Election 2024How We SurviveOffice PoliticsI've Always Wondered ...My Economy

Loading...

0:00
0% played
Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!
Stories Tagged as

Goods and services

What a mostly flat PPI can tell us about where the economy is

by Caleigh Wells
Oct 11, 2024
September's producer price index showed core inflation up slightly and producer prices down slightly. But there are still some interesting numbers in a "flat" index.
A dip in energy prices has brought down overall construction costs, says Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. But lumber and copper prices were up last month.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

When will prices go back down?

by Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst
Oct 6, 2023
The answer might disappoint you.
Inflation is slowing, but when will prices go back down? Above: Shoppers walk through a grocery store in Washington, DC.
Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

The U.S. may still avoid a recession, retail sales indicate

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Jul 18, 2023
Retail sales were soft but not terrible in June. More importantly they are at least keeping up with inflation, and don't foreshadow a recession.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

Spending on services is starting to taper off, U.S. data indicates

by Justin Ho
Jan 27, 2023
Until recently, consumers had been spending less on goods and more on services. That's changing. Here's what it could mean for inflation.
While consumer appetite to travel remains strong, more people are opting to drive rather than fly.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

For producers, inflation is easing just a bit, Labor Department reports

by Justin Ho
Sep 14, 2022
Producer prices reflect costs throughout the production process. Prices for raw materials are starting to ease.
Price increases have begun to slow in earlier parts of the production process.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

Why retailers messed up their inventories so badly

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Aug 18, 2022
Target, Walmart and others have struggled to keep up with changes in consumer buying and have had to predict demand further in advance.
Target and other retailers have been marking down prices in hopes of moving their glut of merchandise.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

Consumers are spending more on services than on stuff. How long will that last?

by Justin Ho
Jul 6, 2022
Even if growth in services sector spending slows this summer, economists don’t see it stopping any time soon.
People have been spending more money on the service sector than goods.
Octavio Jones/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE

For public good, not for profit.

Donate

Consumers are spending on services again as the pandemic shopping spree for goods cools

by Sabri Ben-Achour
May 31, 2022
People want to get outside and do stuff, not just buy stuff. That's reflected in surging travel bookings — and airfare.
Consumers are still spending on big-ticket, durable goods like furniture. But now demand for services is picking up again.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
ListenLISTEN
HTML EMBED:
COPY
EMBED EMBED
Share Now on:
SHARE
Subscribe Using:
SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE