Oct 9, 2023

How much is your paycheck really worth?

Getty Images

Today, a look at real wages and spending power. Plus, why some businesses are closing after surviving the hardest part of the pandemic.

Segments From this episode

September's real wages are expected to rise

by Mitchell Hartman

Oct 9, 2023

And that would mean your paycheck's purchasing power would be getting a boost relative to inflation.

Rising real wages means consumers are "making up for the consumption power that they lost when prices were rising faster than wages," says Erica Groshen, former Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Nobel winner advances understanding of women and the labor market

by Kimberly Adams

Oct 9, 2023

Harvard economist Claudia Goldin has illuminated issues such as the gender gap in pay, child and elder care, and the shortfall in women economists.

Some of Claudia Goldin’s more recent research found that the pandemic has had a greater impact on women than men when it comes to employment and labor participation.

Lauren Owens Lambert/AFP via Getty Images)

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COVID-19

These businesses made it through the hardest part of the pandemic. Then they closed.

by Kristin Schwab

Oct 9, 2023

The pandemic is still having a domino effect on small businesses. Here's what happened to three of them.

Because data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics lags, its unclear how many businesses have shuttered in the last few years.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Higher interest rates have mortgages and commercial real estate loans in the dumps

by Stephanie Hughes

Oct 9, 2023

And yet banks are loaning out more money than a year ago.

Some big banks, including Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase and Citibank will release their earnings reports on Friday. The sour mortgage market may play a big factor in how those numbers look.

Mireya Acierto/Getty Images

The clean energy revolution needs green workers, fast

by Emily Jones

Oct 9, 2023

If there aren’t people ready to build, install, and maintain the solar panels and electric cars that money is paying for, billions in federal funding dollars could go to waste.

A Qcells employee takes part in hands-on training with Georgia Quick Start. To make the transition to green energy, new workers will need to be trained for specialized manufacturing jobs.

Courtesy Georgia Quick Start.

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My Economy

How an urban hiker in Kansas City turned her side hustle full-time

by Sarah Leeson

Oct 9, 2023

"After having my urban hikes for about a year, I realized that if I wanted my business to grow, that I would need to focus full time on it, and that was a scary leap," said Lisa Peña, owner of Urban Hikes Kansas City.

Urban Hikes Kansas City owner Lisa Peña shows off a mural by artist Fem_nine on a hike.

Courtesy Lisa Peña, mural by artist Fem_nine

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Music from the episode

The Flower Called Nowhere Stereolab

Cleva Erykah Badu, Roy Ayers

Wind Travel Richard Houghten

Scenic Drive Poolside

Outer Sunset Tycho

Maria También Khruangbin

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

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