The Indicator from Planet Money

Bessent's yen bet, cold Argentine data centers set, and the summer box office net

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000

This week’s indicators: Is The U.S. Treasury Department futzing with financial markets?; Is Patagonia’s pretty picturesque setting … for data centers?; Was the summer box office actually swell?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— A Treasury showdown with the bond market

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Are small town colleges going extinct?

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Our favorite entry on the regional economy from the latest Beige Book reveals a troubling development in higher education.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Community colleges are kind of underrated

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Let's play ... Who Wants To Be a Bank!

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 05:43:20 +0000

Why do so many fintech companies — like Square and Mercury — want to be banks? And what does it take to get there? Find out today when we play our fake game show … Who Wants To Be A Bank!

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
—Is this a bank?

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Canada fights tariffs with tariffs

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:00:04 +0000

The era of friendly diplomacy has fallen to the wayside once again as the U.S. - Canada trade war enters a new phase. This time, Canada is countering the latest round of tariffs with their own, targeting American dairy, steel and electronics. Today on the show, we hear from the host of CBC’s Cost of Living podcast Paul Haavardsrud on Canada’s trade war strategy.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Why there's no referee for the trade war
— Why a trade war makes wigs (and bones) cost more + LeBond James

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Which jobs are future-proofed?

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000

With AI disrupting the workplace, is your job going to exist in ten years? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has just the handbook for that.

Today on the show, we flip through the Occupational Outlook Handbook and answer your questions about the future of work.

This episode originally aired on May 8th, 2026

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— How AI is shrinking the job market for teens

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Are job hoppers better at their jobs?

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:30:29 +0000

People with jobs are not always eager to leave them … but there are exceptions. Call them job hoppers. While many employers look down on this sort of professional promiscuity, new research suggests there are benefits to switching jobs frequently.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— I'm just here for the health benefits

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Does Planet Money’s game pass the shelf test? We go undercover to find out

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000

We go undercover at a big box store for an inside look at the secret shelf test the makers of Exploding Kittens use for their hit games.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Who decides what big box sells? Our GAME got us answers

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For a lot of Gen Z, gambling is investing

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 07:00:01 +0000

Why are more than half of Gen Zers using investment dollars for sports gambling? It’s been eight years since sports betting became widely legal. Today we look at its impact on a new generation of sports bettors and efforts to curb gambling’s more harmful effects.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Prediction markets are threatening national security. Who's gonna fix it?

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A Treasury showdown with the bond market

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Why is the U.S. Treasury planning to buyback at least double the number of long-dated government bonds it usually does? And will Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s buyback plan pit him against both the bond markets and the Federal Reserve? Today we explain what the Treasury’s up to and what it means for you.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
—Bond vigilantes. Who they are, what they want, and how you'll know they're coming

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How ICE arrests are creating 'economies of fear'

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 50,000 people in July, marking the biggest month for ICE arrests of President Trump’s second term. We talk to a researcher who thinks this increased ICE activity is creating an “economy of fear” in cities around the country — and has the data to prove it.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— How ending TPS is squeezing workers, businesses and (soon) consumers

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The teacher pay penalty, Meta's major settlement, and a footwear flop

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

This week’s indicators: The teacher pay penalty; Meta’s massive settlement; Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods are struggling.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that comparable college graduates in other professions make around 25% more than teachers. Those workers make about 33% more.

Your Next Listen
— Why infinite scroll's inventor wants to kill his creation

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Coyote vs. Acme finally gets its big break

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Coyote vs. Acme will finally get its theatrical release on Friday after a years-long saga involving supposed tax write-downs, negotiations and multibillion-dollar studio deals. It's a drama almost straight out of a Hollywood screenplay. Today we have the story from the inside. This episode is an update of an episode from December 2023.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Why Paramount went looney tunes for Warner Bros.

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What Mark Cuban REALLY thinks of Medicare for All

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Medicare for All could save the U.S. trillions… or maybe way less than that? In our second episode on Medicare for All, we look at the convoluted figures behind the hot political topic. We hear directly from billionaire and healthcare voice Mark Cuban on what works about Medicare for All, and why its actual cost is so complicated.

Fact checking by Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen
— Why do hospitals keep running out of generic drugs?

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Medicare for All is not Medicare for All

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:00:03 +0000

As midterms near, Medicare for All is back in the spotlight and Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has become the newest face for it. Today, we dig into what Medicare for All would actually do and hear directly from El-Sayed on why he thinks it’s critical to figure out.

Tomorrow, billionaire Mark Cuban joins the show as we continue our discussion on Medicare for All.

Fact checking by Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen
— I’m just here for the health benefits
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Could politics put your city's funding at risk?

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The Trump administration recently admitted to pulling grants over politics. This practice could become more common. How do cities use grant money, and how will they adapt?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?

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EV sales slow, US Treasury yields grow, 'Niu Lai' has impressive box office mojo

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

This week’s indicators: EV sales sputter in North America but flutter internationally; U.S. Treasury Yields … RISE!; a low-budget movie so terrible, it became a box office hit in China.

Fact checking by Julia Ritchey

Your Next Listen
— The story of China and Hollywood's big-screen romance

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Is bankruptcy really all that bad?

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Bankruptcy has a negative stigma surrounding it. But what if we told you it’s not as bad as you may think? In fact, economists think we should actually see more of it!

Based on the radio story: More Americans are going bankrupt. What does that mean?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— We're in a renter's market (believe it or not)

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Have a bad manager? Science explains why.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 07:00:01 +0000

The best manager isn’t necessarily the best employee. Turns out it isn't so easy to predict what DOES make a good manager. Today on the show, we turn to science to help answer that very question.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Productivity and workforce whiplash

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Trump versus Capital One

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The Trump Organization has sued Capital One for closing its bank accounts. The organization says it did so out of political reasons. But banks can close accounts for a zillion reasons. They don’t have to say why. Capital One cited money laundering as a concern.

On today’s show, how banks decide to close accounts, how much politics plays a role and what the bank might have seen in its crime-stopping crystal ball.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— What is a 'freedom economy'?

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Did you know companies can vote in Delaware?

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Fenwick Island, Del. has only around 900 people on its voting rolls, but some of those registered voters are not human. Many are family trusts and a few are companies. The town says its system works for its tiny beach community. So why are some lawmakers trying to stop it?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Who’s behind that shell company?

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Retiree benefits bump, credit repayment slump, and a dating app in the dumps

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week!

On today’s episode: Retirees get a bump in benefits; credit card debt delinquency at a historically high level; and the dating app Bumble on a serious decline — Men first! IRL events! What will work!

Fact checking by Cooper Katz McKim and Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen
— Trying to fix the dating app backlash

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C is for C-shaped economy

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Which letter best describes how the U.S. economy is shaped: C or K? We examine the arguments for both and why there’s so much disagreement over who’s faring best in today’s economy.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— We resolve to watch these 2026 indicators

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Consumers are mad as hell and aren't gonna take it anymore

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Rage. That’s what consumers are feeling right now. A new survey found consumer complaints hit a record high this year. Another from last year found a huge share of consumers felt ‘rage’ with a product or service problem. Just think about the modern consumer experience: hidden fees, ballooning customer support wait times (perpetually experiencing higher call volumes than usual) … shrinkflation! Argh!! What’s going on?

On today’s show, unpacking consumer rage. And Heather Timmons, who covers consumer rights for The Guardian, talks about what we might do about it.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Petty! Econ! Grievances!
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Borrowing money to invest! What could go wrong?

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The total amount of investors using margin aka borrowing money to help pay for a trade is at an all time high of over $1.5 trillion. Is this something we should worry about? We spoke to Jurrien Tinner at Fidelity Investments.

Note: Jurrien Timmer's views are his own and not representative of Fidelity.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— How AI might mess with financial markets

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Why is Trump paying to stop wind farms?

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

President Trump is no fan of wind farms. And his administration is putting taxpayer money where his mouth is, paying companies billions of dollars to NOT build them.

On today’s show, Trump’s plan to squelch wind farms with the public purse.

Fact checking by Tyler Jones.

Your Next Listen
— Wind boom, wind bust (Two Windicators)

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I'm just here for the health benefits

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:31:41 +0000

Dependable health insurance is keeping more people in their jobs. Rising health costs don't help. Today we look at the repercussions this kind of job lock has on the wider economy.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— The ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future

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Following the Chipotle playbook for the cyclospora crisis

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:37:15 +0000

Taco Bell and Taylor Farms are taking hits to their reputation due to the cyclosporiasis outbreak across the country. They could learn a thing or two from Chipotle, which went through its own public relations battle during a similar outbreak about a decade ago.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Big Lettuce meets Small Intestine

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How ending TPS is squeezing workers, businesses and (soon) consumers

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

What happens when roughly a million people working legally in the U.S. suddenly lose that right to stay here? We’re starting to find out in places like Miami, Florida, home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the country. There, we talk to people on what the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) means for their businesses and the wider economy.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Your American Dream is pending review

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Why we're short on blood, water and helium

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Shortages are in the news again! Here’s why the supply of blood, water and helium are at concerningly low levels.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— How Colorado towns are trying to get some water certainty

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Who is a music industry plant? And does it matter?

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Musicians from the Rolling Stones to up-and-coming pop star Bella Kay have one thing in common: Influencers are being paid to promote their songs.

On today's show: Who is an industry plant and why does it matter?

Fact checking by Tyler Jones.

Your Next Listen
— Two Indicators: the influencer industry

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Mamdani markets, America bets, Gen Z drinks

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week!

On today’s episode: The inner workings of Mamdani’s marts; how much Americans gamble; and Gen-Z aren’t the sober generation we’ve been led to believe!

Fact checking by Corey Bridges.

Your Next Listen
— Is gambling the reason we have pro sports?

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Fact checking by Corey Bridges

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Trump’s new Truth Social plan: pay $100K

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

President Trump’s social media company, Truth Social, wants to sell investors early access to its posts. When Trump announces tariffs or new strikes on Iran, those milliseconds matter in the market. Is this corruption? Is this legal? And what does corruption mean for the U.S. economy?

Ray Fisman’s book with Miriam A. Golden is Corruption: What Everyone Needs to Know.

Fact checking by Tyler Jones.

Your Next Listen
— Did Trump enable insider trading?
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Even Moore’s law can't save affordable tech

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

For decades, consumer tech like laptops and gaming systems got better AND cheaper. Memory shortages caused by the AI boom are making those lower prices a thing of the past.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— SK Hynix to the moon, Gen-Z to their rooms, and Connecticut tax reform looms

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You had housing questions. An economist answered them

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:53:55 +0000

The U.S. housing market is pretty weird right now. Whether you’re a buyer, seller or a renter, it leads to all kinds of questions, like: How did we end up with a housing shortage? Is housing still a good investment? What policies might unlock the housing inventory held by baby boomers? So we called up someone with answers: Redfin’s chief economist, Daryl Fairweather.

On today’s show, your housing questions, answered. This is an excerpt of a live virtual event we held last week for our NPR+ and other qualifying supporters.

To hear the entire event, make sure you’re signed up for NPR+. We’ll be publishing it as a bonus episode in the Planet Money feed next week!

Fact checking by Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen
— Two Cities. Two chip plants. One affordability crisis.

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Petty! Econ! Grievances!

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

We have some grievances. Economic ones. And we’re airing them out.

On today’s show: Redeeming fast food rewards points in airports, not knowing the full price of your meal upfront, and the pen-and-paper restaurant bill slowdown.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen

— Three beefs: U.S. and Brazil, Taco Bell and liability, Waymo and trial lawyers

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Three beefs: U.S. and Brazil, Taco Bell and liability, Waymo and trial lawyers

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week!

