The Indicator from Planet Money

Where AI data centers are reducing power bills

Over the last half decade, wholesale electricity prices have increased 267% [https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices/?embedded-checkout=true] in places close to data centers. That’s contributed to a backlash against new ones.  But some experts believe data centers are a scapegoat for long-term issues with an aging U.S. grid. Today on the show, we ask who is responsible for rising electricity prices and whether the U.S. can handle a new era of grid growth.  Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour [https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour] Related episodes: All these data centers are gonna fry my electric bill … right? [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5696566/all-these-data-centers-are-gonna-fry-my-electric-bill-right] What AI data centers are doing to your electric bill [https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5649814/ai-data-center-electricity-bill]  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money].   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com [http://planetmoneybook.com]  If you’re a commuter, gas prices may not be your friend right now. The average cost of a gallon is more than $4 across the country. California’s average is close to $6. So how are drivers around the country responding? Today on the show, we hear how they’re adapting to higher prices and how much this gas price increase could cost Americans over the year.  Related episodes:  Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work? [https://www.npr.org/2026/03/10/nx-s1-5742757/will-trumps-shipping-insurance-plan-work] Breaking down the price of gasoline [https://www.npr.org/2022/08/31/1120422634/breaking-down-the-price-of-gasoline] For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money].   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Why infinite scroll's inventor wants to kill his creation

We practically live on our phones these days. Scrolling and scrolling, endlessly. Entrepreneur Aza Raskin is responsible for creating this infinite scroll. He also testified against Meta, who have been under fire — and in court — charged with making their apps addictive to children.   On today’s show: Raskin tells us about the changes he thinks platforms should make to help people take their attention back.  Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com [http://planetmoneybook.com]  Related episodes: The Social Media Crisis [https://www.npr.org/2021/01/19/958542152/the-social-media-crisis]  How algorithms are changing the way we speak [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/19/nx-s1-5506168/how-algorithms-are-changing-the-way-we-speak]  For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Cooper Katz McKim. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money].   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Is the economy red, orange, yellow or green?

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com [http://planetmoneybook.com]  It’s not often you get to talk to a regional Fed president, let alone two at the same time! Today on the show, we take the temperature of the economy with regional Fed presidents Austan Goolsbee and Beth Hammack. Related episodes:  One Fed battle after another [https://www.npr.org/2026/01/13/nx-s1-5675867/one-fed-battle-after-another] America's next top Fed Chair [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/02/nx-s1-5694694/americas-next-top-fed-chair] For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money]. To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Jobs that new college grads are and are not landing

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com [http://planetmoneybook.com/] Economists have described the state of the jobs market as “low hire, low fire.” That means employers are not cutting many jobs, but they're also not adding much either, a dismal prospect for many new college grads. On this edition of Jobs Friday, we go to Howard University in Washington, D.C. to see how graduating seniors are faring.  Related episodes:  Just how bad are these jobs numbers? [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/06/nx-s1-5702772/just-how-bad-are-these-job-numbers]  Do I need a four-year degree? [https://www.npr.org/2024/04/05/1197963572/do-job-seekers-need-four-year-college-degrees]   For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez [https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez]. Music by Drop Electric [https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/]. Find us: TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney], Newsletter [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money].   To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]