Nov 29, 2021

In case you forgot: COVID still runs this economy

Spencer Platt via Getty Images

Plus: What a "Department of Care" could offer cities, what a new CEO means for Twitter and how schools are spending COVID-19 relief aid.

Segments From this episode

COVID-19

How will the coronavirus omicron variant affect the economy?

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Nov 29, 2021

Omicron might play out in a similar way to delta, with a sharp drop in consumer spending. Tourism in particular would likely take a big hit.

Even without lockdowns, the omicron variant could still stall economic recovery. Above, a trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.

Spencer Platt via Getty Images

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How will traditional holiday sales days fare this year?

by Caroline Champlin

Nov 29, 2021

Consumers appear to be spreading their holiday spending across more days, heeding advice to get their orders in early.

New data shows that in-store sales on this year's Black Friday were down compared with pre-pandemic levels. Above, the festive Galleria mall in Houston on Black Friday.

Brandon Bell via Getty Images

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A departure worth tweeting about

Amy Scott is joined by Marketplace Tech’s Molly Wood to discuss the resignation of Twitter’s CEO, Jack Dorsey.

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Millennials locked out of hot real estate markets

by Mitchell Hartman

Nov 29, 2021

The National Association of Realtors reported on Monday that pending home sales were up 7.5% in October.

Millennials are staying in their apartments for longer than they would have a decade ago, likely due to the high cost of first-time homes.

Spencer Platt via Getty Images

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What would a city "designed with care" look like?

by Amy Scott and Richard Cunningham

Nov 29, 2021

Writer Alexandra Lange says urban architecture and a “Department of Care” could make residents’ needs and culture a priority.

More benches, public restrooms and services for unhoused people could be part of a care-driven approach to designing cities.

François Walschaerts/AFP via Getty Images

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COVID-19

How are schools spending federal pandemic relief funds?

by Amy Scott and Anais Amin

Nov 29, 2021

Summer school, tutoring and HVAC replacement are emerging as big areas of spending, says Nic Querolo, of Bloomberg.

Schools are beginning to spend federal COVID-19 relief funds on programs to mitigate learning loss caused by the pandemic.

Michael Loccisano via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Return of the Mack Mark Morrison

Aloha Chris Bear

Smile Meditation Vulfpeck

Make It Better (feat. Smokey Robinson) Anderson .Paak, Smokey Robinson

Lost In Yesterday Tame Impala

Space is the Place Ezra Collective

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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