Week of October 14th, 2024

The U.S. economy is a tale of two consumers.

A new summer program is helping to feed millions of families in dozens of states. But not everyone qualified.

Most people at the U.S. consulate in Shanghai said they are not following the presidential race.

They are an affordable housing option in a country where so few affordable housing options exist.

Plus: AI slop is all over Spotify, and a tiny island is making bank off “.ai” websites.

Builders are shying away from multifamily homes because of supply and cost issues. But single-family homes are cheaper and faster to build.

U.S. work visa applicants in Shanghai have mixed feelings on which presidential candidate would be better for China-U.S. relations.

The team at Hickory Nut Gap Farm, outside of Asheville, has made significant progress cleaning up storm-related debris.

The horror writer talks about the real-life inspiration for her ghost story “The Reformatory.” Plus, our team shares their favorite rom-coms!

After working hours, that is. Today, we look at the growing movement behind the “right to switch off.”

Co-producers of “Join or Die: A Film About Why You Should Join a Club” Rebecca and Pete Davis discuss the importance of community and connectedness.

Many countries around the global have already enshrined the legal right to ignore business emails, calls and messages outside of working hours.

They’re expecting to pay less interest on loans to build houses — and their clients are anticipating lower mortgage rates.

Joining a bowling league has more benefits than you might think.

From the BBC World Service: China’s GDP grew in the third quarter at the slowest pace since early last year. We dig in.

Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino for Tech Bytes: Week in Review.

Recommended listening for “Financially Inclined” fans: Pass the paddle, please.

More than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated its water system, the city is still without clean running water.

In the five years that Sam Newell and her husband have run Fruit Fair in Chicopee, Massachusetts, they haven’t had a profitable year.

Some consumers are planning to spend less and save more in the run-up to the election, a survey says. Plus, capacity utilization and independent grocers.

September retail sales excluding vehicles and gasoline were up 0.7%. But consumers report uncertainty about the election and how it will impact the economy.

Geopolitical conflict is interfering with crude oil futures, causing oil prices to be lower in the future than they are today.

And, federal disaster relief programs are running out of money.

The extent to which industries make use of their production capacity has a bearing on inflation.

For clothing resale sites like Poshmark, ThreadUp or Depop, “it’s really hard to overcome the math not working,” says Amanda Mull of Bloomberg.

When do you ask someone to pay their share, and how?

FEMA offers $770 for disasters declared starting this month, but it’s not the only money you can get.

Incentives for German automakers to build vehicles here — or penalties for imports — could inspire a shift in operations.

On today’s show: wriggling free of a tenacious subscription could get a lot easier.

In an effort to counter rivals, the retailer is opening more stores.

It was easier for companies to transition to making PPE at the height of the pandemic than it was to produce something as sterile and specific as IV fluid.

From the BBC World Service: When NASA astronauts return to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, they will do so in style.

IV fluid is a vital supply for hospitals. Now, a nationwide shortage is causing some centers to postpone surgeries.

Nick Quah, culture and podcast critic at New York Magazine, says Vice President Kamala Harris’ and former President Donald Trump’s appearances on non-traditional, online shows are more than just teeing up “softball” interviews.

The majority of seniors who are eligible for the grocery benefits haven’t applied. Plus, Americans are worried about debt.

Even though interest rates have been falling, people are more reluctant to take on new debt.

This year’s presidential candidates have embraced non-traditional media.

Only about 30% of people 65 and up who are eligible for food assistance through SNAP are getting it.

While it’s not great news for home buyers, it’s good news for the rest of the economy.

Inflation in the European Union has cooled sharply, but the economy could still use a boost.

The number of international travelers visiting Canada is still below pre-pandemic levels.

The Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program has run dry. We’ll hear more.

Investment bankers help companies raise money through the stock market or by taking advantage of falling interest rates.

“If everybody simply says, ‘I’m immovable,’ nothing changes,” the Aspen Institute’s Michael Reszler says.

Plus, tips on healthier ways to disagree. We’ll also hear about surging investment banking revenues.

From the BBC World Service: An Italian naval ship carrying migrants has reached Albania under a new relocation agreement.

CEO Elon Musk has been promising fully autonomous cars since 2016. The Cybercab might be too late, says The Verge’s Andrew Hawkins.

Climate change is a U.S. military priority – for now. What happens next?

Walgreens said it plans to close over a thousand stores over three years. Plus, we hear from some retailers prepping for the holiday season.

Mining metals needed for clean energy comes at a cost.

Overstocks mean car shoppers are taking advantage of deals and a good selection, but that may change as automakers slow down production.

Walgreens will close 1,200 stores over the next three years. Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy last year, and CVS is closing hundreds of stores.

The inventory-to-sales ratio provides a glimpse at how fast inventories are turning over. If a sector’s ratio is elevated, that can be a sign that it will slow down — or cut prices — in the near future.

The Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California provides liability coverage to 90% of the market for foster family agencies in the state.

Now, the company has to rebuild trust with workers as well as airline customers who have been canceling orders.

Research found that average retirement balances were lower for people paying off student loans compared to those who weren’t making the payments.

There’s a way U.S. companies could help employees pay down student loan debt, but will they go for it?

Johnson’s work focuses on how institutions shape economies.

Today: a conversation with MIT’s Simon Johnson, a winner of this year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

From the BBC World Service: Leaders from India, Pakistan, China and other countries in the region will meet for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

Ethan Porter of George Washington University explains why there’s been so much misinformation about Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

And how money grows with compound interest.

Disaster recovery, misinformation and now threats against workers.

These robots are basically unbeatable, and they suck the fun — and the money — out of playing, says Kit Chellel of Bloomberg.

Big banks are setting aside more cash to cover bad loans. Plus, an earnings report preview and a hot air balloon festival.

“We tend to be full until we’re well through the Balloon Fiesta,” says Steve Hiatt, who with his wife, Kathy, owns Bottger Mansion.

Oil demand is still expected to grow in the coming year, but more slowly, and especially in China.

How individual companies are faring can help answer broader questions about things like inflation and consumer spending.

Throughout the last year, a lot of big banks have been stocking away more cash to cover bad loans. But even though banks are concerned about the broader economy, they’re still trying to make loans where they can.

Some unemployed Americans who want to work are discouraged by the job market, so much so that they’ve paused looking.

At this point in the race, your $7 donation probably won’t tip the scales in favor of either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.

Cultural intelligence can help managers bridge political and ideological divides.

Today’s Nobel economic prize goes to three U.S.-based scholars who study how the social institutions countries inherit can make or break economies.

The renovations necessary to convert hotels into apartments are often cheaper and faster than those needed to convert office buildings.

Many stations saw a run on their supplies before Hurricane Milton, and delivery infrastructure was shut down after the storm.

The storm disrupted ports, transfer terminals and roads that moved critical supplies of gasoline.

From the BBC World Service: All roads lead to Paris as the City of Light hosts its major motor show.

Talia Cadet went to court last month to argue a potential sale or ban of the platform would infringe on creators’ free speech.