory.

Here’s how some families are trying to economize when it comes to the food they buy to make at home.

Here we go again!

Clothing companies and bike stores are some businesses that still have excess inventory — and that has ripple effects through the economy.

Stocks close flat; inflation up 3.5% over the last year; rent inflation data could lag behind actual rent slowdown; unemployment claims fall slightly.

Most day care centers cater to parents with 9-to-5 jobs. New funding could help child care facilities expand their offerings.

Dynamic pricing is the practice of having prices that vary by demand or even customer type. We’re used to it when it comes to airlines and ridesharing. But what about restaurants?

The consumer price index rose to an annual gain of 3.4%; jobless claims fell to 202,000; SEC reluctantly approves bitcoin ETFs; natural gas producers Chesapeake, Southwestern announce merger deal.

Overall inflation ticked up to 3.4% year over year in December. We’ll slice and dice today’s consumer price index report.

Wage growth is slowing, and those at the top of the earnings spectrum have done better than those at the lower end.

“The staffing for flight attendants, especially domestically, is at FAA minimums,” said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “Our jobs are harder than they’ve ever been.”

The fallout continues from last week’s accident involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 and is affecting airline crew’s first responders.

From the BBC World Service: It’s taken a TV series to move the United Kingdom’s government into action over a scandal at the state-owned Post Office.

Biquan Luo’s company makes a mask to help adjust users’ sleep schedules. The industry’s future is in gadgets that improve sleep, not just track it, she says.

A biographer discusses the former chairman’s complicated legacy. Plus, raising cattle costs a lot more than it used to.

Plus, state budget woes.

Stocks rise; interest rates will likely have to stay high for “some time”; Amazon announces layoffs in streaming and studios division; wholesalers inventories fall.

2023 was officially a very good year for the US economy: unemployment stayed near record lows, the markets were strong, and inflation came under control. So with all this good news, why does looking at the grocery bill still feel a little like getting poked with a cattle prod? 

Greenspan ignored political pressure to cut interest rates so that he could bring down inflation, says author Sebastian Mallaby.

A door plug recently blew off a Max 9 plane, prompting concerns about whether fliers should board these planes.

One reason that food prices are high on the island is that under the Jones Act, only U.S. ships carry food to the territory.

What’s cool about composting, and how you can do it too.

A World Economic Forum report says false and misleading information is the biggest short-term economic risk; the SEC investigates a hack of its official account on X; CES gets underway in Las Vegas.

Yet the three largest U.S. automakers don’t have displays there. We hear more on the latest car tech.

The likely outcome of the rule is to designate more people as employees. That has some employers through the gig economy worried.

Geopolitical conflicts persist, and a political war rages inside the U.S. as elections approach, observes Eurasia Group’s Ian Bremmer.

According to the Eurasia Group, the upcoming presidential election poses high risk and will add to existing political dysfunction.

From the BBC World Service: Norway’s government has given the green light for companies to apply to extract precious minerals from the country’s seabed.

Trevor Curwin at Sheeva.AI explains how carmakers could come back from driverless technology setbacks and EV infrastructure woes.

How new platforms and algorithms are splintering the social media landscape.

China’s housing bubble has popped, and the commercial property market is going through a rough patch.

Office buildings in the U.S. and storefronts in Shanghai remain emptier than before the pandemic. What gives?

Trade deficit numbers get a lot of attention in election years. Here are some things to know about the nuance behind the numbers.

The previous administration made it easier to classify workers for companies like Uber and DoorDash as independent contractors.

Stocks close mixed; labor rule meant to combat worker misclassifications; imports fall in November; exports fall as well

Many companies have decided they want employees in the office only part of the time, but they don’t want to pay rent on empty space.

The practice of personal investment in startup companies is becoming more diverse. That’s influencing which startups get funded.

Nevada is among several states investing in technology to manipulate the weather.

Farmers across Germany are continuing a weeklong protest of the government’s plan to revoke key economic and agricultural tax policies by blocking major roads and highways across the country.

Labor Department unveils new rules to protect gig workers, require new benefits; United, Alaska find loose bolts in Boeing 737 Max 9 planes; VW, Mercedes-Benz unveil AI-powered assistants in vehicles.

We’ll parse through some of the latest data on consumer debt and hear who’s getting hit the hardest.

Debt levels are rising and interest rates remain high. Delinquencies are also on the rise.

While investigators are still looking into why a piece of a Boeing aircraft blew off an Alaska Airlines flight over the weekend, there aren’t many rival plane suppliers.

From the BBC World Service: More than 500 tractors and trucks parked by Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. Also: “Murder on the Dancefloor.”

Boeing has had a slew of PR headaches in recent years, but there are few manufacturing competitors for commercial airlines to choose from.

The biggest consumer tech event of the year is underway in Las Vegas. Gary Shapiro, head of the organization behind CES, says AI, health care and sustainability are front and center at this year’s showcase.

The city has been lauded for getting people into homes. But higher housing costs and expiring funding may put programs in jeopardy.

Kimberly shares what made her smart in 2023 and what she hopes will make her smarter in 2024.

Some 2024 economic predictions, from gas prices to consumer credit. Plus, used car wholesale auctions go digital.

But other positive factors in the economy are limiting the potential damage, economists say, like low unemployment.

Who has room for error at work?

Consumers forecast inflation at 3% a year from now, the lowest their short-term expectations have been in three years.

Gas is close to the $3 per gallon mark and has broken that in parts of the South.

Stocks climb; delinquencies are ticking up; inflation expectations fall; spending expectations grow at slower pace.

For a long time, the only way for dealers to buy at wholesale used car auctions was to go in person. Now, many of those auctions take place online.

As climate change makes winter snowfall uncertain, selling lift tickets gets trickier — especially at smaller, locally owned resorts.

We’re watching “The Store” in January.

Stocks open mixed as Dow component Boeing tumbles; Congressional negotiators reach a spending deal; China sanctions U.S. defense contractors.

The eligibility expansion benefits the immigrants but may also bring savings to the entire system.

No, we’re not talking about three of Snow White’s seven dwarfs — we’re talking about the mood of the American consumer.

The cost of Mexico’s 1,500-kilometer train line has ballooned to more than $28 billion.

Worries about inflation persist even as wages are rising but will consumer sentiment improve this year?

We’ll check in with Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin about potential risks to a soft landing.

From the BBC World Service: China has announced sanctions against five American arms manufacturers over weapons sales to Taiwan.

“There is a historic opportunity to rebalance this field,” with federal infrastructure funds, says Aaron Glantz of the nonprofit newsroom.