Apr 13, 2021

Welcome to Zoom Town, USA

A street in Truckee, California. Since the pandemic hit, the mountain town has become a destination for remote workers, who've brought higher prices and increased congestion. Matt Levin/Marketplace

Small towns, inundated with remote workers during the pandemic, have come to be known as "Zoom towns." Also on today's show: Why inflation numbers are gonna be wonky for awhile, and what happened to America's public toilets.

Segments From this episode

Why there's a flood of new stock market investors

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Apr 13, 2021

This explosion didn’t happen just because everyone was stuck at home. It started before the pandemic.

New retail investors could have a good shot at growing their savings if they take a long term approach.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Institutional investors are stiff competition for homebuyers

by Amy Scott

Apr 13, 2021

A report estimates that 1 in 5 homes sold in the U.S. goes to an institution like a pension or sovereign wealth fund.

The added competition for so few houses is further driving up prices for everyone.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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After a year on the PPP front lines, a community banker is seeing confidence return

by Kai Ryssdal and Sean McHenry

Apr 13, 2021

PPP loans have produced great results, says Seattle banker Laurie Stewart. She's optimistic about demand rising without inflation.

The interior of the Woolly Mammoth shoe store in Seattle, where Laurie Stewart's Sound Community Bank is based.

Karen Ducey/Getty Images

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Both passengers and drivers are feeling better about ride-sharing

by Samantha Fields

Apr 13, 2021

Uber just had its best month ever. "We're seeing ride demand track closely with vaccination rates," Lyft's president told us.

More and more people getting vaccinated and having places to go, and they need some way to get there.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

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Shelf Life

What happened to America’s public toilets?

by Chelsea Wald

Apr 13, 2021

In an excerpt from her new book, science journalist Chelsea Wald writes on the unintended result of a movement to ban pay toilets.

In her new book, “Pipe Dreams: The Urgent Global Quest to Transform the Toilet,” Chelsea Wald explores the problem and promise of toilet technology.

Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

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California "Zoom town" grapples with influx of remote workers

by Matt Levin

Apr 13, 2021

Truckee's newcomers boost the local economy, but long-term residents see rising prices and a culture clash.

A street in Truckee, California. Since the pandemic hit, the mountain town has become a destination for remote workers, who've brought higher prices and increased congestion.

Matt Levin/Marketplace

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Music from the episode

20 Grand Palace RJD2

Sundress Butcher Brown

Pretty Pimpin Kurt Vile

Sin Rumbo Panoptica Orchestra

1977 Ana Tijoux

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

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