Marketplace

There’s promise and peril on the For You page. On today’s show, we’ll look at how companies cash in or miss out on the big TikTok trends — and why some of those viral fads aren’t as spontaneous as they look. But first: the dust-up over chip exports to China, the Volatility Index and the latest productivity numbers.

Congress hasn’t approved new COVID funding for about a year and a half, and there’s not a whole lot of money left. With the FDA approving new boosters today, we’ll look at what happens when the cash runs out. Plus: A new way to track employment, a portrait of precarity in the restaurant business and a temp check on the American consumer.

In the current inflation-whipped economy, it can feel like everything is going up. But a figure economists didn’t expect to increase was job openings. Today, we’ll dig into what that means for the labor market as the central bank tries to tap the brakes on the economy. Later, Russian pipeline repairs stoke anxiety in Europe, and rent caps come with a tricky balancing act.  

At first glance, the U.S. economy is in kind of a weird place right now. Inflation remains high and the Fed isn’t backing down from interest rate hikes. But today we’ll take a closer look at two economic bright spots: the strength of the U.S. dollar and the surplus of job openings. Plus, a hurdle for Manhattan’s return-to-office plans and home flippers’ impact on design trends.

From Starbucks to REI, Chipotle and Trader Joe’s, unionization efforts are gaining momentum — particularly at individual stores with relatively small numbers of employees. Today, we’ll take a look at why the labor movement is seeing big wins on smaller scales. We’ll also unpack Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium and travel to a coastal New York town weighing difficult choices in adapting to climate change.

Gross domestic product and gross domestic income are two ways of measuring the economy that are usually like two sides of the same coin. All that spending and all that income should be roughly the same, but right now they’re totally different. Today, we’ll examine why that gap exists and why it matters so much. Also on the program: Supply chain bottlenecks drive rising prices, and inflation comes to the classroom.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine six months ago today, the ruble has cratered and rebounded and sanctions by Western governments have isolated the country. Today, we’ll look at how the war has scarred Russia’s economy and consider how it may fare in the months ahead. Plus, we’ll dig into why a college education is so pricey and hear how some small business owners are dealing with a glut of inventory.

New home sales were down nearly 30% year over year in July. That has builders and real estate agents crying “recession,” but prices are still high and foreclosures are low. So what’s really going on? We’ll talk about it on today’s show. Plus: The Finnish prime minister and feminine power, big money in youth sports and the future of American chip manufacturing.

Supply chain issues haven’t gone away — we’ll hear from business owners about them in this episode. We’ll also hear about recent “reshoring,” which a new report says is on the rise, with 350,000 manufacturing jobs coming back to the U.S. this year. Plus, Ukrainians in the U.S. find new ways to send money home, Taiwan trade discussions progress and speed limiters gain traction.

General Motors announced that it will spend $5 billion repurchasing its shares, which companies sometimes do to boost stock prices when they have extra cash. Buybacks have a bad reputation; we’ll discuss the pros and cons on today’s show. Plus, we’ll look at the streaming industry’s growing pains and ponder peak inflation with our panel of experts.

Inflation is taking big bites out of Americans’ pay, and employers are struggling to keep costs down while trying to retain workers. Some are offering bonuses, and others are getting creative with perks. We’ll talk about it. Plus: The history of school lunch programs, stores’ ongoing inventory headaches and taxes frustrate the Texas tourism industry.

Store brands tend to thrive during times of economic stress, and they’re having a moment now. Today, we trace generic brands back to the inflation of the 1970s and hear how “private label” products have come to rival premium brands and attract devotees. Also on the program: the relevance of Federal Reserve meeting minutes, the analysts behind Wall Street expectations and the deeper digital lives of teens.

Walmart and Home Depot both reported sales were up 6.5% in the second quarter. While Walmart’s report indicates tough times for lower-income consumers, Home Depot’s shows middle to upper-income ones are feeling pretty good — even if they’re holding off on a new house. Plus: a new leader for Texas’ troubled power grid, dangerous heat for delivery drivers, and a new Florida law could make it harder for professors to retain tenure.

While it may not be the best time to be building (or purchasing) a single-family home, apartment construction has reached a 40-year high. All those new units could ease rent prices eventually, but rising labor costs and a supply chain backlog mean it won’t be soon. Plus: A look at “sticky” prices and how the oil and gas industry is betting on fracking as we try to reach net-zero carbon emissions.

The economy is a mixed bag right now. Inflation remains high but may have peaked. There’s talk of recession, but the labor market is holding up and wage growth is strong. And though consumer sentiment is relatively low, optimism appears to be rebounding. Today, we’ll read the economic tea leaves. Also: The economic case for a four-day school week, and a summer vacation in the Greek islands.