Today on the show: Brazil’s fast payments system that’s got the Trump administration huffy, why Taco Bell might be liable for their role in cyclospora infections and why some lawyers are lobbying against driverless cars.

Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Corey Bridges.

Your Next Listen
— Can I get my tariff money back now?

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Can Paramount "gift" its way past the FCC?

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Paramount’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery has a few hurdles ahead of it. One of them is an FCC approval. But a recent investigation shows that Paramount and the FCC have a dubious relationship, one with potential conflicts of interest.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Why Paramount went looney tunes for Warner Bros.

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Can Y’all Street outflank Wall Street?

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Biz-friendly Texas is opening a stock exchange, built and based in the state. Can it become—or best—Wall Street? And how has politics influenced the birth of Y’all Street?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— ESG bans cost Texas

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Tale of Two Cities

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The formerly sleepy economies of suburban Austin, Texas and Syracuse, NY are getting two new semiconductor chip plants. They’re bringing thousands of jobs and dollars to the area but while Austin’s housing market seems to be handling the change well, Syracuse is in the midst of an affordability crisis. On today’s show, why?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— A solution to the housing shortage?

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Why doesn't the US have better sunscreen?

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Why has the Food and Drug Administration taken so long to approve new sunscreens? Unlike the rest of the world, the FDA only just approved its first new ingredient in nearly three decades. We learn about a proposal to speed up drug and sunscreen innovation, and a skincare influencer who lobbied for change.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— The sneaky way companies get new chemicals into our food

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New NPR Series: "We Keep Us Safe" from the Embedded podcast

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In the summer of 2020, sixteen-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. traveled a thousand miles to join the racial justice movement of his generation in the wake of George Floyd's killing. Antonio arrived in Seattle during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, known as CHOP. Less than a week later, he was shot and killed there. The case remains unsolved.

In this eight-part series, hosts Sydney Brownstone of The Seattle Times and Will James of KUOW team up with NPR's Embedded to investigate Antonio's death. They track down key eyewitnesses and surface crucial evidence that's never been made public.

Find "We Keep Us Safe" in the Embedded podcast feed.

Listen to Embedded wherever you get your podcasts, including the NPR App, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Spotify, and via RSS.

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The Strait of Hormuz no-fee, China cuts down on pollution and IMAX's economic Odyssey

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!).

On today’s episode: What happened to Trump’s proposed Strait of Hormuz fee?; China’s pollution takes a dip … and maybe solves a mystery?; IMAX is expensive. But BIG. (For our eyes and theater owners.)

Fact checking by Julia Ritchey and Cooper Katz McKim.

Your Next Listen
—The curious rise of novelty popcorn buckets

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Why the Pope wants to disarm AI

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Over 100 years ago, Pope Leo XIII wrote a seminal letter encouraging workers to unionize in the face of industrialization. The current Pope Leo XIV in his seminal letter warned of an economic disruption from today that threatens workers - Artificial Intelligence.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Jobs numbers, immigrants in healthcare, and ... Jesus Christ?

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Why your neighbor might be paying less for their car

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:00:02 +0000

Many Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates are diversifying away from oil, but how do you actually measure that? After China resumed buying American soybeans, what are farmers doing now? And is your neighbor paying less for their car than you? Today on the show, we explore YOUR listener questions.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez & Emma Ferrara.

Your Next Listen
— What do farmers do in a trade war?

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Can the internet survive AI summaries?

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

AI summaries are gaining traction and making the potential for a “zero click web” increasingly real. What does that mean for the internet as we know it today?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— AI is pumping out books. Are they any good?

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Young people aren’t paying their car loans. We can help.

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

About one in 20 car loans made to young people are in serious delinquency. That’s the highest rate since the global financial crisis. Today on the show, former FDIC chair Sheila Bair answers young listeners' car buying questions.

Sheila Bair’s book is How Not to Lose a Million Dollars: A Young Person's Guide to Avoiding the Tricks and Traps of Our Financial System

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Why this former banking regulator is writing kids books

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SK Hynix to the moon, Gen-Z to their rooms, and Connecticut tax reform looms

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!).

On today’s episode: You could’ve septupled your money if you invested in this scalding-hot South Korean memory chip stock; nearly half of all adults under 30 are moving back in with the ‘rents; and a new democracy is born … in Connecticut.

Fact checking by Julia Ritchey and Corey Bridges.

Your Next Listen
— Why Americans don't want to move for jobs anymore (Encore)

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Why Google fell behind in the AI race

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

When it comes to AI, Google’s Gemini does not have the same household recognition that Claude and ChatGPT do. One big explanation: the innovator’s dilemma. We explain how Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is trying to fight a lumbering company’s constraints to build AI superintelligence.

Sebastian Mallaby’s book is The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— The inventor’s dilemma

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Cracking down on egg prices

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Too much news, there’s just too much news. Today on the show, we tackle three big stories we’re following: Venezuela’s ever-increasing debt problem, the real story behind high egg prices, and how gaming companies are paying the pied piper.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— What the cluck is happening with egg prices?

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We're in a renter's market (believe it or not)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Depends on where you live, but renters have a lot of power right now in the United States. What’s behind this trend and how might you be able to take advantage of the renters’ market at your next lease renewal.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Corporate landlords aren't the real villain

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Why the US is losing the drone war

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The US defense industry is struggling to keep up with the revolution in cheap drones vs. expensive reusable military equipment.

Today on the show, we talk with Stacie Pettyjohn, the director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security on the three big reasons the U.S. is falling behind.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— How Iran is wasting American resources

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Obama's new Presidential Center and his tricky relationship with the South Side

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

How do residents of the South Side of Chicago feel about their new neighbor: the Obama Presidential Center? A mixture of pride and excitement, tempered with some concerns about what it could do to housing affordability. On today’s show, we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at Code Switch on the new center and its relationship to the historically Black neighborhoods around it.

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Does the new Fed chair care about jobs?

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:26:35 +0000

Last month, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh presided over his first interest rate decision and press conference … but he didn't talk much about maximum employment.

How much does Kevin Warsh care about the jobs side of the Fed’s dual mandate?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Are we in a new era of permanently higher prices?

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Why Trump wants to rip up his own trade deal

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:00:02 +0000

During President Donald Trump’s first term, he touted the USMCA as the largest and most fair trade deal ever achieved. So why is he now talking about ‘terminating’ it?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Are Trump’s trade deals the real deal?

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What Iran teaches us about why wars start

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:00:03 +0000

If war is so costly, why do we keep fighting them? We dig into the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza to understand the incentives that lead countries into violence. Today on the show, the five factors that lead to war.

Chris Blattman’s book is Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— The new economic arms race

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What you should know about your student loans

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

For many of the 43 million Americans with federal student loans, July 1 is a day to mark on the calendar. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is introducing stricter borrowing caps and new repayment plans. Today on the show, we talk with NPR’s Education Reporter Cory Turner about the impact.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Will new loan limits lower the cost of grad sch ool?

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GLP-1 and women, the AI office boom, and RTO: CEO ego?

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!).

On today’s episode: The effect of GLP-1s on women and the workplace; NYC’s once flailing office space is BACK; your boss asking you to come back to the office miiiight be a narcissist.

Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Corey Bridges.

Your Next Listen
—Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costs

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AI is pumping out books. Are they any good?

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Are all these AI books any good? And by good, we mean are people willing to buy them — not whether the prose is singing. We talk to two researchers who’ve got some answers and a travel guide expert on why AI can’t replace first-hand experience.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Human certification in the age of AI slop

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How stock options made him an overnight millionaire

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In 2019, Juan Hernandez was laid off from SpaceX. Luckily, he still had the opportunity to buy $50K - $60K of the company’s stock and, years later, it’s safe to say the risk was worth it. Today on the show, how stock options built California as a tech hub.

Fact-checking by Emma Ferrara.

Your Next Listen
— Do traders who make big bets make big money?

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Why the $250 bill would be good … For criminals!

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

A plan to create a new $250—with President Donald Trump’s face on it—has created a lot of pushback. Who probably won’t be pushing back, though? Criminals. On today’s show, we explain why.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones

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An urban planner, infinite scroll, and … what is a public good?

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s time for The Indicator Quiz! We test you, dear listener, on your knowledge of topics that we’ve covered on The Indicator. For today's quiz show, we are putting an urban planner from Nevada to the test. Play along with us and see how you do!

Are you interested in being a contestant on our next Indicator Quiz? Email us your name and phone number at indicator@npr.org and put "Indicator Quiz" in the subject line.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— A trap-loving DJ takes on economics

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How your phone keeps you scrolling ... even when you want to stop

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

You pick up your phone to do one quick task, and suddenly 20 minutes have flown by without you even noticing. How do apps do that to you? Today on the show, we bring you an episode of Short Wave that explains how your phone is designed specifically to hold your attention.

Fact checking by Tyler Jones.

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Are we in a new era of permanently higher prices?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Inflation is at a three-year high. That’s a problem for the Fed. Yet, under the leadership of new chair Kevin Warsh, it opted yesterday not to hike interest rates. So today on the show, who are the winners and who are the losers amidst higher inflation?

Mark Blyth’s book, co-authored with Nicolò Fraccaroli is Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Why big banks aren’t interested in your savings account

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Is gambling the reason we have pro sports?

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

To hear author David Bockino tell it, gambling has always been a key ingredient of pro sports in the U.S.—it’s as American as apple pie. Bockino is the author of the new book Over/Under: An Unexpected History of Sports Betting. So what gave rise to this new wave of sports gambling? And what are we risking placing so many bets on games?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Prediction markets are threatening national security. Who’s gonna fix it?

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Your American Dream is pending review

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:00:06 +0000

The Trump Administration recently announced changes to how would-be immigrants get green cards. And it’s causing a lot of confusion, fear and even panic. Today on the show, we hear firsthand from people navigating green card uncertainty.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— If economists controlled the borders

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Community colleges are kind of underrated

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Community college is an increasingly popular hack for those who want to change their career. Here’s what you should know about this gateway to economic mobility.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Which jobs are future-proofed?

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Inflation is bad, work from home sad, FIFA World Cup tix NOT deal to be had

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Inflation is back, working from home is making us sad, and World Cup ticket sales are NOT hitting their goooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!

Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Cooper Katz McKim.

Your Next Listen

—Who is the World Cup for anymore?

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The SpaceX IPO drama explained

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

What the SpaceX IPO, the largest ever, reveals about big tech, the NASDAQ and more big IPOs to come. Sure it will make Elon Musk a trillionaire, but what does this mean for your retirement account?

Fact checking by Emma Ferrara.

Your Next Listen
— What a second Trump term could mean for SpaceX

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Should we tax AI?

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Should we tax AI? The AI race has made a lot of people richer … but most of those gains seem to have gone to the wealthy while everyday workers aren't seeing their incomes go up.

We speak with Democratic congressional candidate, Alex Bores, who wants to tax AI. Also, we talk to a tax expert who has her reservations.

Fact checking by Tyler Jones.

Your Next Listen

— It's come to this: Human certification in the age of AI slop

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U OK, UK?

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:00:04 +0000

In the United Kingdom, young people are out of work, government borrowing costs are high, and the nation is burning through PM’s like yesterday’s leftovers. A lot of countries are feeling the economic strain of the Iran war. But is the UK the country we should be worrying about?

Fact checking by Leyla Doss.

Your Next Listen
— What broke Britain’s economy?

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The fired labor economist who couldn't get unemployment

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

A top labor economist encounters the endlessly frustrating labyrinth of filing for unemployment after getting fired by President Trump. Why are unemployment benefits so hard to get, and can we do anything to fix the system?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— What you need to know about the job report revisions

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Who should new grads boo more? AI or remote work?

