Economics with Aria (97.9 The Hill)

Home is Where Lower Interest Rates Are: The Struggle for Affordable Housing in Chapel Hill

Affordability is toward the front of many people’s minds — and affordable housing is a major component of that, with people struggling more and more to find long-term homes viable for their bank accounts. In this episode of “Economics with Aria,” host Aria Allen dives into how one economic policy can impact the general trend of affordable housing: interest rates. She speaks with UNC city and regional planning professor Roberto Quercia about how the federal decisions can spur the market forward or hold it back. Aria also chats with low-income renter Sunny Duncan, who details the challenges of finding affordable housing in the greater Chapel Hill community, and Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson to learn about how the local government is adjusting its own strategies to improve the low-income housing supply. Host: Aria Allen Producers: Aria Allen and Brighton McConnell Economics Editor: Gerald Cohen Theme Music: Alan Hunt Cover Artwork: Aria Allen ---------------------------------------- [https://chapelboromedia.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/11165202/ECWA-COVER-1-1024x1024.png] Have you ever wondered how macroeconomic policy affects our daily lives in Orange County? Join Aria Allen — an economics reporting fellow for 97.9 The Hill WCHL in Chapel Hill, N.C. — as she dives into these topics and explores how economic policies impact the Triangle community in this monthly series! Listen on Chapelboro [https://chapelboro.com/category/wchl/economics-with-aria], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3CXzu67HMP0oweSjlARAZV], or wherever you get your podcasts. The post Home is Where Lower Interest Rates Are: The Struggle for Affordable Housing in Chapel Hill [https://chapelboro.com/wchl/economics-with-aria/home-is-where-lower-interest-rates-are-the-struggle-for-affordable-housing-in-chapel-hill] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].

Tariffs Are Teases: The Effect of Tariffs on the Adult Goods Industry

In the show’s debut episode, Aria dives into what the tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration — both old and new — broadly mean for consumers, manufacturers and retailers. To closer examine their impacts, she uses the lens of the adult goods (sex toy) industry in the Triangle, which is home to one of the biggest brands and a handful of adult stores. Listen as she chats with the owner of adult retailer Cherry Pie in Raleigh about how recent trade policy changes affect her business, a sugar baby who’s seen first-hand the price increases when buying adult goods, and an economist who details how the Trump administration’s tariff strategy is sending mixed signals. Host: Aria Allen Producers: Aria Allen and Brighton McConnell Economics Editor: Gerald Cohen Theme Music: Alan Hunt Cover Artwork: Aria Allen ---------------------------------------- Have you ever wondered how macroeconomic policy affects our daily lives in Orange County? Join Aria Allen — an economics reporting fellow for 97.9 The Hill WCHL in Chapel Hill, N.C. — as she dives into these topics and explores how economic policies impact the Triangle community in this monthly series! Listen on Chapelboro [https://chapelboro.com/category/wchl/economics-with-aria], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3CXzu67HMP0oweSjlARAZV], or wherever you get your podcasts. The post Tariffs Are Teases: The Effect of Tariffs on the Adult Goods Industry [https://chapelboro.com/wchl/economics-with-aria/tariffs-are-teases-the-effect-of-tariffs-on-the-adult-industry] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].

‘Economics with Aria’ — Series Teaser

Have you ever wondered how macroeconomic policy affects our daily lives in Orange County? Ranging from consumer prices and inflation to affordable housing and workforce trends, the decisions influence us in many ways. Join Aria Allen — an economics reporting fellow for 97.9 The Hill WCHL in Chapel Hill, N.C. — as she dives into these topics and explores how economic policies impact the greater Orange County community in this monthly series! Host: Aria Allen Producers: Aria Allen and Brighton McConnell Economics Editor: Gerald Cohen Theme Music: Alan Hunt Cover Artwork: Aria Allen The post ‘Economics with Aria’ — Series Teaser [https://chapelboro.com/wchl/economics-with-aria/economics-with-aria-series-teaser] appeared first on Chapelboro.com [https://chapelboro.com].