Week of June 10th, 2024

Think of it as a cattle auction, one expert told us.

The math doesn’t math.

Housing affordability is shaping up to be a big deal in the presidential election. Plus, two reporters face off in a shrimp-eating contest.

Owners’ equivalent rent measures the market cost of living in a home — which is a bit different from how much we actually spend on housing.

Plus, Apple announces AI-generated emojis and we do the numbers on copper and the EV market.

Markets mostly flat; Consumer sentiment down again; Congressional inquiry into Boeing; Cava shares grew 300% in first year.

High home prices and high mortgage rates can make homeownership feel impossible for Gen Zers. But what can the president do about it? 

Endless shrimp, endless breadsticks, endless salad bar — they’ve nearly killed a lot of restaurants. So why do they keep coming back?

Import prices in May fell 0.4%; U.S. manufacturers and labor group urge quicker China import tariffs; possible fake titanium used in Airbus, Boeing planes, The New York Times says.

The UC system argues that the strikes violated the union contract’s “no strike” provision. But workers may have the right to violate no strike agreements in certain cases.

The pandemic nearly broke the global supply chain. We discuss its weaknesses. Plus, how is CEO pay determined?

Peter Goodman of The New York Times discusses the complex inner workings of our fragile system and why it broke down during the pandemic.

Israel is withholding $35 million in tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority. We’ll hear more.

From the BBC World Service: A lucrative trade in fake permits for Mecca has caused raised concerns for Saudi authorities.

Joanna Stern, senior personal technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal, joins Marketplace’s Lily Jamali for this week’s Tech Bytes: Week in Review

Plus, what’s your go-to emoji?

Plus: Cassette tapes are cool again and improved hurricane forecasting saves billions of dollars in damage.

Initial jobless claims hit a 10-month high last week. If that takes pressure off prices, the Federal Reserve might reduce interest rates.

Despite the CPI coming in unexpectedly low, the Federal Reserve needs more convincing that inflation is really getting better.

LGBTQ+ gatherings at less traditional venues are changing what queer nightlife can look like, professor Amin Ghaziani explains.

“You can never bring your true full self to a job because a job is not the world. It’s this strange microcosm of the world.”

Markets mixed; Tesla shareholders likely approve Elon Musk’s pay package; SCOTUS ruling could affect unionization; GameStop shareholder meeting overloads servers.

Computing power is helping make sure there are fewer false alarms.

It’s not always practical for smaller bands to release their music on vinyl. So some are turning to another blast from the past — cassette tapes.

Cities like St. Louis are looking for ways to expand their tech workforces to take advantage of the industry’s growth prospects.

Black labor unions in the U.S. are building solidarity with exploited DRC miners, says reporter Adam Mahoney of Capital B.

The producer price index in May fell 0.2%; jobless claims rise to 10-month high, but still at a healthy level; Federal Reserve signals just one interest rate cut in 2024; G7 leaders agree to $50 billion Ukraine loan backed by Russian assets.

Today, we’ll trace some of the spending so far on state elections, local elections and ballot initiatives.

Federal campaigns get much of the spotlight, but state and local races can be as consequential for residents’ lives. Funders know that.

Even if the prediction’s right, Big Oil will be with us much longer.

Gay bars have shuttered at an alarming pace across the country, down around 45% between 2002 and 2023.

From the BBC World Service: Demonstrators are voicing anger over the cutting of state spending and watering down of workers’ rights.

Emma Strubell of Carnegie Mellon University explains why carbon emissions increase with more AI data centers and more powerful AI features.

As people become more aware of living in vulnerable areas, home prices will gradually reflect that risk, says Tim Judge of Fannie Mae.

The chairman also indicated that the Federal Reserve expects to make just one reduction this year, but that could change as the data comes in. Plus: neighborhood rebrand alphabet soup.

The Fed’s rate hikes were meant to slow the economy and dampen inflation by raising borrowing costs. There’s evidence that’s happening.

How going out and bed by 10 became a trend.

Markets mixed; Fed signals one rate cut this year; Inflation cools in May; Sony buying Alamo Draft House theater chain.

The partnership between the state and the company, which includes tax incentives, could result in the production of 300,000 cars a year.

Neighborhood nicknames like SoHo or LoDo have become common in American cities. But what gets lost when neighborhoods rebrand?

Congress committed $39 billion in federal funds to support the child care industry during the pandemic, but those funds are now drying up. Now, many child care providers plan to raise tuition.

