Week of March 17th, 2025

Plus, the Midwest’s underrated cherry blossom viewing.

Are you in the “current policy” or “current law” camp? Plus: The immigrants supporting the caregiving industry.

The fight is over how to frame the numbers, one tax law expert says, because that changes the rhetoric. A Senate adviser will decide.

Experts worry that restrictions on immigration could lead to a shortage of caregivers as the U.S. population grows older and more infirm.

The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index was down by 0.3% in February — the third consecutive monthly decline.

Spending by federal workers stimulates local economies. Once they’re laid off, that could affect nearby businesses, like restaurants.

Delaware has long been the go-to state for businesses to incorporate, but competition is heating up.

Rodeo clowns may dress and act funny, but they take their jobs seriously.

The Social Security Administration could lose at least 7,000 workers under recommended staff cuts by DOGE. That could lead to serious delays in benefits processing.

Copper prices have surged to their highest level in nearly 10 months. What does this tell us about the overall economy?

The official title is “barrelman.” And it’s a job that’s equal parts entertainment and safety.

The auctions at Rodeo Houston are no normal auctions. They serve the dual functions of selling off livestock and raising money for Texas youth.

Livestock auctions at the Houston Rodeo go to a good cause — and the bids go up and up and up.

From the BBC World Service: More than 1,300 flights are facing cancellation as London’s Heathrow Airport is left without power.

Christina Farr, managing director at Manatt Health, joins Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino for “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Thinking about college choice as a financial investment

We explain why prices will change quickly for some goods and further down the line for others. Plus, housing markets and AI-driven productivity.

Some goods, like produce from Mexico and home appliances from China, could get more expensive soon.

Teens know social media and fast fashion work together to feed them trends, but find it hard to step away, says NYT writer Callie Holtermann.

Will AI be more like the advent of electricity or smartphones for economic productivity? There’s a lot riding on the question, including a bet by two economists.

A nuts-and-bolts conversation about how they work.

The National Association of Realtors reported existing home sales for February that exceeded economists’ expectations. But regional markets vary.

Once new levies take a bite out of imports, the currency’s value is likely to grow, making American goods more expensive for foreign buyers.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration says it could be the biggest jump in decades.

One of the key things on the minds of seafood merchants right now? Navigating the waves of uncertainty in global trade.

General Mills is the latest food company to lower its sales outlook for the year. Campbell’s and Kraft Heinz have done it too.

Thousands of wholesale seafood producers and buyers from around the world gathered in Boston for the North American Seafood Expo.

Young business aces abound at the junior livestock show, including an agriculture podcast host and an aspiring loan officer.

Today, we’ll hear tips from the next generation of agriculture industry leaders at the Houston Livestock Show.

From the BBC World Service: The European Commission has charged Google parent company Alphabet with breaking competition rules. Apple is facing a similar investigation.

Changing geopolitics have students thinking about national security and helping the little guys, says writer and alum Jasmine Sun. Some just need a job.

And Google and Apple are in the crosshairs.

“I continue to hold out hope that the administration, the Supreme Court, they don’t want an economic recession,” says legal expert Leah Litman.

What might static rates mean for you, the consumer? Plus, a legal expert tells us why she hopes the Supreme Court won’t restrict Fed independence.

Though some proposed tariffs on Canadian imports have been delayed, business owners near the border are preparing for cost increases

Exports of meat, corn and soybeans may grow even more expensive if tariffs take effect.

As the gap between returns on government bonds versus corporate bonds mounts, investors are growing more cautious.

And that will impact businesses, the housing market and consumers.

Additional identity requirements for those signing up for Social Security could boost visitors to field offices that already have long waits.

Changes to the way we sign up for Social Security will require more people to show up to field offices in person.

The biggest sports teams are fashion brands in their own right, with people all around the world wearing merch from the likes of the New York Yankees. But how can a team tap into that market when it isn’t even fully pro?

At the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, shoppers can buy cow-handling hardware, pizza ovens, furniture — and of course boots and cowboy hats.

The San Francisco Giants are selling a 10% ownership stake to private equity firm Sixth Street.

So the wind doesn’t blow it off your head, of course. Today: retail lessons courtesy of business proprietors and salespeople at the Houston Rodeo.

From the BBC World Service: India’s government is planning a temporary 12% duty on finished steel imports to protect the domestic market.

Lesley Carhart, a director of incident response at cybersecurity firm Dragos, explains that criminals are using ransomware to threaten victims, including companies, with embarrassment. To some extent, it’s a response to better data protection.

We break down what the data says. Plus, more recession signals: Gold prices spike and tariffs strain an already-stressed construction sector.

Apps and in-person organizations help foster youth find out about the rights and benefits they’re entitled to — even after they’ve “aged out.”

The hard data still points to a strong economy. But “soft” data — like consumer confidence readings — paints a different picture.

Time for a history lesson, folks.

Known as LNG, much of it is headed to Europe and other parts of the world in amounts expected to double over the next five years, according to S&P Global.

Gold futures rose above $3,000 per ounce.

Companies that make gas-powered vehicles need regulatory credits. Tesla and Rivian have plenty to sell to them.

New residential building permits are down. High prices on building materials could further slow new construction.

It’s time to write the obituary for a star of the fast fashion world. We’ll hear what led to Forever 21’s demise.

From massive burgers to turkey legs, chocolate-covered strawberries and a half a pineapple stuffed with fried shrimp and Fruity Pebbles.

Consumers spent 1.5% less than they did in January. Is this a worrying sign for the economy?

The fast fashion retailer declared bankruptcy this week, for the second time in six years.

Today: economic lessons from the people responsible for serving Texas-sized food portions to nearly 2.5 million rodeo attendees.

We’ll hear news coming from vehiclemakers Ola Electric, BYD and Audi. Plus, a Peruvian farmer takes a German energy giant to court.

A lot of young consumers use digital payment apps like Venmo and Zelle to send, spend and save money. Yanely Espinal of Marketplace’s “Financially Inclined” podcast shares tips on how to use them safely.

Trump is going head-to-head with the judicial branch.

We’re likely to continue our all-of-the-above approach that includes fossil fuels and renewables, with price a key factor.

The number of American workers with multiple jobs just hit an all-time high. Plus, how small retailers are handling all this economic uncertainty.

“What is completely uncertain is what the destination looks like,” says Mohamed El-Erian, president of Queens’ College, about the U.S. economy.

The Fed’s Empire State manufacturing index shows weakness in demand and employment, possibly tied to the prospect of tariffs.

About 5.4% of U.S. workers had a second job in February, according to the BLS. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Are market corrections healthy and normal? We’ll discuss with Julia Coronado, president and founder of MacroPolicy Perspectives.

“Employers are not going to necessarily be prioritizing what’s best for kids; they’re going to always have their bottom line as their top priority,” explains Vox’s Rachel Cohen.

As trade tensions affect the availability of parts and disrupt supply chains, importers and exporters increasingly need a backup plan.

For decades, importers and exporters have leaned into “just-in-time” logistics. The trade war is changing that.

From the BBC World Service: China’s leaders have announced a “special action plan” to try and offset the impact of U.S. trade tariffs and boost domestic spending.

Claire Bryan, education reporter at The Seattle Times, coauthored a recent investigation looking at surveillance tech in schools. She found that most devices were tracking students 24/7.