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:06:42 +0000

Is AI really to blame for young people finding it hard to land first jobs? Is Black unemployment a leading indicator for the rest of the economy? Here’s what the hosts of our Ambies award-winning business podcast think you should take away from the May jobs report.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez and Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen
— Which jobs are future-proofed?

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Equinomics, bag fees, and leftover campaign dollars

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 07:00:01 +0000

Our listeners have QUESTIONS about the economy. And we have answers. Today on the show, we look at why horse breeding might be slowing down, why airlines charge baggage fees, and where campaign cash actually goes.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Can the yield curve still predict recessions?

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Can the internet be reclaimed from Big Tech?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Why one former senior advisor of the FTC thinks a libertarian myth of the internet has given Big Tech too much power.

Fact checking by Vito Emanuel.

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— Why infinite scroll's inventor wants to kill his creation

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Why boardinghouses could make a comeback

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

There is a burgeoning effort across the U.S. to revive boardinghouses, aka single room occupancy units or SROs, as a solution to the housing crisis. But what happened to them in the first place? We track the disappearance of the first rung of the housing ladder.

Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel.

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— How to build abundantly

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How AI is clogging the courtroom

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:00:02 +0000

AI has made it infinitely easier for anyone who can’t afford a lawyer, can’t get one, or doesn't want one to file a lawsuit and pro se cases are skyrocketing. But the wins haven’t followed and courts are starting to get overwhelmed with new AI filings. Today on the show, what happens when AI gets its day in court.

Your Next Listen
— Most People Can’t Afford Legal Help. 1 Reformer Wants To Change That

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Obsession, the most fun job in China, and a new green card policy

Fri, 29 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: China’s baaaaad job market has led to an interest in becoming a shepherd, a young YouTuber strikes Hollywood gold, and the Trump administration's new green card policy is telling immigrants to 'go home.'

Fact checking by Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen
— We're about to lose a lot of foreign STEM workers

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Saudi’s LIV golf exit is just the start

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:52:24 +0000

Is Saudi Arabia no longer a golf state? The Saudi sovereign wealth fund poured billions into culture and sports in the last decade, none more high profile than LIV Golf, a rival to the PGA. So why is it reversing course now?

Fact checking by Vito Emanuel.

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— Why Saudi Arabia is building a new city in the desert

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What the movies teach us about recessions, memestocks and gold

Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The Indicator hosts Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong discuss their favorite econ and business movies.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
—Before La La Land, there was Fort Lee, New Jersey

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Who’s behind that shell company? We may never know

Tue, 26 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Why is a law to reign in shell companies getting shelved by the Trump administration? The Corporate Transparency Act had bipartisan support, until it didn’t. We explain what the law was designed to do and why it’s on life support. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— We set up a shell company

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Game of 'roids, trader Trump, and searching for Shakira's tax residence

Fri, 22 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Diving deep into President Trump’s many stock trades, a peptide business posing as a sporting event and a new breakthrough in Shakira’s ongoing tax drama.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

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— Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones

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So ... how long until these oil prices get REALLY bad

Thu, 21 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The US-Israel War in Iran is almost three months in and oil prices have risen, but they’re not catastrophic … yet. Why isn't the price of oil even higher? We learn about how the world is adapting to the blocked Strait of Hormuz.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here

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It's come to this: Human certification in the age of AI slop

Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In an era of AI slop, we find out how some artists are seeking out human verification for their work. Plus, we prove our own episode is 100% human-made.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen — Can you copyright artwork made using AI?

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Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costs

Tue, 19 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The vast majority of employer health plans do not cover GLP-1s for weight loss. But roughly 20% do, many believing it will help their bottom line. Perhaps when employees take Wegovy or Zepbound, they’ll need less medical care tied to health issues from obesity. Today on the show, can GLP-1s save employers money in the long run?

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen

— No healthcare premiums? In this economy?! Here's how.
— Julie Wernau's original episode with Tradeoffs

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Taiwan arms sales, Board of Trade, and Chinamaxxing

Mon, 18 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Unpacking Donald Trump’s trip to China: arms sales to Taiwan, the Board of Trade proposal and China’s growing soft power.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— What might save China's economy

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GameStop rejected, a troubling loan trend, and no to pre-IPO AI shares

Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

On today’s Indicators of the Week: the Gamestop and eBay romance that never was, more and more people are taking out loans for everyday things, and no, everyday people can’t invest in OpenAI and Anthropic before they’ve gone public.

Fact checking by Julia Ritchey and Corey Bridges.

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— OpenAI's deals are looking a little frothy

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How Trump's central bank beef could hurt the economy

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:00:05 +0000

A new documentary from Frontline PBS, called “The President vs. the Fed”, helps us make sense of the unprecedented power struggle between the world’s most powerful politician and the world’s most powerful bank. You can watch the film, directed by Frontline Correspondent James Jacoby, on Frontline’s website, YouTube channel, or the PBS app.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen
— Trump’s unprecedented attack on the Fed
— One Fed battle after another

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Should NATO be pay-to-protect?

Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

NATO was formed after World War 2 as a collective security alliance that would prevent future world wars. But President Trump sees NATO more like a transaction between countries where allies have to pay up or be left undefended. On today’s episode: How NATO is actually funded, why this longstanding alliance is under strain, and how the U.S. could pay the cost for these frayed relationships.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen

— Europe's NATO members take an economic hit

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Prediction markets are threatening national security. Who's gonna fix it?

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s the Wild West of online betting. Prediction markets have been plagued by insider trading allegations, ethical questions and even national security concerns. Today on the show, what are sites like Polymarket doing to self-police, and what other regulations might be necessary? We talk to one U.S. senator with some ideas.

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Related:
Is anyone gonna do anything about these Iran War trades?
Do prediction market bettors make anything better?
Polymarket bots, lithium found: lots!, marathon shoe thoughts

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The new AI model that could steal your life savings

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Anthropic’s AI model, Claude Mythos, is very powerful. SO powerful it can find software vulnerabilities that might let it, I don’t know, steal your bank login information. Anthropic is holding back the model from a wider release for now. Today on the show, how worried should we really be about Mythos? And are its capabilities actually unique?

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Related episodes:
Fighting AI with AI
How AI might mess with financial models

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Which jobs are future-proofed?

Fri, 08 May 2026 13:52:11 +0000

With AI disrupting the workplace, is your job even going to be around in ten years? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has just the handbook for that.

Today on the show, we flip through the Occupational Outlook Handbook and answer your questions about the future of work.

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Related episodes:
How AI is shrinking the job market for teens
Why wind techs are so in demand
AI creates, transforms and destroys... jobs

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Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones

Thu, 07 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

What do a Florida-based drone company, a crypto billionaire, and a European steelmaker have in common? Ties to President Trump. Since returning to office, the president, as well as his family and friends, have inked a number of business deals that raise questions about conflicts of interest. On today’s show, we scrutinize three of these deals.

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Related:
Trump’s crypto interests
Mixing family business with US trade policy in Vietnam
Gilded Age 2.0?
The tensions behind the sale of U.S. Steel

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When will the Iran war hit food prices?

Wed, 06 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The US-Israel war in Iran is already being felt by American consumers at the gas pump, but when — and how badly — could it be felt at the supermarket?

Today on the show, a food economist takes a crack at forecasting just how much our grocery bills could increase in the coming months, and which items will take the biggest hit.

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Related episodes:
How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?
Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here
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How your bank account might predict dementia

Tue, 05 May 2026 07:00:04 +0000

Some of the earliest signs of dementia can show up in your financial portfolio. Missed bill payments and erratic investments could be indicators, and they can happen years before an official diagnosis. Today on the show, we dig into the connection between finances and dementia, and why the financial health of seniors is falling through the cracks.

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The dementia tax
What does the next era of Social Security look like?
Saving, borrowing, spending: an economist's take on popular advice (Planet Money+)

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How taxing the wealthy could work

Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Tax cuts for the middle and working classes, and tax hikes for the rich. What's behind this trend? We ask Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen to explain his bill that eliminates federal income tax for many workers while hiking taxes for high earners. We also hear from a tax policy expert who has some reservations.

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What if our income was taxed ... totally differently?
Will the tax cuts pay for themselves?

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Polymarket bots, lithium found: lots!, marathon shoe thoughts

Fri, 01 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: who wins and loses their Polymarket bets, an American lithium motherlode, and the economics of lightweight running shoes.

Related episodes:
The race to produce lithium
Advanced Fairness At The Marathon
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The UAE wants a dollar lifeline

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:05:01 +0000

With the Iran War underway, the United Arab Emirates is looking for some economic certainty. The rich Arab nation is home to a lot of foreign-held deposits, and they’re worried investors will pull those funds. So, they’re looking for an economic backstop. Enter: currency swap lines. Today, we explain why the UAE is looking to its close ally, the U.S., for a currency swap line and how it would work.

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Where the US got $20B to bail out Argentina
Scott Bessent’s $20 billion dollar gamble on Argentina

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The new economic arms race

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Iran’s weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz is the perfect example of how modern warfare is increasingly waged, not only with drones and bombs, but also through the weaponization of economic choke points.

Today on the show, we talk to author Edward Fishman, who says the U.S. innovated a new kind of economic warfare a couple of decades ago, and that has sparked a new economic arms race.

Edward Fishman’s book is “Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare”.

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Related episodes:
Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here
Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian Gulf
How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?

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Jan. 6ers already got pardoned. Will they get their money back too?

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:03 +0000

In 2025, President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 of the Jan.6 rioters who ransacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In addition to being convicted of crimes, many of the Jan. 6ers paid fines, the bulk of which went toward repairing the damage to the Capitol. After being pardoned, some of them want their money back. Today on the show, are they entitled to get those fines refunded?

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Related episodes:
Chaos At The Capitol
The Supreme Court struck down a bunch of Trump’s tariffs. Now what?

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Premium and affordable products are having a moment

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s the Beigie awards! Our less than ten times a year salute to the art and science of telling stories about the economy.

Today on the show, Kevin Dancy, vice president and regional executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, lays out a worrying consumer trend that’s affecting how retailers do business.

Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: planetmoneybook.com/#tour

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Related episodes:
A little doomsday feeling is weighing on the economy
How to beach on a budget

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The Devil Wears Prada Index, SNAP, and flight cancellations

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week, our weekly look at some of the most fascinating numbers from the news! And unlike florals for spring, these numbers ARE groundbreaking.

On today’s episode: A dramatic SNAP decrease, fuel costs ground flights, and the Devil Wears Wages Increasing Slightly Faster Than A Small Sample Of Luxury Items!

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Related episodes:
After the shutdown, SNAP will still be in trouble
How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?
Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why
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How to get your tariff cash back

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Businesses might finally see some tariff money refunded to them. That’s because this week, the federal government officially rolled out a process that allows businesses to apply for a refund.

Today on the show, we speak with three business owners about the unexpected simplicity and frustration of the Trump tariff refund process.

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Can I get my tariff money back now?
Trump's backup options for tariffs
Three ways companies are getting around tariffs

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The Iran war puts the petrodollar regime to the test

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:05:02 +0000

The global oil market has supported the U.S. dollar for more than 50 years. But the system has shown signs of cracking. Amidst the Iran war, Iran has reportedly been collecting some tolls in yuan. Today on the show, how the petrodollar regime came to be and what losing it would mean for the U.S.

