Week of February 16th, 2026

“Building Tomorrow” is a special collaboration between Marketplace and This Old House Radio Hour that asks a simple but urgent question: How do we build homes that can last the next hundred years?

Even after Friday’s SCOTUS decision, corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes doesn’t expect China to start buying American soybeans like they used to.

The Supreme Court struck down many of Trump’s tariffs. But that doesn’t mean they’re gone for good.

Where's the beef? Oklahoma!

The Budget Lab at Yale has been tracking the economic impacts of the Trump administration’s tariffs since shortly after “Liberation Day” in 2025.

The tactic, which can be legally gray, involves shipping goods through a country with lower tariffs.

Dinnerware has a utilitarian function, but it can also signal wealth and class. 

It’s been a confusing ride. Here’s a timeline of what is happening and what tariffs are currently in place.

The Supreme Court just ruled that the cornerstone of the president’s tariff policy is illegal.

Under the proposals being debated, AV companies would be required to submit detailed documentation showing how their systems are designed, tested, and validated.

The Supreme Court released a decision Friday finding that the president does not have the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

“Unemployment is not a problem for our system,” said University of Tulsa professor Clara Mattei. “It's actually a solution for it.”

Many company leaders agree with studies that have shown more diverse workplaces are more profitable.

Is unemployment a liability or an asset for capitalism? This morning, we dig in.

From the BBC World Service: We hear some of the economic policy priorities that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi outlined in her first major speech since being reelected.

Anita Ramaswamy, columnist at The Information, joins Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes on “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.”

Call that literal sticker shock? Plus: the trade deficit, wholesale inventory, and downsized restaurants.

Kate Krader, Food Editor at Bloomberg, talks about the hottest new trend in dining: downsizing.

Wholesale inventories ticked up just 0.2% in December compared to the month before. It’s a sign inventories have stabilized since widespread tariffs were enacted last year.

The small suburban city is often referred to as ‘Katyzuela’ because of its large Venezuelan population. Its residents are feeling the effects of Trump administration policies on Venezuelan oil and immigration.

The U.S. imported more goods and services than it exported — around $70 billion worth — in December, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Consumers are counting every dollar, but research shows they're also worse at remembering what any given item costs.

Today, we head to the suburb of Katy, Texas, to hear how federal policies are being felt Venezeulan immigrants there.

We’ll explain the ins and outs of the Rural Health Transformation Program.

A report from the JPMorgan Chase Institute looked at the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on companies that often don’t have the same flexibility as larger firms to switch up their supply chains.

The owner of a Portland-based construction firm says his workers are being profiled and hassled by random bigots off the jobsite.

From the BBC World Service: India’s AI summit aims to position the country as a leader in the artificial intelligence space.

Facing harassment from passersby, some construction workers have reduced their hours or opted out of work altogether.

New York Times reporter Mike Isaac walks us through Meta’s plans and how the company is trying to catch up in the larger AI race.

How to talk about prenups without killing the romance.

Plus: California gas prices, inflation data, reverse recuriters, and the annoyance economy.

A new report calculated the so-called annoyance economy, and found everyday inconveniences, like spam calls and waiting on hold, come with a cost.

Lindsay Ellis at the Wall Street Journal wrote about a trend in which “reverse recruiters” are pitching themselves to job seekers to help them find jobs.

Friday’s personal consumption expenditure data drop will give policymakers a broader picture of what’s happening with inflation.

There are plenty of examples of how AI tools are helping companies become more productive. But economists say it’s far too early to tell whether AI is boosting labor productivity across the economy.

Areas of the country that recently experienced the largest slowdowns in unauthorized immigration also saw the largest slowdowns in employment growth.

A gallon of gas in California is currently $4.60, about $1.70 more than the national average. But it’s not just because of taxes.

A major fight is brewing over whether the right to control prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket lies with the states or the federal government. 

Advocates see a way to buffer against bigger countries bullying smaller ones.

Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research asked executives at nearly 6,000 companies how generative AI has affected their productivity and employment.

Most companies these days are using generative AI to some extent. So far, it hasn’t made much of an impact on productivity.

From the BBC World Service: Japan’s export figures for January climbed 16.8% year over year, the strongest rise the country’s seen in three years.

AI agents can’t entirely replace most software yet, but software companies will have to adapt to stay competitive, says Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group.

Karlanea Brown, co-owner of RDM Aquaculture in Fowler, Indiana, talks about the business of raising and selling shrimp.

The change could make mortgages a bit easier to come by. Plus: vaccines, DVDs, home construction, and Midwest shrimp.

Here’s how home builders in Texas, Georgia and Michigan feel about where the housing market is headed.

“Subscription fatigue,” frustration with streaming content changes, and a desire to collect rare finds are all boosting old-school physical media.

Under the Trump administration, the government has rescinded research funding, changed vaccine recommendations, and refused to review Moderna’s new mRNA flu vaccine. That could set vaccine research and development back for years.

After the Great Recession, banks were required to hold a certain amount of capital to specifically cover mortgages. Banks backed away from mortgages as a result.

The Trump administration could threaten federal funding for hospitals if they provide gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Prices are still rising on most consumer goods, but gas prices fell roughly 20 cents a gallon on average nationwide since January 2025, according to AAA.

Gas prices are down 7.5% since last January, according to AAA. Also, we’ll discuss a nicely balanced economy (for now).

The Federal Reserve is looking at easing rules for banks with the hope that means more mortgage loans.

From the BBC World Service: In China, AI has increasingly been merging with the shopping experience.

Surveys from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center and the Computing Research Association suggest students are less interested in software-focused computer science programs.

Mia Chiarella and Mariel Alper run M&M Properties which offers classes on home improvement basics like drywall repair and using power tools.

Business-savvy restaurant chains are capitalizing on it.

Plus: manufacturing jobs, mini meals, DIY home improvements, and Cape Cod chips.

It might take a while before increased demand translates into jobs. That's because companies are still facing an uncertain economy.

Monetary policy doesn’t just happen by magic. Instead, Fed employees in New York are carrying it out through open market operations.

The metals are used in almost every industry and could reduce the cost of cars and appliances— but the impact on everyday costs like housing and groceries will be limited.

Markets have seesawed recently over news that AI could soon disrupt software and financial services. Ad shops may also be at risk.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects that people will have to spend over $1,000, on average, to heat their homes this winter.

As large language models reshape how brands reach consumers, traditional ad shops face pressure to reinvent themselves or get left behind.

The agency lost more than 25% of its staff to cuts, and it’s also dealing with new provisions from the tax and spending law passed in 2025.

Consumers will spend about 11% more than last year to heat their homes. Plus, is the IRS prepped for tax season?

From the BBC World Service: ByteDance says it'll curb its AI video app, Seedance, which is being used to create viral life-like clips of Hollywood stars.

AI data centers are turning to heavy equipment maker Caterpillar for gas generators instead of waiting for permits to connect to the electrical grid, says Marketplace contributor Daniel Ackerman.