Marketplace

Sales of high-thread-count sheets and countertop appliances weren’t enough to save Bed Bath & Beyond, which filed for bankruptcy this weekend. What’s to become of all those soon-to-be-empty strip mall storefronts? Plus, why the dollar is dragging, what happened to Alibaba’s Jack Ma and lessons in college credit card debt courtesy of Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace’s new financial literacy podcast, “Financially Inclined.”

It’s a weird time for retailers. Some have announced layoffs and closures, while others are looking to expand their footprint. So what gives? Turns out, some stores are hoping to use this shaky economic moment to come out ahead during either a downturn or a recovery. Plus, politics and markets meet in the Weekly Wrap, and Indigenous creatives carve out space for Native perspectives in gaming and cosplay.

Political squabbling about raising the debt limit is well underway. But to meaningfully address federal debts and yearly deficits would require big actions. Elected officials could raise taxes and chip away at things like defense spending, Social Security and Medicare — but doing so isn’t popular. We’ll also dig into coal’s decline, investment in technical training and Britain’s new trade deal.

The intensity of a possible economic slowdown will depend on how much banks tighten credit conditions, said Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, in an interview with Marketplace today. We’ll ask about data he’s watching closely and the central bank’s messaging challenges ahead of its rate decision. Later, Reddit rethinks data access and California utility companies rethink how they charge for power.

After this year’s banking crisis, some lenders have bumped up interest rates on savings accounts to lure new depositors. But if the hassle of switching banks makes you go, “ugh,” blame it on what economists call “deposit stickiness.” What would it take to get customers unstuck? Plus, Netflix’s failed foray into live-streaming, and the origin of the modern welfare system, courtesy of the Marketplace podcast “The Uncertain Hour.”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said today that “defaulting on our debt is not an option,” but neither he nor the White House shows signs of compromising. The last debt limit stalemates drove up the cost of government borrowing — and that’s happening again. Plus, what if you paid your taxes in cash, and what’s behind layoffs at Walmart and Best Buy?

We got seriously mixed signals from the consumer economy today. Retail sales dipped in March, while consumer sentiment ticked up. Is this economy headed for a soft landing or a cliff? Today, we parse the good, the bad and the downright confusing. We’ll also take the pulse of bank borrowing and check in on seasonal hiring ahead of higher-temps season.

The phrase “too big to fail” conjures images of the 2007-08 financial crisis. But the notion that the collapse of certain financial institutions could torpedo the larger economy goes back much further. On today’s show, we’ll trace the roots and evolution of “too big to fail.” Plus: earnings reports from TBTF banks, new car prices and the rebranding of milk.

You take them both and you get the March inflation report. The consumer price index rose 5% year over year. That’s a decent “headline” number, but dig deeper and the story gets a little more complicated. Later: military recruitment, grocery bills and long-term career prospects for workers who have struggled with depression.

You know what a lot of people do when mortgage rates are too high to buy? They stay renters. And despite slowing rent inflation, that additional demand for apartments can increase competition and boost rent prices. Today, we delve into the connection between rates and rents. Also on the program: potholes, pickleball and the love of background TV shows.

There’s some welcome news on the inflation front: Prices for online goods are falling, according to Adobe Analytics. While it’s a bit of relief for consumers, higher prices for things like services may be here to stay. Plus, how algorithms are used to pay ride-hailing drivers less, what an immigration uptick means for the labor market and a look at how COVID-19 transformed business in downtown Boston.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is mulling new nutritional standards for school meals, and everyone’s got opinions — from the manufacturers who say the changes will make food pricier to the schools that would absorb the costs. Then there’s the students, who have to stomach it all. We’ll also delve into the Gen Z divide in labor participation and the pandemic’s macroeconomic curveballs.

It’s been nearly a month since banking turmoil hit the headlines. While the government’s response has largely focused on insuring depositor funds, we’re starting to see signs that banks are pulling back on making loans. Plus, slowing wage gains, rising car prices and hurdles to tribal broadband access.

The United States and European nations have committed billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion one year ago. But there’s also a cultural dimension to the conflict. Today, we’ll hear from Ukrainian artists at home and abroad who are fighting to preserve their cultural identity. Plus, the Federal Reserve has more work ahead to reel in inflation, and consumers kept squirreling away savings in January.

The American civil rights movement was about more than attitudes around racism. It also fought to expand workers’ rights and access to housing and good jobs. We’ll chart the economic agenda the movement outlined decades ago, which is sometimes left out of the conversation today. Plus, a look at how gross domestic product figures get revised and what a drop in unemployment claims says about the job market.