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Related episodes:
Can Europe sell America?
Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here
Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian gulf

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Corporate landlords aren't the real villain

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:05:02 +0000

So you want to buy a house. You MIGHT notice that the owner isn’t a neighbor in your town, but a large corporation. A recent housing bill that passed the Senate wants to change that. This bill would restrict large institutional investors from owning too many single family homes. The hope is to improve affordability. But what’s the real connection between housing affordability and corporate landlords? We look at the evidence.

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Is the YIMBY movement doomed?
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Is anyone gonna do anything about these Iran War trades?

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Traders have made millions betting on the Iran War. They are also suspiciously timed. No public information, then boom: a Truth Social post from President Trump. Cue fat windfalls for the traders. It’s starting to look a lot like insider trading.

On today’s show, suspicious bets on the Iran War. And are federal regulators or prosecutors looking into these trades … is anyone?

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Related episodes:
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Fed chair, health care, and AI shoe repair

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:01 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week. Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: the drama behind the Fed Chair nominee’s wealth; the shoe company Allbirds is becoming an AI firm; and a drop in how many people are paying for their Affordable Care Act plans.

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Related episodes:
One Fed battle after another
The ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future
Allbirds: Tim Brown & Joey Zwillinger

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Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian Gulf

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

If the Strait of Hormuz completely reopens, it still might not be enough to restart the economies in the Persian Gulf. Many countries there have been hammered by the oil crisis. And although allowing ships through would stanch the immediate bloodletting in the energy sector, other sectors might not spring back so quickly. Tourists are visiting less. Property markets are at risk.

On today’s show, we survey the economic damage to countries in the Gulf. And try to get a sense of the long-term economic implications.

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Related episodes:
Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here
How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?
Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?

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Think the oil shock is bad in the US? Look here

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is pretty slow right now. A once steady stream of global oil has been severed, and oil prices have shot into the stratosphere. Countries across the world are trying to stop the bleeding. One is counting down the days until it runs out of oil. Another is … just fine.

On today’s show, we take stock of how three countries, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and China, are navigating the oil crisis.

The Indicator is launching a newsletter! The very first email goes out this Friday. Be among the first and sign-up now: npr.org/indicatornewsletter

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Related episodes:
How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?
Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How the workplace helps you win Survivor

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

With the 50th season of Survivor underway, three former Survivor winners tell us how some of the skills they learned in their careers helped them win the show.

There’s game theory, social engineering, and learning how to get along with a group of castaways who have a $1 million incentive to vote you off the island.

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Related episodes:
Teamwork actually does make the dream work
The game theory that led to nuclear standoffs

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Can you really do what you love?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

They say do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. But c’mon. Is that possible in this day and age? On today’s show, we speak to a tech investor who tells us the ingredients he believes are needed to make passion pay. And we hear from an economist who’s run the numbers on luck.

Bill Gurley’s book is Runnin’ Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love.

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Related episodes:
Teamwork actually does make the dream work
Why women make great bosses

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Class myths, an influx of e-ships, and pricey Olympics tix!

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week, our weekly look at some of the most fascinating numbers from the news. (Now on YouTube!)

On today’s episode: Is the middle class actually hollowing out? Are more e-ships powered by batteries on the horizon? And how much are the first batch of L.A. Olympics tickets going for???

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez, Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Where AI data centers are reducing power bills

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:00:02 +0000

Over the last half decade, wholesale electricity prices have increased 267% 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.

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What AI data centers are doing to your electric bill

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How are drivers riding out the gas crisis?

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:12:00 +0000

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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.

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Breaking down the price of gasoline

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Why infinite scroll's inventor wants to kill his creation

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

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.

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Related episodes: The Social Media Crisis
How algorithms are changing the way we speak

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Is the economy red, orange, yellow or green?

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

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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
America's next top Fed Chair

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Jobs that new college grads are and are not landing

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:40:08 +0000

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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?
Do I need a four-year degree?

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Greetings from: Our favorite public goods

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Freedom of the Seas. GPS. The Large Hadron Collider. These are all public goods that make our world more prosperous, accurate, and knowledgeable. But we don’t always give them the attention they deserve.

Today on the show, the Planet Money book’s main author Alex Mayyasi joins us to take an audio world tour of spectacular public goods, one whimsical postcard at a time.

These postcards are gorgeously illustrated in the Planet Money book.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
Lighthouses, Autopsies And The Federal Budget
The highs and lows of US rents

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why Pokémon cards are growing faster than your retirement account

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Pokémon cards are scorching hot right now. An index tracking the thousands of rare cards shows that valuations have increased 170% in the last year alone. Growth like that really makes you wish you hadn’t given away all your childhood cards years ago.

Today on the show, we cover three things that are contributing to the rapid growth of shiny cards produced by the world’s highest-grossing media franchise.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

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The Curse Of The Black Lotus (Update)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Who's afraid of private credit?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

There is a $3 trillion dollar black box at the center of the economy. It’s called private credit. These are direct loans from private investors to private companies. They’re often riskier, less regulated than traditional bank loans – and far less transparent. Spooked investors are scrambling to cash out, and some funds aren’t letting them. It’s all fueling fears of another financial crisis.

On today’s show, the private credit exodus.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
What could break next?
Who’s financing Meta’s massive AI data center?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Do school lunches really need an overhaul?

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

School lunch has been revamped a ton over the last two decades. Now, the Trump administration wants to rejigger the menu once more to align with its Make America Healthy Again agenda. That means more meat. More dairy. But do schools really need another menu overhaul? And could they even afford it?

On today’s show, we join a school lunch line in South Carolina to find out what kids are actually eating.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! Twelve cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

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How beef climbed to the top of the food pyramid

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The US loses tech hires, sayonora to Sora, and Afroman's win

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: The US ain’t doing too hot in attracting European tech workers; OpenAI takes its video generator Sora behind the barn; and a rapper, pound cake, and the police.

Related episodes:
OpenAI's deals are looking a little frothy
We're about to lose a lot of foreign STEM workers
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Tracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Every time you buy a ticket that leaves a U.S. airport, you pay a fee that’s supposed to help fund the TSA. So why have TSA workers been working without pay? Today on the show, we explore the history behind an earmarked tax and its very personal impacts.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why
How flying got so bad (or did it?)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Why are flight tickets so expensive right now? Increased oil prices seems like it’d be the obvious answer. That’s mostly right. Airlines used to do some financial magic to help keep airfare down as oil prices increased, a strategy called “fuel hedging.” But they stopped. And now fliers are on the hook for a lot of the difference.

On today’s show, the lost art of fuel hedging. How it worked, plus why airlines stopped doing it.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
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Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?
Listener Questions: Airline tickets, grocery pricing and the Fed

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why hasn't the Russian economy collapsed?

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

How has Russia’s economy not completely collapsed after four years of war, sanctions and billions in debt? One economist says it is the war that has been propping up Russia's economy, not the other way around. He calls it smertonomika or death economics.

On today’s show, six reasons why Russia’s economy is still chugging along despite burning money by the billions waging war on Ukraine.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
How your favorite fish sticks might be funding Russia's war
Who’s propping up Russian oil?

The economic war against Russia, a year later
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The multimillion dollar Saturday Night Live UK gamble

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Live from London, it’s Saturday Night? Saturday Night Live made its UK debut over the weekend after a well-hyped promotional campaign. Will this all-American sketch show translate to British audiences? We examine SNL’s multi-million dollar gamble.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
Why Paramount went looney tunes for Warner Bros.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Trump and truckers, Poland prospers, and a booming ant biz

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: The Trump administration cracks down on immigrant truck drivers, Poland becomes a top-twenty economy, and the booming business of … ant smuggling?

Related episodes:
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The little pet fish that saved a town in the Amazon

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How Iran is wasting American resources

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:00:05 +0000

Iran is using an affordable strategy to even the playing field in the war with the U.S. It’s using drones that cost in the thousands of dollars to combat American missiles that cost several million. Military analysts have already signaled concern about the U.S. producing enough munitions, and this isn’t helping. Today on the show, why the U.S. spends so much on munitions and what it’s learning from Iran.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
Are we overpaying for military equipment?
Can Just-In-Time handle a new era of war?
A trucker, a farmer, and an entrepreneur walk into a global supply shock
Are we overpaying for military equipment?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How much is the Iran war costing us?

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s really hard to estimate the total cost of war in the middle of one. Over the first six days of the Iran war, an estimated $11.3 billion was charged to the public purse. But long-term costs take years to manifest. Even daily costs are fuzzy. Take munitions: the Department of Defense hasn’t budgeted for many of the bombs it's dropping. One more time. The bombs – the bombs! – are not totally priced in.

On today’s show, estimating the cost of the Iran war right now. And how healthcare, disability benefits, environmental costs and interest payments could add to its future price tag.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! Twelve cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
A trucker, a farmer, and an entrepreneur walk into a global supply shock
A lot of gas trapped, oil reserves tapped, and Live Nation gets a (tiny) cap

Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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A trucker, a farmer, and an entrepreneur walk into a global supply shock

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:05:03 +0000

The U.S. and Israel war with Iran is causing a shock to the economic system. Gas prices are higher, diesel too, and even fertilizer is being affected. Today on the show, we speak to three people about the economic ripple effects of the conflict: a truck driver, an Iowa corn farmer, and a manufacturer of an alternative to plastics.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
A lot of gas trapped, oil reserves tapped, and Live Nation gets a (tiny) cap
Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?
How Iran’s flagging economy inflamed its protests

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can anything save the news biz?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

If you were in the business of making a bunch of money in 2026, you probably wouldn’t pick journalism. From social media to AI, the attention economy has upended the economic calculus for delivering news. But some entrepreneurs are looking to buck the trend.

Today on the show, we examine what the success of two startups could mean for the future of journalism.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
A brief history of NPR funding

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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A lot of gas trapped, oil reserves tapped, and Live Nation gets a (tiny) cap

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!), our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: How big is this gas crisis and could releasing oil reserves help? Also, Live Nation gets a deal from the government.

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey and Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Should colleges accept money from bad people?

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

At a dinner in 2010, physicist Sean Carroll is handed a phone. On the other end: A wealthy patron looking to potentially fund his research. Months later came an invite to a conference. It would take place on an island. The caller was Jeffrey Epstein. Sean declined. Many others didn’t.

On today’s show, why did so many academics say yes to Epstein’s invites and money? And what Epstein’s ability to ingratiate himself with them reveals about how science research is funded.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! Twelve cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
What an Epstein recording reveals about how elites get jobs
American science brain drain

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The shadowy world of merchant cash advances

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

During the pandemic, mostly unregulated lenders went after struggling restaurants and music venues, charging at times sky high rates. Now, they’ve found a new market: small businesses that desperately need cash to pay tariffs.

Today on the show, the story of a financial lifeline that can turn into a financial choke hold.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

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Can I get my tariff money back now?
Three ways companies are getting around tariffs

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:00:06 +0000

More than a thousand ships are stranded outside the Strait of Hormuz, bobbing in the water. A big reason? Insurance. War insurance premiums have skyrocketed since the war with Iran began. It’s an add-on that covers things regular insurance doesn’t, like missile strikes. And shippers don’t want to foot the bill or put their crews at risk. Cue the traffic jam.

On today’s show, how a critical trade chokepoint became the parking lot of the sea. And taking stock of President Trump’s plan to offer reinsurance to get these ships sailing again.

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How the 'shadow fleet' helps Russia skirt sanctions
Will Iran block the Strait of Hormuz?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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No healthcare premiums? In this economy?! Here's how.

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

It turns out healthcare in America CAN be cheaper. If your employer wants it to be. Today on the show, we speak with a Canadian-founded startup that has unusually generous benefits for their employees.

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
Health insurance premiums are going up next year — unless you work at these companies
Health care costs are soaring. Blame insurers, drug companies — and your employer
The hidden costs of healthcare churn

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why are fewer Americans working the night shift?

