01/31/2018: Yellen’s last ride
Jan 31, 2018

01/31/2018: Yellen’s last ride

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Janet Yellen presided over the Federal Open Market Committee meeting for the last time as chair today. As expected, the committee left interest rates alone for now, but signaled that hikes could come later this year if inflation picks up. That depends on wages, which we learned today are up 2.8 percent year over year. That's not great, but it's the best number we've seen since early 2015. We'll talk about that, plus the latest homeownership figures. Then: After tragedies like the shooting at a Kentucky high school last week, people and companies open their wallets to provide aid. After the mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas last October, people donated more than $22 million. There are government programs, too, but deciding how to divvy up the money is becoming an unfortunately common challenge for communities. Plus, we'll recap last night's State of the Union address.

Segments From this episode

Recovery resources and funding options for mass shooting survivors

Jan 31, 2018
“You are dealing with people whose lives have been destroyed and money is a pretty poor substitute for loss.”
People attend a candlelight vigil at Las Vegas City Hall October 2, 2017, after a gunman killed at least 58 people and wounded more than 500 others when he opened fire on a country music concert in Las Vegas, Nevada late October 1, 2017.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Private sector wages and benefits are on the upswing, but economists caution celebrating

Jan 31, 2018
We are finally starting to see some signs that the tight labor market is pushing up wages. New numbers out today from the Department of Labor show wages and salaries in the private sector are up 2.8 percent from this time last year. That doesn’t leave too much extra cash for workers once you factor […]

National homeowernship rises, but not in some major cities

Jan 31, 2018
While new data show the rate of homeowners has risen around the nation — the highest jump since 2004 — that boost hasn’t been felt in cities where the market is particularly tight.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

CDC director resigns over investments

Jan 31, 2018
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald resigned from her post as acting director of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. This came after a report in Politico which detailed a series of stock purchases made by Fitzgerald, including shares of tobacco companies. Politico reporter Sarah Karlin-Smith spoke with Marketplace host Amy Scott, and she said the conflict between […]

Janet Yellen presided over the Federal Open Market Committee meeting for the last time as chair today. As expected, the committee left interest rates alone for now, but signaled that hikes could come later this year if inflation picks up. That depends on wages, which we learned today are up 2.8 percent year over year. That’s not great, but it’s the best number we’ve seen since early 2015. We’ll talk about that, plus the latest homeownership figures. Then: After tragedies like the shooting at a Kentucky high school last week, people and companies open their wallets to provide aid. After the mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas last October, people donated more than $22 million. There are government programs, too, but deciding how to divvy up the money is becoming an unfortunately common challenge for communities. Plus, we’ll recap last night’s State of the Union address.

Music from the episode

Edge of Town Middle Kids
Hey Ma Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zeekey, Toya
Pop It Anamanaguchi, meesh