Segments From This Episode

• Consumer confidence drops amid inflation expectations

  by Sabri Ben-Achour

  

  Inflation expectations vary by political affiliation, especially with tariffs in the mix. But fears of inflation can be self-fulfilling.

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• Home prices continued to rise in December

  by Samantha Fields

  

  Prices are now rising fastest in the Northeast, and slowing in some Sunbelt markets that saw big spikes early in the pandemic.

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• Home Depot sales beat expectations. What does that tell us about the housing market?

  by Meghan McCarty Carino

  

  It’s the first time the home improvement retailer posted gains in two years. This is partly because homeowners are renovating instead of shopping for a new home.

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• Why some authors want out of the book blurb business

  by Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst

  

  A book critic explains how book blurbing works and why it’s become a source of debate in the publishing industry.

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• Tariffs on Canadian energy could hit power bills in the Northeast U.S.  

  by Henry Epp

  

  Utilities and policymakers have worked for years to bring more Canadian power to New England and New York’s energy grid.

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• Amidst USDA grant freeze, Georgia mushroom farmer faces funding uncertainty

  by Sarah Leeson

  

  If federal funding is off the table, Howard Berk, president of Ellijay Mushrooms, says he’ll have to consider putting up more equity or taking on debt.

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