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:38:17 +0000

The night shift isn’t for everyone, but it often means a boost in pay and a foot in the door. Yet a smaller share of Americans are working the graveyard shift than in decades past. Today on the show, where did all the third shift workers go?

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

Related episodes:
Why Americans don’t want to move for jobs anymore

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Want a 2.5% mortgage? Buy it.

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Remember those juicy mortgage rates from back in 2021? You don’t actually need a time machine to get one today. You just need to find someone willing to sell their house AND their mortgage to you. Called ‘assumable mortgages,’ they take a long time to get, and you’ll probably need a fat wad of cash.

On today’s show, how to buy your way into a cheap mortgage rate.

Related episodes:
How mortgage rates get made
How mortgage interest rates work (and why they're currently out of whack)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Tyler Jones. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The anxiety rattling China’s youth

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:00:02 +0000

China will soon unveil its economic blueprint for the next five years, including a target for economic growth. This comes as consumption is down, wages aren’t rising, and property prices continue to drop. So what’s the plan? Today, we hear from NPR’s China correspondent Jennifer Pak about the challenges facing China’s economic policymakers.

FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money’s first ever book comes out in April. We’ll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There’s a limited edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why Paramount went looney tunes for Warner Bros.

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Paramount Skydance is making a $110 billion play for Warner Bros. Discovery, and with it intellectual property like Harry Potter, Batman, and subsidiaries HBO and CNN. On today’s show, who is the man behind the deal? Does he really want to make movies? Will any regulators try to stop it?

Should the families of organ donors be compensated?

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Two economists get into the business—and stakes—of organ donation, and they argue why the government should financially compensate their families.

ICE is bad for business, heat is bad for coffee, and sci-fi is bad for markets

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!), our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: How Minnesota workers were affected by Operation Metro Surge, why coffee’s getting more expensive, and what happens when a sci-fi AI scenario meets the stock market.

Related episodes:

How ICE crackdowns are affecting the workforce

Why this rural town wants an ICE facility

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How your favorite fish sticks might be funding Russia's war

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:00:02 +0000

Russia exports billions of dollars worth of fish a year across the world. But after the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. banned imports of Russian fish. It turns out those bans are only so effective. Today on the show, how Russia has dodged import bans to keep selling billions of dollars worth of seafood every year, and how the U.S. has struggled to stop it.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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What an Epstein recording reveals about how elites get jobs

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

What do the latest batch of documents tell us about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and elite networking? Quite a bit. Today on the show, we analyze one exchange between Epstein and a former world leader to find out how the revolving door works for the rich and powerful.

FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money’s first ever book comes out in April. We’ll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There’s a limited-edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com.

Related episodes:
Gilded Age 2.0?
How close is the US to crony capitalism?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Do traders who place big bets make big money?

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

We’re going whale watching today. No, not orcas or great blues, but financial traders that place big bets on something called options. On today’s show, who are these option whales and do their bets always pay off?

FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money’s first ever book comes out in April. We’ll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There’s a limited edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com. Related episodes: Invest like a Congress member For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why there are roving rotisserie chicken mobs

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:00:02 +0000

You asked, we answered.

On today’s show, we tackle questions from our dear listeners on whether AI interviewers are biased, what the heck M2 money supply is, and what’s up with the frenzied mobs fighting for rotisserie chickens at the grocery store.

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How beef climbed to the top of the food pyramid
Retirement luck, Hassett hassles the Fed, and boneless chicken in ... court?
Behind the Tiny Desk and other listener questions

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can I get my tariff money back now?

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The Supreme Court struck down a bunch of President Trump’s tariffs yesterday. The Trump administration originally used an emergency economic powers law to justify the tariffs. And the court said: No! You can’t do that! Bad Trump, bad! This is despite the U.S. having raked in over a hundred billion dollars in import taxes already.

On today’s show, unpacking the Supreme Court’s blockbuster tariffs decision. What’s next for tariffs? And … are we getting tariff refunds? Asking for a friend.

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Trump's backup options for tariffs
Tariffied! We check in on businesses
Are Trump's tariffs legal?
Worst. Tariffs. Ever.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Retirement luck, Hassett hassles the Fed, and boneless chicken in ... court?

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Why you better hope you retire at juuuust the right time, why the researchers at the Federal Reserve are being scolded by a White House economic advisor, and taking boneless chicken to court.

Related episodes:

Chicken meat, Gulf of Mexico lawsuit and Social Security beyond the grave

Davos drama, credit card caps and tariff truths

What would it take to fix retirement?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why this rural town wants an ICE facility

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The Trump administration is planning to pour more than $38 billion into warehouses for mass immigrant detention. While some communities are starting to push back, one rural town has agreed to expand its detention facility. On today’s show, we visit a small town in Georgia to learn about the trade-offs of becoming a detention town.

Related episodes:
How well are ICE’s 12,000 new officers being trained?
How ICE crackdowns are affecting the workforce

How well are ICE's 12,000 new officers being trained?

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The Department of Homeland Security says it has more than doubled the workforce of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Trump. Yet videos of immigration officers killing two U.S. citizens and using aggressive arrest tactics have left some politicians and community leaders rethinking the agency’s approach. On today’s show, law enforcement experts assess the training and culture at DHS.

Related episodes:
How ICE crackdowns are affecting the workforce

How Iran's flagging economy inflamed its protests

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Editor's note: The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran early Saturday, Feb. 28. For current coverage click here. For background context, the story below was published on Feb. 17, 2026.

According to activists, Iran has killed over 7,000 people as part of a crackdown on protesters. Why did protests engulf Iran in the first place? A big contributor: Its flagging economy, which has been in a tailspin for years. It’s a tinderbox.

Related episodes:
Iran, protests, and sanctions
The Lost Plane

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Jobs numbers, immigrants in healthcare, and ... Jesus Christ?

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

It’s time for … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Analyzing the new jobs numbers, how letting in more immigrants could reduce elder mortality, and betting on the return of … Jesus Christ.

Related episodes:

Just how bad are these job numbers?

A market to bet on the future

Who's gonna take care of grandma?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez, Cooper Katz McKim and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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What it costs to be an elite figure skater like the 'Quad God'

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Behind every Ilia Malinin or Alysa Liu, there is an army of elite figure skating coaches and choreographers who have been with them from the beginning. On today’s show, how much does it cost to achieve Olympic glory and why is it so expensive?

What is going on with gold and silver?

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The prices of gold and silver are on rollercoaster rides; Gold has been rising over the last few years, silver shot up like a skyrocket in January … but then both plunged in price and sputtered around the end of the month.

It raises the question: What is going on?

Today on the show, we talk with some traders about what this volatility of gold and silver is saying about the state of the world.

Related episodes:

Why is everyone buying gold?

A new-ish gold rush and other indicators

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The boxed meal helping Americans stay on budget

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Food keeps getting more expensive, so how do shoppers respond? They change what they buy, right? It’s not just that cheaper foods get more popular. Shoppers are more nuanced than that. So, today on the show, we choose one classic meal that is tailor-made for this anxious economic moment. Why Hamburger Helper is poised to win 2026.

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Can you trust you're getting the same grocery prices as someone else?
Hits of the Dips: Songs of recessions past

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Are we in an economic 'doom loop'?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Trade wars. Financial panics. Inflation. How come it feels like it’s all bad news in the global economy these days? Economist Eswar Prasad’s answer: something he calls the ‘doom loop.’ That’s where massive geopolitical and economic forces feed off each other and send us careening into disorder. Sounds dire. But it’s not hopeless.

On today’s show, are we in a doom loop? And if we are … how do we get out of one?

Eswar Prasad’s new book is called “The Doom Loop: Why the World Economic Order Is Spiraling into Disorder”.

Related episodes:
Is the financial media making us miserable about the economy?
Why are some nations richer?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Just how bad are these job numbers?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:05:00 +0000

It’s a weird time for jobs numbers. Another month, another jobs report pushed back by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Averaging two private sources, ADP and Revelio Labs: an estimated 4,500 jobs were added in January. Sounds like … not many.

And, yet, the unemployment rate hasn’t seemed to have risen. This might be, in part, due to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. We’ll explain through the story of one Angeleno.

On today’s show, how bad are these job numbers? Or are they not bad at all? And what does immigration have to do with it?

Related episodes:
Can we still trust the monthly jobs report? (Update)
What you need to know about the jobs report revisions
What really goes on at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Update)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How college sports juiced Olympic development

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

How did the U.S. become the Olympic powerhouse it is today? Cold War competition. The Soviet Union sponsored their athletes. But America wanted its athletes to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. It birthed an unexpected accelerator of Olympic development: College football. Stay with us now.

On today’s show, how college football became an Olympic development engine. And how that engine might not be running as smoothly as it once did.

Related episodes:
Why the Olympics cost so much
You can't spell Olympics without IP
A huge EU-India deal, Heated Rivalry, and a hefty $200k to Olympians
Why Host The Olympics?
The monetization of college sports

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Warming your house the green way just got more expensive

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:00:02 +0000

People wanting to purchase heat pumps might soon face sticker shock. Many consumers have sought out energy credits to find a greener and more affordable alternative to heating oil, but the tax credit to help make them cheaper has expired. Today on the show: how homeowners, the renewables industry, and its critics all feel about it.

All these data centers are gonna fry my electric bill … right?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Data centers are getting a lot of heat right now. There’s neighborhood pushback against them for water usage and environmental concerns, and some politicians on both sides of the aisle aren’t fans for the same reasons. There’s also fear that they could drive up the cost of electricity bills.

But that last bit isn’t set in stone.

Data center electric bill upcharge is not a guarantee. In fact, it is even possible for data centers to cause power bills to go down. Today on the show: the future of your power bill.

America's next top Fed Chair

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Kevin Warsh has been tapped as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. We’re sure that he’ll have a lot of questions about how to run the Fed if confirmed. So we put together this briefing.

On today’s show, three Fed watchers give their advice for the next chair. On politics, interest rate cuts and dealing with the Fed’s repeated trading scandals. Oh, and can someone please forward this episode to Kevin Warsh?

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Lisa Cook and the fight for the Fed
A primer on the Federal Reserve's independence
It's hard out there for a Fed chair

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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A huge EU-India deal, Heated Rivalry, and a hefty $200k to Olympians

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: a HUGE trade deal between India and the European Union, all the hot hockey romance New Yorkers could ever want, and a heavy earnings purse for Olympic competitors, win or lose.

Related episodes:

Why the Olympics cost so much

The surprising economics of digital lending

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

Preorder Planet Money's new book here!

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Hawaii’s worker shortage goes NUTS

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:00:06 +0000

Macadamia nuts. Labor shortages. Volcanoes. All that might sound like econ Mad Libs, but they’re all connected to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s entry into the Beige Book this month: labor shortages are hurting macadamia nut harvests in Hawaii.

On today’s show, we take a vacation and talk to someone on the Big Island who runs a macadamia nut farm. He calls them “mac nuts.”

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Why beef prices are so high

Why isn’t corporate America standing up to Trump?

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

President Trump has been storming through corporate America — taking a stake in Intel, demanding a cut of Nvidia’s sales, restricting skilled workers, among other big footed policies.

Meanwhile, corporate leaders have mostly just … rolled over.

Today on the show: As Trump rewrites the rules of doing business, why aren’t business leaders doing more to speak up?

Related episodes:

How close is the US to crony capitalism?

Davos drama, credit card caps and tariff truths

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can Europe sell America?

