Marketplace

Paltry job creation was the headline item in the latest jobs report. But dig a little deeper, and warning signs show up all over: long-term unemployment, Black unemployment and Hispanic unemployment all rose in August. In this episode, why those stats could be proverbial canaries in the coal mine of the broader labor market. Plus: Industrial warehouse demand is down and a shipworker shortage could thwart Trump’s goal of reviving the commercial shipping industry. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe [https://www.marketplace.org/newsletters] to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org [https://www.marketplace.org/] — and consider making an investment [https://www.marketplace.org/make-a-smart-investment] in our future.

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has gotten a lot of attention lately — President Trump is attempting to remove one member and has nominated another. But there’s more under the central bank umbrella than president-appointed officials. In this episode, we break down why regional Fed banks and Fed presidents matter. Plus: The latest Beige book shows an uptick in lending, shipping costs are down and an economist walks us through her process for reading a CPI report. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe [https://www.marketplace.org/newsletters] to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org [https://www.marketplace.org/] — and consider making an investment [https://www.marketplace.org/make-a-smart-investment] in our future.

Job growth has slowed this summer as employers ride out President Trump's economic shakeups. Thanks to uncertain tariffs, funding cuts, and the immigration crackdown, most companies aren’t eager to hire right now. Even the health care sector is showing some cracks. Also in this episode: The number of American homeowners fell for the first time in a decade, economists explain how the U.S. became the economic data gold standard, and revenue from website ads grow more popular among retailers. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe [https://www.marketplace.org/newsletters] to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org [https://www.marketplace.org/] — and consider making an investment [https://www.marketplace.org/make-a-smart-investment] in our future.

“Commercial paper” is a type of short-term debt that’s paid off much faster than a typical corporate bond. It’s kinda like an afternoon snack — perhaps not great for you, but it’ll hold you over until dinner. In this episode, what it means that commercial paper bonds have been ramping up all year. Plus: Iconic millennial-focused brands pivot to Gen Z consumers, the BLS cares if you’ve got free time, and the Trump White House closely monitors U.S. chip manufacturing progress. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe [https://www.marketplace.org/newsletters] to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org [https://www.marketplace.org/] — and consider making an investment [https://www.marketplace.org/make-a-smart-investment] in our future.

As the Trump administration strips away federal data collection agencies' funding and pressures statisticians to produce positive reports, we might wonder whether private data can fill in the gaps. Unfortunately, while statistics reported by the private sector have a place in our economic understanding, they're not necessarily comprehensive, transparent, or free. Also in this episode: EVs see record sales ahead of tax credit end date, Chinese AI firms meet at a conference in Shanghai, and regional Feds give tariff uncertainty updates. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe [https://www.marketplace.org/newsletters] to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org [https://www.marketplace.org/] — and consider making an investment [https://www.marketplace.org/make-a-smart-investment] in our future.