Justin Ho

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Justin is a reporter for Marketplace. He’s based in San Diego, California.

Justin focuses on small business, banking and supply chain news. He also hosts the Closing Bell edition of the “Marketplace Minute,” a daily news roundup, and has worked as the show producer of the “Marketplace Morning Report.” He started working at Marketplace in 2011.

Justin spends a lot of his downtime mountain biking, surf fishing and grappling with decision paralysis over which bike parts and fishing gear to buy next.

Episodes by Justin (152)

Marketplace Minute

Inflation picks up in March

Apr 26, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Economy slows while inflation persists

Apr 25, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Boeing revenue falls

Apr 24, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

FTC bans noncompete clauses

Apr 23, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Business leaders say profit margins rise

Apr 22, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Fed leaders echo calls for caution

Apr 19, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Existing home sales decline in March

Apr 18, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Fed survey finds modest economic expansion

Apr 17, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Powell says recent data reduces confidence in inflation progress

Apr 16, 2024

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Marketplace Minute

Retail sales rise in March

Apr 15, 2024

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Latest Stories (696)

Why corporate dealmaking could pick up this year

by Justin Ho

Jan 18, 2024

Rising interest rates, a volatile stock market and a strict regulatory environment are just some of the factors that held back corporate dealmaking in 2023. Some of those obstacles could ease in 2024, but they aren't going away.

A big reason that mergers and acquisitions have dropped is because rising interest rates have made it costlier to buy a company.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

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With commercial real estate set for another tough year, some small banks are worried

by Justin Ho

Jan 17, 2024

Amid high interest rates and vacancy rates, lenders and regulators are concerned about the fallout when borrowers renew their loans.

Plenty of companies are planning to downsize their office space, which worries lenders that have a lot of commercial real estate debt on their balance sheets.

David McNew/Getty Images

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The business lending environment is tough right now — especially for people of color

by Justin Ho

Jan 15, 2024

The Biden administration has tried to make it easier for business owners to get loans. But high interest rates are a challenge.

Nicole Davis, who owns an accounting firm, said her Black business clients typically have a harder time qualifying for loans, often because they lack generational wealth.

designer491/Getty Images

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Last year's successful strikes may prompt more labor actions in 2024

by Justin Ho

Jan 15, 2024

Workers were watching as strikers won concessions from Hollywood studios and Detroit automakers.

Washington Post employees walk a picket line during their 24-hour strike in December of last year.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

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Bloated inventories are dragging down some sectors of the economy

by Justin Ho

Jan 11, 2024

Clothing companies and bike stores are some businesses that still have excess inventory — and that has ripple effects through the economy.

The bike industry has been oversupplied for more than a year, says Jeff Cayley, CEO of Worldwide Cyclery, and many stores are offering deep discounts.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

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Delinquency rates rise for some types of household debt

by Justin Ho

Jan 8, 2024

But other positive factors in the economy are limiting the potential damage, economists say, like low unemployment.

Loan delinquencies are rising the most among young borrowers, low-income borrowers and borrowers with multiple types of debt.

Sefa Ozel/Getty Images

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The Fed might cut interest rates soon. That's weighing on business owners' plans.

by Justin Ho

Jan 2, 2024

Do they wait for lower rates in the future or borrow what they need today? It’s a question of cost versus opportunity.

Some construction projects have been paused or postponed until interest rates fall, said John Kirk, a developer in San Antonio.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

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The housing sector is coming out of the doldrums. But will it keep improving through 2024?

by Justin Ho

Dec 20, 2023

We jumped into the Marketplace time machine to ask some experts how things look from next December.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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U.S. oil producers have increased production, frustrating OPEC's efforts to prop up oil prices

by Justin Ho

Dec 20, 2023

Domestic oil production is running around a million barrels a day ahead of predictions.

This time last year, cuts by OPEC helped push oil prices above $80 a barrel. American producers took notice.

Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

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Alternative investments went on a wild ride during the pandemic

by Justin Ho

Dec 19, 2023

Many investors dabble in collectibles, wine and art. The pandemic caused some to re-think that strategy.

Alternative investment opportunities, like rare trading cards or art, can be unstable in value. Magic the Gathering card collector Seth Robertson says card values skyrocketed at the start of the pandemic and have since fallen.

Ollie Millington/Getty Images

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Justin Ho

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Episodes by Justin (152)

Latest Stories (696)

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