Decades ago, the Fed was battling double-digit inflation, and Chair Paul Volcker took aggressive action that drove interest rates way up.

People are coming back to brick-and-mortar supermarkets after a spike in grocery delivery early in the pandemic, industry insiders say.

The consumer price index rose 3.3% in May; gas prices decline 9 cents in a week, AAA says; mortgage applications jump as interest rates dip; E.U. moves closer to hiking tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Much of the public think interest rate hikes lead to higher prices — contrary to economic orthodoxy.

A survey reveals the general public doesn’t always agree with economists on what causes higher prices.

We take a closer look at Hyundai’s massive EV manufacturing facility, the Metaplant, and what it will take to get workers trained for it.

Today: a closer look at the tariffs and how China feels about them.

Roberta Braga, executive director of the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas, discusses the history of Spanish-language disinformation online.

A deep dive into the theory that has come to dominate the U.S. legal system.

… as Dr. Evil says. But how much is that in today’s dollars? Plus, we discuss whether pet insurance is worth it.

The NFIB reports a spike in its uncertainty index, perhaps triggered by thrifty consumers and the upcoming election.

Roll Mobility, an app for mapping accessibility infrastructure and linking disabled communities, went viral. Now the team needs to raise funds.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs for a second straight day; Federal Reserve governors began a two-day interest-rate-setting meeting; Apple unveiled its latest AI play.

AI promises to improve ad targeting. It can also generate content tailored to individuals.

Pet insurance is expensive and might not cover as much as owners think it will, especially for older pets or those with preexisting conditions.

Don’t be like Dr. Evil, who didn’t check the CPI before making ransom demands.

Thomas Foley from the nonprofit National Disability Institute on the economic gains disabled people have made and how employers can do better.

The Small Business Optimism Index hit a high for 2024; federal agencies team up to stop illegal e-cigarette sales; Apple unveils A.I. features; GameStop stock rally appears to be ending.

The Savannah River Site, run by the U.S. Department of Energy, is looking to hire — and help train — 9,000 new employees over the next five years.

We’re heading into another summer with the specter of serious supply chain disruptions.

The economic life of a child at home has a direct relationship to how things go at school, per the Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Melissa Jacoby’s new book argues that Chapter 11 has become a catch-all for corporations to get out of troubles beyond their debts.

Today, we’ll hear more about the careers and a jobs training program at the Savannah River Site.

From the BBC World Service: Singapore Airlines is offering $10,000 in payouts to passengers who suffered minor injuries during a flight that hit sudden, extreme turbulence last month.

Rob Bonta is helping lead the effort to force social media companies to increase parental controls and protect underage users.

Summers are getting hotter and new clean energy generators can help prevent outages. Plus, Apple launches AI — finally.

After a period in which companies tried to stand out with progressive messages, experts see brands proceeding with caution this year.

As ACs across the country kick on during heat waves, electricity demand will spike and some energy grids may fall short of supply.

Plus, how Gen Zers are embracing blue-collar jobs.

Clean energy is exploding in the U.S., bringing high-paying jobs to the rural areas that often produce it.

Markets climb; Apple announces AI features; Activist investor shakes up Southwest; WNBA gets Caitlin Clark boost.

Apple announced new AI integrations for text, email, photos and Siri. It’s also adding ChatGPT capabilities into operating systems.

The airline’s had a bumpy ride since multitudes of passengers were stranded by bad weather and an aged computer system.

Young adults increasingly need help from a parent, or other older adult, to buy their first home. The tough market is removing some of the stigma.

Latest predictions come as Fed officials prepare to meet; Nvidia completes stock split; Norway sovereign wealth fund is latest shareholder to oppose Tesla’s Musk pay; Supreme Court to hear Meta appeal of lawsuit sparked by Cambridge Analytica scandal.

We can say with almost total certainty that the Federal Reserve will not change interest rates this week.

The latest jobs report is unlikely to change the Fed’s mind when they meet Tuesday and Wednesday.

Neighborhood businesses near the arts celebration get a visibility boost they hope will draw customers even after the red carpets roll up.

A look at Georgia’s film production tax credits and the pipeline for show business jobs.

From the BBC World Service: France’s President Emmanuel Macron has called snap parliamentary elections in the wake of a big victory for rival Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in the European Parliament vote.

Georgia’s controversial film production tax credits have helped it become the “Hollywood of the South.” That means the state needs trained production staff.

Following Reddit’s successful stock offering, Steve Huffman explains how the company plans to do business with Big Tech and contribute to AI development while preserving the site’s community focus and defending users’ privacy.