Oct 20, 2017

10/20/2017: Macroeconomics’ big mystery

Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images

Seeking answers on why inflation won't do what everyone expects it to, Kai Ryssdal interviews a former Fed governor. In the world of health care, we investigate why rates of uninsured Americans are up for the first time since 2014 and what type of emergency President Donald Trump will declare the opioid epidemic. Plus, we'll run through this week's steps forward (and backward) in NAFTA renegotiations, tax reform and Trump's impending appointment of the next Fed chair. And we get status updates from Puerto Rico, where power hasn't come back for many residents, and the Florida Keys, where they're busy luring tourists back to the islands.

Segments From this episode

Weather Economy

After Hurricane Irma, an effort to lure tourist business back to the Florida Keys

by Marketplace Contributor

Oct 20, 2017

In the Florida Keys, tourism promoters and government officials want visitors to return. But some locals say money should be spent on the basics for permanent residents first.

Most visitors reach Key West by driving down U.S. 1 — since Hurricane Irma, that has meant the once-scenic highway is now lined with debris piles like this one on Ramrod Key.

Nancy Klingener/ for Marketplace

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Weather Economy

The Army Corps of Engineers is tasked with turning the lights back on in Puerto Rico

by Ryan Kailath

Oct 20, 2017

The mission: Put things back the way they were, including 62,000 telephone poles.

A car drives under tilted power line poles in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Humacao, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 2.

RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP/Getty Images

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The Fed might not have inflation all figured out

by Kai Ryssdal and Daisy Palacios

Oct 20, 2017

Daniel Tarullo, former Fed board governor, talks about his new paper on why the Fed hasn't got it right when it comes to measuring inflation.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks during a press conference after the Federal Open Market Committee meetings in Washington, DC, on September 2017.

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

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President Trump plans to declare the opioid epidemic a national emergency. What would that do?

by Marielle Segarra

Oct 20, 2017

Next week, President Donald Trump has said he plans to officially declare the opioid epidemic a national emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 91 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day. States were given nearly $500 million in additional funding for opioid addiction treatment earlier this year – so what would […]

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New survey shows the number of adults with no health insurance is on the rise

by Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Oct 20, 2017

Gallup is out with a new survey today. It shows a steady increase in the number of uninsured adults in the U.S. That’s in spite of a fairly healthy economy, and falling unemployment rate. So what’s going on? Click the audio player above to hear the full story. Stories You Might Like The Fed could […]

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Weekly Wrap

The latest Senate budget deal is approved. Does tax reform come next?

by Kai Ryssdal

Oct 20, 2017

A roundup of this week's business and economic news.

President Donald Trump (C), with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (L) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), delivers remarks during a meeting with members of Congress and his administration regarding tax reform in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Sept. 5 in Washington, DC.

Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images

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Seeking answers on why inflation won’t do what everyone expects it to, Kai Ryssdal interviews a former Fed governor. In the world of health care, we investigate why rates of uninsured Americans are up for the first time since 2014 and what type of emergency President Donald Trump will declare the opioid epidemic. Plus, we’ll run through this week’s steps forward (and backward) in NAFTA renegotiations, tax reform and Trump’s impending appointment of the next Fed chair. And we get status updates from Puerto Rico, where power hasn’t come back for many residents, and the Florida Keys, where they’re busy luring tourists back to the islands.