Marketplace

Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved Black Texans were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation, though it was years late. While the emancipation from slavery is nearly 160 years old, the economic emancipation of Black Americans is ongoing. Today, we’ll take a look at the structural and legal barriers that have prevented Black Americans from building wealth and what can be done to correct it. Plus, the still-hot housing market and the shortage of summer school teachers.

After delta and omicron, employers’ return-to-office plans have run into another hurdle: the price of gas. Plus, how the Federal Reserve is letting an “unsustainably hot” job market cool off; and Raphael Bostic, head of the Atlanta Fed, tells us he understands that inflation is “going to weigh on your psyche.”

Rising prices are a problem around the world, and dozens of central banks are hiking interest rates in response. Today, we delve into the global forces driving inflation and look at the countries most vulnerable to higher interest rates and recessions. Later in the program: a housing market that may be cooling, a patent system that irks inventors and rising costs that challenge schools’ creditworthiness.

Today, the Federal Reserve hiked its key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point — the biggest increase since 1994. The move will come with some pain for consumers as the Fed tries to slow the economy and get Americans to spend less. But, if retail sales offer any insight, that may already be happening. Plus, an oil demand forecast and a new Department of Education position.

The savings rate has plummeted since the height of the pandemic as Americans grapple with rising costs. Thing is, that pandemic stockpile of cash — when coupled with janky supply chains — helped fuel inflation in the first place. Today we dig into that relationship. Plus, another crypto winter, the state of Gen Z’s finances and the connection between unfilled jobs and unemployment.

The economic word of the day is … “ouch.” The S&P 500 entered bear market territory as the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed almost 900 points. Meanwhile, inflation remains at a 40-year high while consumer sentiment is in the toilet. On today’s program, we’ll dig into recessionary fears and rate hike expectations ahead of tomorrow’s Federal Reserve meeting. We’ll also unpack the new bipartisan gun control framework and preview a post-inflation economy.

One of the causes of the grimace-inducing inflation we’re experiencing is a congested global supply chain. Port bottlenecks are finally easing, but we’re not in the clear yet. With COVID-19 restrictions lifting in China, the U.S. could be in store for what one freight broker calls a “freight tsunami.” Plus, a look at why inflation is so pervasive and persistent, and creating federal protections workers who face extreme heat.

A supposed “stablecoin,” a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar, collapsed last month. Venture capitalists and crypto hedge funds lost billions, and some average-Joe investors lost everything. Today, we sort through the wreckage. We’ll also dig into the European Central Bank’s rate hike and answer some of your inflation questions.

Lawmakers and consumer advocates are in a standoff over which agency should regulate cryptocurrencies: the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Today, we dive into the debate. Plus, a look at retailers’ continuing inventory woes, the government’s changing definition of “small business” and the costs of school security.

It’s been tricky for retailers to pin down what consumers want. At the height of the  pandemic, shoppers focused on furniture, appliances and other home goods online, so stores stocked up, betting that the spending on domestic stuff would last. But now that Americans are investing less in furnishings and sweatpants, stores are left with unwanted inventory. Plus, a strong dollar buys stress for international companies and winemakers try to salvage grapes tainted by wildfire smoke.

What’s worse than putting all that time and effort into a job interview, only to be lowballed by your prospective employer? In a tight job market, applicants and new state laws are demanding greater transparency around pay, but some employers are still cagey. Today, we look at how expectations for the interview process are changing. Plus, some companies lower their earnings forecasts, and Shanghai residents spin up DIY supply chains during COVID lockdowns.

More people are working, but labor force participation is still trailing pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, wages are up, but inflation is still eating up gains. On today’s program, we’ll look at what’s going on in an economy that’s simultaneously cooling down and  still recovering. Plus, a bump in applications to historically Black colleges, and a train line fit for a queen.

We’ve talked a lot about the impact of rising interest rates recently, but the Fed has other tools to fulfill its dual mandate. Today, we’ll look at why the central bank owns mortgage bonds in the first place, and what it hopes to achieve by reducing its stockpile. Plus, the winners and losers of the OPEC+ meeting and what happens when you become your parent’s retirement plan.

If you usually just smile and nod when you hear the term “metaverse,” have no fear! Today, Kai Ryssdal explores and demystifies the immersive digital world that companies are investing billions in. On the docket: tools for virtual education, digital event spaces and a conversation on a simulated seafloor. We’ll also look at the contentious relationship between Russia and OPEC, and dive into the (still) hot job market.

A spending spree on goods at the start of the pandemic helped clog the global supply chain. Now, consumer spending on services has reached pre-pandemic levels. Today, we examine that shift — and the good and bad that come with it. Plus: A hot summer job market, bare-bones housing inventory and another crucial shortage at hospitals.