Week of October 20th, 2025

After nearly 200 years, Baker & Taylor, a major distributor of shelf-ready library books, will be closing in early January.

Consumers are navigating economic uncertainty by changing how they spend — but how they’re doing it depends on how much they earn.

A years-long cocoa shortage means less chocolate-centric flavors are coming for Halloween staples.

Aimee Resnick was excited to start her career in public administration. But after over a year of searching, she decided to look outside the U.S. for opportunities.

Some Chicagoans are pushing back against an escalation in immigration raids.

They’re not going down, but they aren’t going up either, which puts distilleries in a tight bind.

Consumers are looking for ways to stretch toilet paper and toothpaste.

Insurance costs for some Missouri residents have skyrocketed since 2000, and coverage has shrunk to just 10% of homes.

A Rhode Island fastener supplier reveals how he’s keeping his small business afloat. Also: trade negotiations with Canada and a presidential pardon.

This reporting comes from episode 3 of the latest season of Marketplace’s “How We Survive,” which takes a closer look at how the climate crisis is also a food and agriculture crisis.

“The economy broadly is still going OK, but we are struggling with the cost of goods,” said Rob Lehmann of Fair Wind Fasteners.

Traders have been paying close attention to the international benchmark in the wake of the new sanctions announced on two major Russian oil companies this week.

Today, we'll hear how global oil traders are responding to new tariffs on Russian oil companies and what it could mean for consumers.

From the BBC World Service: After an anti-tariff ad featuring Ronald Reagan aired, President Donald Trump abruptly cut off all trade talks with America’s northern neighbor.

Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital, joins Marketplace’s Nova Safo for this week’s Tech Bytes: Week in Review

A kid’s guide to investing in the stock market.

When the government has to borrow more, so do everyday Americans. Plus: Surplus oil, cultural critics, credit card perks and wearable AI.

As credit card companies ratchet up the prices on premium cards, they’re also ratcheting up the perks as they compete for the wealthiest consumers.

Spencer Kornhaber, staff writer at The Atlantic, explored how the job of the critic is changing.

As the government borrows more and more it makes it more expensive for U.S. consumers to borrow money for mortgages, cars, and more.

The International Energy Agency predicts production to outstrip demand by a record 4 million barrels per day by next year. Meanwhile, there are about a billion barrels in tankers currently at sea.

A new generation of wearable AI gadgets can record, transcribe and analyze your every interaction. Here’s how early adopters say it’s changing their relationships.

Unpacking our big climate food problem with “How We Survive’s” Amy Scott.

Millions of households depend on LIHEAP, a program that helps them pay to heat their homes. But funds are running low.

Drought and high grain prices forced ranchers to sell off their herds a few years ago.

Just in time for winter temperatures.

Today: why beef is so pricey right now and what role regenerative farming could play in meeting future beef demand.

From the BBC World Service: The United States has announced new sanctions on Russian oil in an effort to expedite peace talks between Moscow and Ukraine.

Henry Epp, reporter at Marketplace, says the electrification of aircrafts didn't deliver on range; hence, the move to developing hybrid flights.

Cleaning up the trash left behind has become another burden for storm-hit communities.

The planned currency exchange comes with major repayment risks. Plus: Storm cleanup, state capitalism and the AI stock market.

The administration’s 10% equity stake in Intel looks like an embrace of state capitalism, but economist Mariana Mazzucato warns the move is unaligned with any strategy.

When sports betting started popping up on prediction market sites, companies like DraftKings and FanDuel felt they had to respond in kind.

AI investment is driving the U.S. stock market to new highs. Ultimately, that could impact everyone. 

If it doesn’t work, the U.S. could be stuck with a bunch of pesos that aren’t worth very much.

On today’s show: cheaper EV models, a Fed governor’s thoughts on crypto, and a check-in with Cuba’s tourism minister.

The deal seems like an attempt by the two streaming companies to stay competitive with a shared rival: YouTube.

The federal tax credit that boosted electric vehicle sales for the last three years is gone, leaving EV makers to find new ways to entice car buyers.

Netflix has worked out a deal with Spotify to stream some podcasts. Plus, America's central bank is warming to crypto.

From the BBC World Service: Experts have estimated that the cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover cost the carmaker roughly $2.55 billion.

We need to make more food with less land. Could factory farms be the key?

Marketplace’s Savannah Peters says the Cherokee Nation, at least, is moving forward with placing guardrails on AI models to maintain Indigenous data sovereignty.

This data drought has fogged up economic crystal balls. Plus: Labor productivity, Lake Superior saunas and gold-buying influencers.

When Riley Brown and Kassidy Curtis-Lugo moved to an island in Lake Superior, they built a sauna to stary warm through the winters. Now they rent and build custom saunas.

Due to the government shutdown, some pieces of the calculation puzzle for corporate earnings and outlook reports are missing.

In this modern-day gold rush, some amateur prospectors are going out in hopes of striking the motherload. Others are turning to social media to become gold digging influencers.

COVID-19 changed the used car market as supply chain constraints and rising demand pushed prices higher. In 2025, those ripple effects are still being felt.

More productive workers are more profitable. So why not hire more of them?

From lab-grown chocolate to cell cultivated salmon.

The Fed has been shrinking its pile of securities and Treasurys, but it still needs them to keep the economy’s plumbing in order.

The Trump administration has moved to axe many Biden-era green initiatives. One project impacted is in Middletown, Ohio.

Used in nearly everything with an on-and-off switch, global demand for silver has been outstripping supply since 2020.

The 7.5-ounce mini cans cater to consumers on weight-loss drugs or simply looking for a quick treat — and will be sold individually in convenience stores next year.

Trump has frozen Biden-era funds to upgrade a steel mill in Middletown, Ohio, where residents complain about persistent pollution.

Silver hit an all-time high last week. Helping fuel that rally is a physical shortage. And later: teeny tiny cans of Coca-Cola.

From the BBC World Service: Sanae Takaichi models herself after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and has a range of economic challenges to tackle.

As more people use AI chatbots for search and shopping, what happens to small businesses who depend on web searches and online reviews?

Bridget and Ryan take Wall Street!

Some reports are delayed indefinitely, and that’s affecting private sector data, too. After that: A skills bartering app, Gen Z whisperers and job recruiters.

Brands need Gen Z consumers. Enter a slew of new companies trying to translate the young generations to big brands.

Inspired by his own hobbies, Jonathan Sims is building a platform where people can trade their skills and services

Recruiters say there aren't a lot of job openings but are optimistic things will improve.

Halliburton and Baker Hughes report financial results this week.

Netflix has the widest reach and broadest content, while others are finding their niche.

“If we don’t know what the quality of the data will be. Well, that’s uncertainty. That’s risky,” says Columbia finance professor Laura Veldkamp.

Today, we'll head to Colorado to hear about an apprenticeship program that's embedding climate literacy into its teachings.

Adapting to a changing climate is now an essential skill for ranchers and farmers.

It’s down more than 10% since January.

Many cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin or Solana, known as altcoins, are waiting for approval by the SEC to be traded as exchange-traded funds. But with the government shutdown, that wait could be a lot longer.

There's been a major outage of Amazon Web Services, the Amazon system that does computing for other companies.

From the BBC World Service: Slowing economic growth sets the backdrop as members of China's ruling Communist Party gather to discuss the country's economic plans.

Levi Sumagaysay, reporter at CalMatters, says California is the second state to pass such law. It’s still unclear which union might represent rideshare drivers.