Marketplace

Fast fashion giant Forever 21, which filed for bankruptcy last month, is selling itself to a consortium of buyers that includes two large mall owners. Today, we take look at why America’s malls have an interest in buying their tenants. Plus: coronavirus turned Shanghai into a ghost town, tariff exemptions are harder to get and the world’s biggest oil producers mull cutting production.

Netflix’s new documentary series “Cheer” is bringing new attention to both the world of competitive cheerleading and Varsity, the company with a monopoly on the sport. Plus, farm bankruptcies, the real cost of one-day shipping and Iowa’s deluge of political ads.

Britain will finally exit the E.U. tomorrow. The U.K. now has eleven months to finalize a new trade deal with their former bloc. Today, we look at what comes after Brexit day. Plus, the return of the 20-year bond, sluggish business investment and America’s effect on Mexico’s economy.

For a lot of retailers, especially restaurants, afternoons are tough. That’s why happy hour exists. Starbucks beat earnings expectations in part because it’s been able to bring more shoppers in during the afternoon. Today, we look at how coffee shops and other retailers are fighting through the “dead zone.” Plus: Warren Buffet gets out of newspapers, the latest from the Fed meeting, and how one man is finding shelter amid LA’s homelessness crisis.

The Federal Reserve’s first meeting of the year just started, and gross domestic product numbers are out later this week. The production slowdown of Boeing’s 737 Max is slated to show up in that number, and we’re taking a look at the other products that impact GDP. Plus: 3M’s job cuts, Huawei’s role in the UK’s 5G network and the latest consumer confidence and durable goods numbers.

The Chinese government extended the Lunar New Year holiday to slow the spread of coronavirus. While some workers will get paid time off, not everyone is so lucky. Today, reporter Jennifer Pak gives us the view from the streets of Shanghai. Plus, the outbreak’s ripple effects, new steel and aluminum tariffs and the official start of tax season.

The federal government shutdown ended a year ago, but it’s still hurting temporary workers, like security guards, who will never get that month of wages back. The Trump administration is using a lot more contractors than previous White Houses, and today we talk with some people still paying off credit cards and other debt they took on. Plus: The head of the New York subway system steps down, the “American Dirt” controversy and how China is responding to the coronavirus.

And not just in the U.S. All around the world, central banks have kept interest rates low or even negative, but inflation isn’t going up as expected. What’s going on? We kick off today’s show trying to answer that question. Plus: P&G’s earnings, bricklaying robots and the effects of the government shutdown, a year later.

With a record 532 scripted series on air and an expensive streaming war on, this is a challenging time to take over a cable channel. We’ll talk about the business with AMC President Sarah Barnett. After that, we look at how Netflix measures its shows’ success and what counts as a “view.” Plus, the latest on auto tariffs, Boeing and Venezuelan refugees in Chile.

President Trump told an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos today that the U.S. was in a “blue-collar boom.” We’re going to take some time to assess that claim and the state of blue-collar work in general. Plus: AI goes to the movies, a new spate of retail closures and why China is leading the world in solar, wind and … coal.

Microsoft has recently announced plans to spend $1 billion on technologies that will help eliminate carbon from the atmosphere. It’s part of the company’s greater plan to becoming carbon negative in the next 10 years. Molly spoke to Lucas Joppa, Microsoft’s chief environmental officer, about this approach. Plus: Thousands of business leaders and lawmakers converse on Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. We also look at the IMF’s 2020 economic forecast, Ireland’s housing crisis and negative perceptions of female CEOs.

While we’ve been hearing a lot about how the trade war has negatively impacted U.S. farmers, the executive vice president of the largest garlic producer in the country wants people to know it’s helped others. “We’re apolitical as a company,” said Ken Christopher of Christopher Ranch. “What we are is pro-American garlic farmers.” Plus: negotiations over a digital tax is causing a rift between the U.S. and E.U., when companies should split in two, and we find out just how the trade deal with China was approved.

The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission allowed corporations and unions to spend money in politics in an unprecedented way. It’ll be 10 years next week, so today we’re taking a look back on how our elections have changed. Plus: new retail and supply chain numbers, and the economics of hologram musicians.

The U.S. and China signed a phase one trade deal this morning. Today we’re answering more of your trade questions, talking with a farmer about how she’s affected by the trade deal and examining more of America’s trade disputes around the globe. Plus, Target’s sluggish growth, the affordable housing shortage and Amazon’s fraught relationship with FedEx.

The trade saga between the United States and China has gone on for almost two years. Now it might just be at the end. With President Donald Trump set to sign a phase one deal tomorrow, we’re devoting most of today’s show to the trade war: how we got here, what tensions still remain and how the conflict has impacted people, businesses and regulators here and abroad.