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

“Sell America.” There’s new talk of how Europe could turn the economic screws on the U.S. after President Trump’s play for Greenland. Selling U.S. Treasury bonds is one way. Another is a legal tool. It’s been called the EU’s bazooka.

On today’s show, taking stock of Europe’s financial arsenal. How could America’s largest foreign lender lighten Americans’ wallets?

Planet Money wrote a book and is going on tour, come see us: tickets and tour dates here.

Related episodes:
Davos drama, credit card caps and tariff truths
Why Trump resurrected the Monroe Doctrine
Lunch with the man who coined TACO

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How Pakistan is revving up a fight against tax dodgers

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Pakistan has had some major economic bumps as of late, including a near default in 2023. At the root: seriously low tax collection. Millions of Pakistan residents opt out of paying income taxes entirely. This is a problem a lot of lower- and middle-income countries face. On today's show, we talk about why there are so many tax dodgers in Pakistan and what the government is trying to do about it.

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Is the US pushing countries towards China?

A brief history of income taxes

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Davos drama, credit card caps and tariff truths

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

It’s time for … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Why does Davos feel interesting this year? What if we did cap credit card interest rates? And we’re paying most of those tariffs, aren’t we?

Also, big news! Planet Money wrote a book and we’re going on tour this spring. Find tickets and info at planetmoneybook.com.

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Trump's backup options for tariffs

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The carbon coin: A novel idea

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How beef climbed to the top of the food pyramid

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Beef is back on top. Well, at least on top of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new food pyramid, unveiled alongside updated national dietary guidelines. Red meat really never left the great American menu. But how’d it climb all the way up there?

On today’s show, America’s storied love affair with beef. And how big business and government have long influenced what winds up on our plates.

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Is Greenland really an untapped land of riches?

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

President Donald Trump is dead set on acquiring Greenland, and while national security is the stated reason, the country’s untapped mineral wealth could offer another explanation.

Today on the show: is Greenland really an untapped land of riches? We talk to one Australian geologist who discovered the great costs and potential rewards of extracting these minerals himself.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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Are U.S. defense contractors lavishing their investors too much?

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

In early January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening bans on defense contractors paying dividends or buying their stock back.

Today on the show, we learn about the Trump Administration’s frustrations with the weapons supply chain, find out what a defense industry investor makes of the move, and ask whether this reflects the state tightening its grip on the industry that arms the U.S. military.

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Can Just-In-Time handle a new era of war?
How to transform a war economy for peacetime

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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ICE influencers, a world-record trade surplus, and the moon goes nuclear

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Welcome back to Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Influencers for ICE, China’s tremendous trade surplus, and America heads back to the moon.

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Who owns the moon?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why Trump resurrected the Monroe Doctrine

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:05:06 +0000

203 years ago, President James Monroe declared the Western Hemisphere off limits to powerful countries in Europe. Fast forward, and President Trump is reviving the Monroe Doctrine to justify intervening in places like Venezuela, and threatening further action in other parts of Latin America and Greenland. On today’s show, how is Trump redefining the Monroe Doctrine and what does it mean for the world?

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Venezuela didn’t steal U.S. oil. Here’s what happened
Can Europe stand without the U.S.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can a good story change economic reality?

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Economic decisions aren’t only driven by hard data. A compelling story can change economic behavior and outcomes. In today’s episode, we explore real-world examples of “narrative economics” like how the Suez Canal ended up getting built. And we ask: why do narratives sometimes matter more than truth or data?

One Fed battle after another

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:47:40 +0000

Over the weekend, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Department of Justice served the Fed with grand jury subpoenas. Powell says it’s all a sham. But the stakes are unprecedented: A potential criminal indictment. Central bank independence. Today on the show, the administration’s case against the Fed. How did we get here? And what comes next?

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Why Is The Fed So Boring?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

While Americans are known for their generosity, the U.S. government, increasingly, is not. The Trump administration’s cuts to SNAP benefits among other aid programs have forced states, foundations and donors to fill the gaps. But can they? On today’s show, the limits of philanthropic efforts to supplant federal aid.

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Why tech bros are trying to give away all their money (kind of)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How AI is shrinking the job market for teens

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:48:46 +0000

Karissa Tang is a 17-year-old in California who got curious about the impact of AI on typical teen jobs like cashiers and fast food counter workers. She embarked on an ambitious economic research project and shares her findings with us.

Related episodes:
How much is AI actually affecting the workforce?
AI creates, transforms and destroys... jobs
When does youth employment become child labor?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Venezuela didn't steal U.S. oil. Here's what happened

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:05:06 +0000

President Trump claims Venezuela stole American oil. Is that true? We trace Venezuela's oil industry from its 1920s birth through nationalization and then collapse. Today on the show, how did the Venezuelan oil industry get to a point where it’s barely pulling from its reserves? And will anything change now?

Related episodes:
Venezuela’s economic descent (Update)
Venezuela’s recent economic history (Update)
Why oil in Guyana could be a curse

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can you trust you're getting the same grocery prices as someone else?

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

When you're in a grocery store nowadays, chances are your data is being collected. From a swipe of the loyalty card to the purchase of an ice cream pint, your data tells stores what you like, how much they should stock, and more.

But what if that data meant a grocer could charge you a different price than another shopper?

On today's show, the evolving price tag.

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Should 'surveillance pricing' be banned?

How Grocery Shelves Get Stacked

How niche brands got into your local supermarket

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How cocaine smuggling through Latin America really works

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Former Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, appeared in a New York court yesterday. He’s facing drug-trafficking and weapons charges after the U.S. abducted him and his wife in an explosive operation over the weekend. But is there any credibility to the drug-trafficking accusations? And what does the cocaine supply chain look like in 2026?

Today on the show, tracing cocaine’s journey from the Andes to the streets of U.S. cities.

Further reading:
Ioan Grillo – El Narco

Related episodes:
Venezuela’s economic descent (Updated)
Why Are Venezuelans Starving?
Lessons from a former drug dealer

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Cooper Katz McKim and Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why China pulled the plug on Japan

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:00:02 +0000

Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi made waves last fall after saying her country might intervene if China invaded Taiwan. In response, China launched state-organized boycotts against Japan — canceling concerts, restricting seafood imports, and even recalling pandas. Today on the show, what does it look like for a state to organize a boycott, and does it work?

Venezuela’s economic descent (Updated)

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 21:15:49 +0000

At The Indicator, we’ve been following the conditions in Venezuela over the years. In 2024 we covered how Venezuela’s economy went into freefall, and have been checking in with an economist there frequently — including after the U.S. attacked over the weekend, deposing its leader Nicolás Maduro.

On today’s show, we’re revisiting our episode about Venezuela’s economy, and hear from our contact in Caracas.

Send us questions you’d like The Indicator to answer on future episodes about Venezuela: indicator@npr.org.

Related episodes: The Measure of a Tragedy Why are Venezuelans starving? An Economist in Caracas: Day In The Life

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We resolve to watch these 2026 indicators

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

2025 is finally over.

We had bad consumer sentiment vibes, tariffs, and a seemingly ascendant stock market. And those are just a few indicators from last year!

As we enter 2026, what indicators should we keep an eye on … in the future? On today’s episode, our top indicator predictions for the new year.

Related:

What AI data centers are doing to your electric bill

Tariffs. Consumer sentiment. Cape ratio. Pick the Indicator of the Year!

What indicators will 2025 bring?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why Americans don't want to move for jobs anymore (Encore)

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Americans are moving at record lows for work. What’s driving people to, well, not drive cross-country for jobs? On today’s episode, we explore the rising homebody economy.

This episode originally aired Oct. 3, 2025.

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How the end of Roe is reshaping the medical workforce

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Gilded Age 2.0? (Encore)

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

To hear President Trump tell it, the late 1800s, i.e. the Gilded Age, were a period of unparalleled wealth and prosperity in the U.S. But this era was also marked by corruption and wealth inequality. Sound familiar? On today's show, is history repeating itself?

This episode originally aired June 5, 2025.

Related: Trump's tariff role model

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The cautionary tale of a recovering day trading addict (Encore)

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Seasons greetings from the The Indicator! On today's show, the story of a man who started buying and selling stocks as a hobby — and got seriously addicted. We also speak with a neuroeconomist about the human brain on day trading.

This piece originally aired Jan. 25, 2025.

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Invest like a Congress member

The economic challenges facing men without college degrees

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 08:05:04 +0000

Many men in the U.S. feel like they're not doing as well as their fathers. But what does the data say? This episode, we're sharing an extended conversation between Darian Woods and Richard Reeves, the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. They discuss what's really going on with men's wages. Richard also argues economic and cultural changes are needed to address the struggles unique to working-class men.

This interview was included in one of our bonus episodes for NPR+ supporters. Today we're sharing it with everyone. Learn more about NPR+ and sign up at plus.npr.org.

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The secret to Nintendo's success (Encore)

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

For the next week, we're running some of our favorite shows from this year. On today's show, a brief history of Nintendo and how a small playing card company in Japan became a gaming juggernaut.

This piece originally aired June 16, 2025.

Why every A-lister also has a side hustle (Encore)

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:00:04 +0000

Happy Holidays from The Indicator! For the next week, we're running some of our favorite shows from this year. On today's show, why celebrities are increasingly investing in their own brands.

This piece originally aired August 14, 2025.Related episodes:
The celebrity crypto nexus
The Olympian to influencer pipeline (Apple / Spotify)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The worst year of Warren Buffett’s career

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:00:03 +0000

As Warren Buffett aged, he became a different sort of figure. He transformed from short-term investor into long-term builder. He used Berkshire Hathaway to start buying companies and build an empire. Today on the show, how did Buffett’s fame become an investment tool and how did he handle the biggest crisis of his career?

Related episodes:
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Brilliant vs. Boring

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The spite acquisition that launched Warren Buffett

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:00:01 +0000

With an unprecedented decades-long run of success, Warren Buffett is retiring on December 31, 2025. Buffett’s turning point began with the acquisition of a failing textile mill called Berkshire Hathaway. What began as a “terrible mistake” became the foundation for his empire. Today on the show, how did Buffett become this legendary figure?

Related episodes:
Planet Money Summer School 2: Index Funds & The Bet
Brilliant vs. Boring For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Tariffs. Consumer sentiment. Cape Ratio. Pick The Indicator of The Year!

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

2025 was a wild year for the U.S. economy. Tariffs transformed the global economy, consumer sentiment hit near-historic lows, and the stock market hit scary, spooky, blood-curdling new heights! So … which of these economic stories defined the year?

Our hosts from Planet Money and The Indicator duke it out during our annual … Family Feud!

Tell us who you think has THE indicator of the year by emailing us at indicator@npr.org. Put “Family Feud” in the subject line.

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The Indicators of this year and next

This indicator hasn’t flashed this red since the dot-com bubble

What would it mean to actually refund the tariffs?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Catching up with a fired federal worker, a shrimper and a fraudster

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

After a firehose of economic news in 2025, we wanted to check back on some of the people we’ve heard from on our show. Today, we check in with a former federal employee caught in the Trump administration's wood chipper, a Louisiana shrimper on Trump’s tariffs and an update on a financial aid scam.

Related episodes:
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What’s the long-term cost of federal layoffs?
A big bank’s mistake, explained

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Absent a holiday miracle, premium subsidies for the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at the end of this year. This will greatly increase the cost of health insurance for many who rely on the marketplace for their coverage. Today on the show, we are visited by the ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future to learn what’s next for this landmark healthcare legislation.

