Week of August 12th, 2024

What will it take?

Are candidates’ economic promises designed to woo voters or contrast with their opponent? Plus, coal power plants are so last year and bookstores bank on summer foot traffic.

There’s only so much control a president has over economic policy, but promises give voters a sense of what a candidate will attempt.

As coal plants around the country are retired, communities have to fund ways to rebuild.

Joanna Reese funds her Maine shops on a shoestring. “[We do] as much as we can ourselves,” she says, “to save on costs.”

Insurance rates nationwide have jumped more than 11% in 2023 and climbed nearly 20% since 2022, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

We looked at where you can buy Treasury securities and when they’re up for auction.

A landmark federal staffing mandate has prompted fierce disagreement between resident advocates and the nursing home industry.

Promotions, AI-ready computers and a need for new gear all likely played a role.

Less than one in five nursing homes in the U.S. currently meet new staffing minimums set to take effect in the coming years.

So what will it take for the other 90%? A lot of sweeping physical transformation.

Democrats and Republicans want to win over union voters. Plus, the impact of extreme heat on Americans’ utility bills. Subscribe to get the “Make Me Smart” newsletter every Friday!

The National Association of Realtors is changing rules that determine how real estate agents make their money.

From the BBC World Service: Bavarian Nordic wants to extend the shot’s license in Europe to include those ages 12 to 17.

Anita Ramaswamy, columnist at The Information, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino for Tech Bytes: Week in Review

Yanely Espinal and Sahirenys Ortega Pierce explain how to open your first bank account

The math isn’t mathing.

If consumers keep their wallets open, we might keep the door closed to a recession. Plus, we check in with two women who were part of a semiconductor job training program.

Some reassuring news: The Census Bureau reported that retail sales were up a full percent in July from the month before.

Despite high prices, “wages are growing faster than inflation,” and families’ purchasing power is growing, he says.

Properties sold through a dual agent tend to move faster, but for less money, research shows. In some states, the practice is illegal.

Months after completing a semiconductor technician training course, two workers share their stories.

“This Is Uncomfortable” returns for its 10th season. New episodes coming Thursdays.

Shoppers were shopping more energetically than expected in July, with retail sales up 1%. We discuss.

A court ruled on Aug. 5 that the company has a monopoly in online search. A break up could be one of several ways forward, though it’s a pretty uncommon one.

As a private company, it’s immune to shareholder revolts.

The Justice Department is reportedly considering asking for a break up of Google after the company was deemed an illegal monopoly.

From the BBC World Service: BYD, China’s biggest EV maker is planning a $1 billion factory in Turkey, allowing it to avoid new tariffs.

The No Fakes Act aims to protect Americans’ faces, voices and likenesses from replication by artificial intelligence. Moiya McTier of the Human Artistry Campaign points out that it extends far beyond public figures.

Good news: Inflation is cooling. Bad news: So is the job market. Is it time for the Fed to pivot focus? Plus, food worth traveling for.

But how much will actually change?

Generally, rates move in concert. But industries have their own criteria for lending and make changes at their own pace.

Candy giant Mars, maker of M&M’s, will acquire Cheez-It parent Kellanova, signaling that these brands are still betting on snacks.

The data shows rising shelter costs, but industry experts say current market conditions tell a different story.

Many expect that the Fed will cut interest rates to stimulate the job market — but not everyone thinks that’s a good idea.

Last spring, the industrial town Zibo became a tourist hot spot because of its unique barbecue. Is that a recipe for healthy budgets?

Starbucks has tapped Brian Niccol, who has previously helped turn around Chipotle and Taco Bell, as its newest CEO.

Jobseekers find it easier to write resumes to multiple employers with AI, but those hiring have more applications to sort through.

In 2024, the share of jobseekers using generative AI increased to more than 50%, ZipRecruiter finds.

From the BBC World Service: Chinese EV maker Zeekr says it’s come up with a battery that can be replenished in 10 minutes.

Journalist Evan Ratliff explores generative AI’s believability and persuasiveness in his new podcast, “Shell Game.” His AI agents interacted with customer service reps, therapists and scammers.

Small-business optimism increased last month — but not much. Plus, “Debt Trek” and deferred home renovations.

Optimism has increased, but it’s still below a 50-year average, a National Federation of Independent Business survey shows.

The company says customers are deferring big renovation projects because of high interest rates and economic worries.

The decline helped bring the annual rate of inflation at the wholesale level down to 2.2%.

Where to start when it comes to sustainable eating.

It’s an international love story of sorts, featuring “thick, heavy, goopy crude oil.”

If you add up government debt around the world, it totals $91 trillion. More than a third of it comes from one country: The U.S.

Food and beverage developers are working overtime on new products that appeal to the changing tastes of obesity drug users.

Competition for medical workers can be fierce, requiring incentives like housing assistance or student loan repayments to recruit new hires.

In a live-streamed conversation on X, Elon Musk angled for a position in a future Donald Trump administration, should he win.

Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris support eliminating federal taxes on tips. It might attract votes from tipped workers, who make up 2.5% of the American labor force. But what would it mean for tax policy?

The Economist digs into data regarding those who lost their jobs in manufacturing.

Americans “left behind” during globalization and deindustrialization have experienced economic improvements under recent administrations.

From the BBC World Service: Thousands of homes and businesses have been evacuated due to fires close to Athens.

Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube, died last week at the age of 56. As a kid, she wanted to be an artist. As an adult, she discovered the “art of technology.”

And, Kai’s Olympic adventures.

Don’t put all your eggs in the stocks basket, as the saying goes. Plus, the case for trains and “bifurcated” summer travel.

Consumers’ price expectations influence how they save and spend their money, potentially creating self-fulfilling prophecies.

When stocks go up, bond prices typically go down, and vice versa. But that inverse relationship isn’t a given.

Higher-income travelers have splashed out, but people with lower incomes have reined in spending because of rising prices.

Rates have come down slightly in the last few weeks,

Nearly a quarter of the neighborhood’s residents are over 65. As business owners retire, the enclave could lose its cultural roots.

The Schulze family fixed appliances and home furnishings in Richmond, Texas for 82 years.

The Northeast Corridor gets most of the love — and money — from Washington. But rail fans in the rest of the country love their lines, too.

Labor songs were sung at home, on the job and on the picket line. Let’s look at the history, starting with “Harlan County, U.S.A.”

More Americans trust Vice President Kamala Harris to handle the economy over former President Donald Trump, a new survey finds.

Other nations, including Brazil and Nigeria, have established a new capital. But if you build it, will people come?

The New York Fed is scheduled to report on consumer inflation expectations Monday morning, producer prices Tuesday and the consumer price index on Wednesday.

Is it worth the expense for countries to move their seats of government?

From the BBC World Service: We’ll unpack the fallout of the decision from Hong Kong’s highest court.

AI could help fans purchase tickets for a fair price and without the risk of fraud, some ticketing companies say.