Noel King

Sr. Reporter

SHORT BIO

Noel King is currently a correspondent for Planet Money and was formerly a senior reporter for the Marketplace Wealth and Poverty desk.

Latest Stories (196)

Happy birthday, spam! On what 35 years of spam has gotten us

May 3, 2013
Thirty five years ago today, Gary Thuerk sent out the first spam email. We mark the anniversary by trying to track down a spammer ourselves.
A computer screen inbox displaying spam emails.
MIKE CLARKE/AFP/Getty Images

Would raising wages lead to more or fewer jobs?

May 3, 2013
Economists don't agree on whether higher wages boost the economy, or discourage employers from hiring.
Understanding your salary can be like trying to read a foreign language. Even economists can't agree on whether higher wages boost the economy, or discourage employers from hiring.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

Can black-owned franchises help narrow the wealth gap?

May 2, 2013
Barriers to minority franchise ownership remain, but some black entrepreneurs are leading the way.
Ronald Smothers in front of Denny's on Crenshaw Blvd in Los Angeles, Ca.  He has owned and operated this franchise store for seven years.
John Ketchum/Marketplace

Why do we need GDP to grow anyway?

Apr 26, 2013
U.S. GDP grew at an annual pace of 2.5 percent in the first quarter, disappointing investors and many economists. But why is GDP growth necessary?
With a chart showing federal spending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product in the background, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies before the Senate Budget Committee March 12, 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Plenty of finger-pointing, but little compensation in Bangladesh factory tragedies

Apr 25, 2013
The collapse of a factory in Bangladesh reportedly producing clothing for American and European companies is raising questions about what those companies owe after a tragedy.
Bangladeshi volunteers and rescue workers are pictured at the scene after an eight-story building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 25, 2013.
MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Apple moves to ease investor concerns with $60 billion stock buyback

Apr 24, 2013
Apple plans to spend $100 billion over the next two-and-a-half years to ease investor concerns over the company's shifting share prices.
Apple plans to spend $100 billion over the next two-and-a-half years to ease investor concerns over the company's shifting share prices.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Drought helps DuPont rake in profits

Apr 23, 2013
DuPont Chemical is primarily known for products like paint pigment, but the sale of drought-resistant seeds is boosting the company's earnings.
Sandra Mu/Getty Images

Netflix adds two million U.S. subscribers

Apr 23, 2013
Netflix added two million U.S. subscribers to its streaming video service in the first quarter of this year. Analysts say that the company is making its mark with original programming.
Kevin Spacey appears in the Netflix original series 'House of Cards.'
via Netflix

U.S. economy to 'grow' 3% under new GDP calculation

Apr 22, 2013
The U.S. economy will grow by 3 percent this summer, due to a change in the data used to calculate GDP.
With a chart showing federal spending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product in the background, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies before the Senate Budget Committee March 12, 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Texas explosion raises concerns for other towns eying fertilizer plants

Apr 18, 2013
Small communities are fighting to get fertilizer factories to locate nearby. After the West, Texas, explosion, some people who live near proposed plants are reconsidering the risk.
Smoke rises in the distance about half a mile from the West Fertilizer Company April 18, 2013 in West, Texas. A massive explosion at the fertilizer company injured more than 100 people and left damaged buildings for blocks in every direction.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images