Marketplace

The Business Roundtable, a lobbying group comprised of about 200 CEOs, today announced a change in its definition of a corporation’s purpose: Shareholder value should no longer be their main objective, and they should prioritize customers and employees. This might just lead to a delicate balancing act to keep shareholders, customers and employees happy. We break it all down and what it could mean for the future of the corporate world.  Also, we take a closer look at the challenges surrounding cashless restaurants. Then: an interview with Jennifer Silva, on her book which examines the economic realities in the heart of coal country.

YouTubers have started monetizing one of the biggest consumer moments in a kid’s life: the first day back at school. But first: yield curve inversions, trade wars and recessions, oh my! Remember to take a deep breath while we break it all down. This week, Netflix reported its U.S. subscriber loss in almost eight years. What does that mean for the company’s future? Then, how oat milk entered the mainstream.

Markets panicked yesterday because the yield on 10-year government bonds dropped below that of 2-year bonds. Today, we’re gonna go deep on the different types of bonds, and why their differences matter. Plus: What high water in the Great Lakes is doing for the region’s economy, and why Pabst is getting in to the whiskey business.

More than 30 years ago Hamtramck, Michigan, was desperate for a GM plant, so desperate that the government used eminent domain to tear down a neighborhood. Today, we look back at how that plant got built — and what happened when the work slowed down. Plus, we’ll do the numbers on today’s huge Dow drop, WeWork’s IPO and the yield curve inversion.

After more than a decade apart, CBS and Viacom announced Tuesday that they are reuniting. Today, we look at how the new company, ViacomCBS, fits into today’s rapidly consolidated media environment. Plus, Trump’s holiday-driven tariff delay and why Tumblr lost so much value.

The protests in Hong Kong are now in their 10th week, grounding flights in one of the word’s busiest airports today. The tense situation is beginning to take a toll on the region’s economy — and it has potential to reach much further beyond that. Today, a crash course in what the region means for the global economy. Plus: Nike’s new subscription service for kids and pumpkin spice season? Already?

Former retail giant J.C. Penney is a now a “penny stock” and is at risk of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Today, we look at what happens when a company gets delisted. Plus: the future of gig economy workers in California and the unwritten rules of the middle class.

Online shopping has made returns easier than ever — but all that stuff can pile up, and it’s not always in the best shape. Today, we dive into the growing secondary market for your online returns. Plus: How the trade war is affecting food and the growing business of clothes rentals.

As we enter the dog days of summer, several states are offering sales tax holidays. Officials say if you give people a temporary tax break, they’ll spend more at local retailers, and not just on school supplies. But do they really work? Today we dig into it. Plus: A conversation with Ben Folds about his career in music and why FedEx is dropping Amazon.

GM announced last fall it would shut down manufacturing at some of its plants. About 15% of its workforce would get laid off, and there were new jobs available for workers willing to relocate. We follow one family for whom following GM didn’t feel like much of a choice at all. Plus: Toni Morrison’s legacy, China’s new label as a currency manipulator and what it’s like to “curate” snacks at Google.

Usually when the markets have a day like today, we like to say, “Take a deep breath, calm down.” Not today. We’re in uncharted territory now. We catch you up on everything you need to know about China’s escalating tariffs and the race to the bottom for currency. Plus: How businesses react to tragedy.

President Trump says China is bearing the costs of tariffs his administration has imposed on Chinese goods. That’s … not how it works. Today, we look at the effects of the trade war on consumers. Plus: the ice cream sandwich turns 120 and what the pyramids of central Mexico tell us about ancient economies.

Illinois and New Jersey just banned employers from asking for job applicants’ salary history. At least 18 states and as many cities have adopted similar bans. Today, we look at the effort to fix pay gaps in race and gender, and how businesses are responding. Plus: What low construction spending tells us about the economy and a conversation with REI’s CEO.

Well, it happened. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since the financial crisis. It was a quarter point. Markets reacted. We’re still here. So what’s gonna happen next? Today, we look back to 2008, explore negative interest rates and get a former Fed economist to answer your questions. Plus: We dig into what “Medicare for All” really means.

The security breach at Capital One Financial, revealed this week, compromised the personal data of more than 100 million people. The Equifax breach hit 147 million people. Target’s 2013 data breach? Some 40 million. And there have been others. Today, we spoke to a mathematics professor about the odds you’ve been affected. Plus, yes, we’re prepping for the big interest rate cut.