Mar 5, 2025

Uncertainty is a certainty

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The softening labor market, falling Treasury yields and a fuzzy service sector can all point to the multiplying economic unknowns. Plus, entrepreneurship booms and a soybean farmer worries.

Segments From this episode

Experts worry about degradation of economic data after advisory committees disbanded

by Caleigh Wells

Mar 5, 2025

The two groups, which existed for decades, gave expert advice to federal data scientists and played a role in government transparency.

"You don’t fulfill an ongoing mission by canceling this communication mechanism," said former advisory committee member Erica Groshen.

Annabelle Gordon/The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Trade War 2.0

With new tariffs and more on the way, "it's very scary" to be a farmer right now

by Kai Ryssdal and Andie Corban

Mar 5, 2025

The president wants farmers to sell more in the U.S., but "you don't build those markets domestically overnight," says Iowa corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes.

President Donald Trump's "definition of fun is way different than the farmers' definition, because tariffs are not fun," says soybean and corn farmer April Hemmes.

Ben Hethcoat/Marketplace

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National Debt

10-year Treasury yields are falling. Want the good news first?

by Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst

Mar 5, 2025

What's good for consumers looking for loans could be bad news for the economy.

Investors weigh factors like consumer confidence, retail sales performance and U.S. tariff policy when buying and selling U.S. Treasury bonds.

Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

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Surveys gauging the health of the service sector point in opposite directions

by Daniel Ackerman

Mar 5, 2025

ISM data was mostly positive, while S&P Global reported weakness. The discrepancy may be down to who's responding — and when they're doing it.

Who participates in a survey and when the responses are recorded can lead to different outcomes.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Amid much uncertainty, the job market is clearly softening

by Samantha Fields

Mar 5, 2025

Private-sector hiring slowed down in February and small businesses cut jobs. Plus, new unemployment claims were up last week.

The weaker labor market is tied to the Fed's inflation-cooling measures as well as the many unknowns related to the Trump administration's economic policies.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Entrepreneurship took off during the pandemic. It's still flying high.

by Justin Ho

Mar 5, 2025

Many entrepreneurs are starting businesses adapted to the post-pandemic economy.

Entrepreneurs are continuing to adapt five years after the pandemic.

vittaya25/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

When I Look Back Lev Snowe

Angel In The Snow Elliott Smith

Lou's Tune DARGZ, Moses Boyd

A Thousand Shapes of Change Tommy Guerrero

Good Will Come to You Fruit Bats

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Sofia Terenzio Associate Producer I

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

Nicholas Guiang Assistant Producer

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