Related episodes:
Is Obamacare doomed without extended subsidies?
The hidden costs of healthcare churn
How doctors helped tank universal healthcare

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Will new loan limits lower the cost of grad school?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:33:14 +0000

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made a lot of changes to the federal student loan system. One of those changes put a new cap on the amount of loans students in graduate school can take on. Today on the show, we explain the theory behind this change and how it could impact the broader labor market going forward.

Related episodes:
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Here's why Black students are defaulting
Student loans are back, U.S. travel is whack, and AI — please, step back

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can American cities grow AND stay affordable?

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Cities like Austin and Atlanta used to top lists of places people moved to looking for relatively affordable places to live. Until, one day, they weren’t that affordable. On today’s show, how a low cost of living is threatened by growth, and how one sunbelt city in Alabama is planning ahead.

Related episodes:
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How to build abundantly
How big is the US housing shortage?
The highs and lows of US rents

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Nvidia chips for China, frozen Russian funds, and a lot of self-checkout stealing

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Nvidia chips OK’d for China, a sticky frozen Russian asset situation, and a lot of you seem to be stealing from self-checkout.

Related episodes: The tower of NVIDIA How to get Russia to pay Ukraine Why the U.S. cut China off from advanced chips

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How to make $35 trillion ... disappear

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:00:02 +0000

You may be familiar with the AI-fueled stock market boom. Well, former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Gita Gopinath warns it could mirror the dot-com boom of the late 1990s. But worse. She calculates a similar crash could erase $35 trillion in global wealth. Today on the show, what would that mean for the US and global economies?

Related episodes:
This indicator hasn’t flashed this red since the dot-com bubble
Open AI’s deals are looking a little frothy

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Bitcoin miners are betting on AI over crypto

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:05:00 +0000

If you want to make Bitcoin, you need powerful computers and a lot of energy. Well, it turns out the same infrastructure needed for Bitcoin mining is pretty valuable in the era of AI. Today on the show, why some miners are starting to throw in the towel on crypto in favor of supporting AI infrastructure.

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This indicator hasn’t flashed this red since the dot-com bubble
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How a former Fed vice chair would approach rate cuts

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Federal Reserve is meeting to make its interest rate decision after the government shutdown delayed key economic data. Today on the show, we talk to the former Vice Chair of the Fed, Lael Brainard, about what she would do with interest rates in this critical yet foggy economic moment.

Related episodes:
A little doomsday feeling is weighing on the economy
Can ... we still trust the monthly jobs report?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Take a penny, leave a penny, get rid of the penny

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In November, the U.S. stopped production of the humble penny after 232 years in circulation. On today’s show, a former U.S. Mint director shares the fiscal math that doomed the penny, and an artist pay tribute to this American icon.

View more of Robert Wechsler’s artwork here.

Related episodes:
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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Chips up, rent down, and are people really skimping on holiday gifts?

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: A big goshDRAM memory problem, a holiday spending mystery, and apartment rental prices … decline?!

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges and Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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A little doomsday feeling is weighing on the economy

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:05:06 +0000

It is a special edition of the Beigies Awards where one regional Federal Reserve Bank will receive lifetime achievement recognition. Today on the show, we speak to its President about the value of economic anecdotes.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Tyler Jones. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How Japan’s new prime minister is jolting markets

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Sanae Takaichi was sworn in as Japan’s first female prime minister a little over a month ago, and she’s already making waves in the East and West. The first priority for the people of Japan is if her government can fix the country’s cost-of-living problem. Today on the show, we break down what Sanaeonomics could mean for the Land of the Rising Sun.

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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What would it mean to actually refund the tariffs?

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:00:04 +0000

Tariffs are bringing in some serious cash into the US Treasury’s pocket. The problem with that money is that it may need to be refunded. A case in front of the Supreme Court could declare several of Trump’s tariffs illegal, which would prompt a return of billions of dollars. Today on the show, we look at how that would work and why the process will likely not be easy.

Why the US chose not to have a passenger train system like Europe

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Why can't the US be like Europe, Japan or India—countries that all have extensive passenger train systems? On today's show, why the US chose not to. We learn why, despite this, US railroads could still be worth bragging about.

Moochers, monopolists and market-based poverty help

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:05:00 +0000

Public sector economics is a fundamental piece of the discipline. So we wanted to give our hosts an opportunity to put their knowledge to the test in a game we’re calling Indicator Quizbowl. Today on the show, Wailin and Darian go head to head to see who the bigger public policy nerd is.

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A trap-loving DJ takes on economics
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Who's financing Meta's massive AI data center?

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In a rural pocket of northeastern Louisiana, Meta is building a $30 billion data center called Hyperion. But it’s not being completely financed with Meta’s own money. Today on the show, the opaque system of AI data center financing and why it’s fueling fears of a bubble.

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No AI data centers in my backyard!
What $10B in data centers actually gets you

Who’s buying all the beef?

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:00:02 +0000

President Trump has said he’d try to get more Argentine beef into the U.S. So who would actually do the buying? That’s a general theme with a lot of these trade deals — big numbers but vague details. When China says it’ll buy more soybeans, is it the government or companies that does the buying? When South Korea promises to invest in American shipyards, who’s actually doing that? Today on the show, we dig into two questions from listeners and hear directly from an Argentine butcher.

Pay transparency. The WhatsApp and Instagram decision. Our beef with screwworms.

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: the effects of pay transparency, Meta’s big win, and freaky flies and beef.

Related episodes:

Are we entering a new dawn for antitrust enforcement?

Why beef prices are so high

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How to avoid scammers after a natural disaster

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:06:04 +0000

When people lose their homes to wildfire, hurricanes or flooding, they're eager to rebuild. But scammers are also ready to take advantage. On today’s show, the lucrative business of contractor fraud and advice on how to avoid them.

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When insurers can’t get insurance
Selling safety in the fight against wildfires

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Looking for love in the auto supply chain

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Foreign automakers already have huge assembly plants in the U.S., but lots of parts and materials come from overseas.

To avoid costly tariffs, they gotta buy American. But … How does one meet those suppliers? How do you build a new relationship with them?

The answer: Speed dating.

Related episodes:

The old trade war that brought foreign carmakers to the U.S.

Tariffs: What are they good for?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Tyler Jones. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How to make switching jobs not terrifying

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 08:00:05 +0000

The U.S. labor market is stagnant right now, with little hiring and lots of people holding onto their jobs for dear life. In Denmark, there’s a different kind of labor system where it’s easy for employers to hire and fire, but at the same time people have a strong safety net in-between jobs. Today on the show, we learn how “flexicurity” works through the story of a Danish woman who left her job, and we ask how the model could work in the U.S.

Related episodes:
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How Marxism went from philosophy to cudgel
Ozempic's biggest side effect: Turning Denmark into a 'pharmastate'? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Tyler Jones. Translation from Jasmine Lolila. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why you overpaid at that online auction

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Ever put in the winning bid for something on an auction site only to realize you significantly overpaid? Yeah, there’s a phrase for that. On today’s show: the winner’s curse.

Richard Thaler’s new book with Alex O. Imas is The Winner’s Curse: Behavioral Economics Anomalies, Then and Now.

Read Planet Money’s newsletter on the winner’s curse.

50-year mortgages, falling real wages, and doing your rideshare due diligence

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! We look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news and bring them to you.

On today’s episode: The cost of living is outstripping wage growth for most of us, the math behind the Trump administration’s proposed 50-year mortgages, and how we’re just giving Uber and Lyft free money.

Related episodes:

Trump's plans for the housing market

The Money Illusion: Have Americans really gotten a raise?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Where the US got $20B to bail out Argentina

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The U.S. is committed to bailing out Argentina to the tune of $20 billion using a little known mechanism called the Exchange Stabilization Fund. On today’s show, what is this fund, why was it created and does Argentina have any hope of paying it back?

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Trump's backup options for tariffs

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court may soon rule on President Trump’s favorite tariff law. It could render them moot, but that doesn’t mean the end of tariffs. On today’s show, we explain the president’s back-up options for imposing tariffs.

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Who is the World Cup for anymore?

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The World Cup is coming up, and it’s going to cost a pretty penny if you are hoping to attend. Today on the show, we talk to NPR Senior Business editor and World Cup superfan about why the 2026 World Cup will likely be the most expensive in history and why even finding a ticket is more difficult.

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How the French pensions débâcle is a warning to us all

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

France has one of the most generous pension systems in the world. But several governments there have collapsed over questions about how the government will fund it. All over the world, aging populations are forcing governments to rethink their assumptions.

Today on the show, what France’s political fiascos teach all of us about the economics of an aging population, and what a retirement expert’s ideal retirement system might look like.

Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2025

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Can air traffic controllers keep calm and carry on — without pay?

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

There’s one job that gets all the attention during a government shutdown: air traffic controllers. Today on the show, we spotlight why this job has taken on outsize political influence and one controller’s experience during the longest shutdown on record.

This indicator hasn’t flashed this red since the dot-com bubble

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:00:03 +0000

The “Shiller PE Ratio” is at its highest level since November of 1999. That was at the peak of the online gold rush right before the dot com bubble burst in 2000. Today on the show, we learn what the Shiller PE Ratio is, how it works and whether we should be worried that it’s relatively high right now.

You can find John Campbell's book here: Fixed: Why Personal Finance is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone

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Zombie 2nd mortgages are coming to life, threatening thousands of Americans' homes

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Who's propping up Russian oil?

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Russia’s been subject to more than 5,000 sanctions since its invasion of Ukraine. Yet many purported allies of Ukraine are still getting Russian oil — directly or indirectly. On today’s show, how governments are straddling the fence and skirting their own sanctions.

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How Apple's market power blocked ICEBlock

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Last month, the Trump administration asked Apple to remove an app from its App Store that crowdsourced sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Today on the show, we explain what an ongoing legal battle involving the developer of the video game Fortnite has to do with Apple’s latest move to comply with the Trump administration.

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The DOJ's case against Apple
Apple v Everybody

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When AI is your job interviewer

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:00:05 +0000

Companies are starting to use AI to interview potential employees. Sound creepy? Well, a new study suggests it might not be all bad.. Today on the show, we look at why a job interview with AI might be preferable to one with a human. And Adrian gets grilled by an AI job recruiter named “Anna.”

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A school cellphone ban study, white collar jobs wither, and spooky candy prices

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the…Eek! (Indicators of the Week.) Our regular look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: How cell phone bans in schools affect grades, white collar workers get the axe, and AHHH! Halloween candy inflation!

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A finance fright fest

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Are China and India BFFs now?

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:06 +0000

China and India have a long, complicated history. Just a few years ago, there was a spate of armed skirmishes between the two nations. And yet, there are signs of warming relations amidst President Trump’s ongoing trade war. Today on the show, is that trade war pushing India toward China? And what could happen if two of the world’s largest economies come together?

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Is Obamacare doomed without extended subsidies?

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Health insurance subsidies are at the center of the current government shutdown. Democrats want to extend some expiring Affordable Care Act/Obamacare subsidies. Obamacare has weathered several political storms since its inception, but how will it fare without those subsidies?

Today on the show, death spirals and the future of Obamacare.

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How Marxism went from philosophy to cudgel

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:00:05 +0000

Republican politicians like to use the term ‘Marxist’ to criticize Democrats. Lately, they’ve dubbed New York City mayoral candidate a ‘Marxist’ despite him identifying himself as a democratic socialist. Today on the show, we dig into what ‘Marxism, as an economic term,’ actually means.

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Even the facts are polarized

The new language of AI tech workers

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s hard for young tech workers to find a job, even with the AI buildout bonanza. This has spawned a curious worldview that fears AI is coming for our jobs and a drive to be at the top of the AI food chain. This, tech writer Jasmine Sun believes, is revealed in the emerging dialect of Silicon Valley tech workers.

Today on the show, San Francisco slang. Jasmine Sun takes us on a tour of high-agency 996ers and NPCs to see what it could mean for our present and our future.

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Amazon's outage, anxious retirees, and LA brings the Heat, too

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: the Amazon global internet outage, Americans plan to siphon their Social Security checks early, and Mann, we love some Heat 2.

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Why aren't filmmakers shooting in LA?

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Are concert tickets UNDER priced?

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Ticketmaster's CEO says that concert tickets are underpriced. But from inflation to bots to unscrupulous resellers, the market for tickets feels out of control to many fans. Can anything be done?

Today on the show: Ticket resellers, a new law in Maine, and a T-shirt cannon.

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Ticketmaster's dominance, Caitlin Clark's paycheck, and other indicators

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No AI data centers in my backyard!

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In the rush to power AI, data centers are popping up in small communities across the U.S. But a growing backlash against this build-out is pitting communities against developers over energy prices and water use. Today on the show, one Michigan community’s fight to stop a data center and what it means for Big Tech.

Should we ditch quarterly earnings reports?

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Quarterly earnings reports are a long-standing requirement for public companies in the U.S. But the Trump administration wants to axe quarterly releases and just release them twice a year. And there is evidence to suggest this could be better in the long run for companies and investors. On today’s show, we look at the potential benefits and trade-offs of changing how often companies report their financial results.

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Why are veterinarian bills getting so ruff on the wallet?

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Since 2020, the cost of veterinary care has increased about 40%—almost twice the rate of inflation. As a result, many pet owners say they've skipped necessary vet care. So, what's going on here? A veterinarian, and a lesser-known economic theory, have some answers.

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Government shutdown fallout, price floors, and AI slop against the machine

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Frozen and canceled federal dollars, America’s intensifying tit-for-tat with China, and a sloppy trend infiltrating the music business. (With a pocket full of shells.)

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OpenAI's deals are looking a little frothy

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

There have been many headline-grabbing AI deals recently: Nvidia investing up to $100 billion in OpenAI. OpenAI promising to buy $300 billion worth of computing power from Oracle. Oracle buying tons of chips from Nvidia.

But … where’s the money coming from? Is all this AI overhype … a bubble?

On today's show, how money flows in the AI hyperscaling flood.

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Inside the growing industry to defend schools from mass shootings

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

From drones to body armor to bulletproof whiteboards, companies are offering schools a multitude of products to try to deter or protect against the next school shooting. But does any of this stuff work? On today’s show, a look inside the school shooting industry. What's for sale and the psychology behind the growing industry.

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Why do we live in unusually innovative times?

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

For most of human history, economic growth was, well, pretty bleak. But around the Enlightenment, things started clicking. This year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences went to a trio of researchers whose work focuses on how technological progress led to this sustained economic growth. Today we hear from one of them, Joel Mokyr, about his work on European economic history.

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Scam compounds, sewing patterns and stolen dimes

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

As Vice Week wraps up here at The Indicator, we wanted to take a slightly different perspective on the evolving business of crime and take a look at TRUE crime. As in the genre. Because look, people are obsessed with it! Today on the show, our hosts favorite pieces of true crime content.

Darian Woods: The Economist’s Scam Inc.
Wailin Wong: Wednesday Journal’s A tangled mess
Adrian Ma: Philadelphia Inquirer’s Dime Heist story

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How AI might mess with financial markets

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:05:10 +0000

Market manipulation is an age-old issue. People trying to make money off unsuspecting investors by artificially influencing the price of a stock, say. But what happens when the one manipulating markets isn't human?

This week on The Indicator from Planet Money, we bring you five episodes digging into the evolving business of crime. Today on the show, we hear how AI could spell mischief for the markets, and why the law is already behind in preventing it.

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Shorters Gonna Short

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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When cartels start to diversify

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:03 +0000

The Sinaloa Cartel made the bulk of its money on cocaine. But cartels are diversifying into new operations including things like wildlife trafficking. Think sharks, jaguars, capybaras. The result is something called “narco-degradation.” On today’s show, we look at what’s driving cartels beyond drugs and how this is wreaking havoc on ecosystems in Central America.

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Waste Land
Will Economic Growth Destroy the Planet?

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What’s supercharging data breaches?

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It may seem like data breaches have gotten a heck of a lot more common. Well, there’s something to that. The bad guys are getting badder faster than the good guys are getting better.

This week, we’re bringing you five episodes on the evolving business of crime. Today on the show, we look at why the evolution of data breaches has been supercharged and why you don’t have to be a hacker to get into the game.

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Fighting AI with AI

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 07:00:07 +0000

With only several seconds of audio, someone can clone a victim’s voice, call their bank, and potentially get access to … everything. Vocal deepfakes have gotten very good, but so has the technology to fight back.

This week on The Indicator we're gonna bring you a special series on the evolving business of crime. In this episode, we hear from the company helping banks beat deepfakes, and we learn about the efforts to protect us all from AI voice fraud.

Vice Series: The evolving business of crime

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 07:00:03 +0000

Crime doesn’t resemble the old days. A deepfake of your voice can be used to convince a relative you need money. AI bots are capable of colluding in financial markets. There are seemingly countless new strategies of making data breaches more common. This week on The Indicator from Planet Money, we bring you five episodes digging into the evolving business of crime.

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Why Americans don't want to move for jobs anymore

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Americans are moving at record lows for work. What’s driving people to, well, not drive cross-country for jobs? On today’s Jobs Friday, we explore the rising homebody economy.

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How close is the US to crony capitalism?

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:00:05 +0000

We have seen a blurring of boundaries between government and business under President Trump. It has some political commentators ringing the alarm bell over something called “crony capitalism" — a corrupt system where political power meets big business. Today on the show, is the Trump administration nudging the U.S. further down the road toward crony capitalism?

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Why is everyone buying gold?

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Gold is on fire right now with some gold ETFs outperforming the major stock indexes over the past 12 months. Gold is supposed to be boring, an inflation hedge. But right now, it's responding to something else. Today on the show, we talk to a finance professor about what’s behind the current gold rush and if gold’s hot streak is built to last.

Understanding Gold by Claud B. Erb and Campbell R. Harvey

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We're about to lose a lot of foreign STEM workers

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitioners. Today on the show, we talk to an economist about how much H-1B visa holders have contributed to US growth, their effects on American-born workers, and why the United States’ competitors are taking advantage of this moment.

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What media consolidation means for free speech

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:05:05 +0000

Jimmy Kimmel’s brief departure from the airwaves triggered a wave of debate over free speech. Partly triggering his suspension was the government threatening to leverage its power over pending media deals. That’s in part due to a piece of decades-old legislation.

Today on the show, we look at how the Telecommunications Act of 1996 set the stage for government meddling and corporate capitulation.

Argentina's bailout, a new way to cool data centers, and a cold holiday hiring season

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s Indicators of the Week! It is that show where we parse the most fascinating financial numbers in the news and bring them to you.

On today's show: Argentina needs a bailout, Microsoft’s new way to cool data centers, and retail hiring is not looking like it’s in the holiday spirit.

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No, your doctor isn't getting rich off of vaccines

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Junior says doctors are pushing vaccines onto their patients in order to make profits.

Healthcare in the US is a business … but does that mean that doctors actually make money on vaccines?

Today on the show, we talk with doctors who explain the financial reality behind vaccines and how RFK Jr’s words and actions could harm public health.

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Why are so many public schools closing?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Faced with declining enrollment, public school districts across the country are rethinking how many schools they can run. Fewer students often means less government funding, forcing schools to cut services. Yet school closures can disrupt communities and have negative effects on learning. On today’s show, the tough calculus parents and schools confront.

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Should 'surveillance pricing' be banned?

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

When you walk into a store, you're probably used to seeing price tags on things, saying what they cost.

But when you shop online, there is no price tag. There's just the price you see on screen. What if companies use your online data — like your location and browsing history — to charge you more than somebody else … or maybe less?

Today on the show: Surveillance pricing vs. personalized pricing.

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Wendy's pricing mind trick and other indicators of the week

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can LA host a 'car-free' Olympics?

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Los Angeles is synonymous with car culture. But now that it's hosting the 2028 Olympics, could that be changing? On today's show, LA's public transit building bonanza, and why some worry the new infrastructure will benefit tourists more than locals.

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The Fed cuts rates, America's FICO dips, and forever ends for sweepstakes winners

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s show: A rate cut and drama at the Federal Reserve, the average American gets a little less creditworthy, and those giant check sweepstakes winners? Well, they might have to get a job soon.

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What goes into a credit score?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why "free" public education doesn't always include school supplies

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Back-to-school supplies are getting more expensive … so why are parents and teachers at public schools expected to foot the bill? Today on the show: An economist explains how the cost of school supplies fits into the larger history of public school funding, and what one school district is doing differently.

Related episodes:

A food fight over free school lunch

Mailbag: Children Edition

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The crypto market is hot. But is it an illusion?

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:05:02 +0000

There has been an inordinate amount of trading activity recently in the crypto markets. But what if much of that activity was an illusion? A smokescreen? A fraud? Today on the show, we look at the practice of wash trading, and how it’s evolved in the crypto world.

Related episodes:
The fake market in crypto

Why an aggressive rate cut could backfire on Trump

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The Federal Reserve is expected to make a modest cut to interest rates this week of about a quarter or half a percentage point. President Trump, however, believes they should take a far more aggressive approach: a 3-percentage point cut.

Today on the show, we examine what a 3-percentage point cut would actually look like, and why that outcome would likely backfire on the president.

Related episodes:
It's hard out there for a Fed chair
Should presidents have more of a say in interest rates?
Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why beef prices are so high

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:05:07 +0000

Beef is getting more expensive, and it doesn’t look as though that’s going to change any time soon. That’s the view of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, which wrote in its Beige Book entry this month that the trend of rising beef prices continues. There’s solid demand for beef, but falling supply, as production decreases. Ranchers are making more per cow, but their costs are rising. We speak with a rancher in Wyoming to learn what high beef prices mean for him and other ranchers.

ICE raids, cooling on capitalism, and a Murdoch settlement

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: the concept of capitalism is cooling in American minds; the U.S. policies behind the Hyundai ICE raid; and an influential family’s succession saga comes to a thrilling (and expensive!) conclusion.

Related episodes:
Salvaging democratic capitalism, with Martin Wolf
How to pass on a global media empireFor sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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We read your mail on AI-proof jobs and how to fix crime labs

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

We’ll never leave your messages unread. On today’s show, we open the inbox to hear from Indicator listeners about why seasoned software developers might have more AI-proof jobs, and an idea for how to improve accreditation for crime labs.

Got a question, comment on a recent show or idea for an episode? Send us a message at indicator@npr.org.

Related episodes:
Tech layoffs, recession pop and more listener questions answered
Mail bag! Grad jobs, simplified branding and central bank independence

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can shareholders influence Elon Musk's trillion dollar pay package?

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Tesla’s board of directors recently proposed a pay package for CEO Elon Musk that could pay him about a trillion dollars if he meets certain goals. It’s not a done deal yet—Tesla shareholders will vote on the proposal at the company’s annual meeting in November. But just how much of a say do shareholders actually have in that decision? Or any decision?

Today on the show, we look at what it takes for a shareholder to get their voice heard and how this may be changing under the Trump administration. Plus we talk to one Tesla investor agitating for changes at the company.

Related episodes:
An epic proxy battle comes to Hasbro
Elon Musk and the fear of the activist investor
Impact investing, part 1: Money, meet morals
Impact investing, part 2: Can money meet morals?

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The cost of saving a species

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:00:08 +0000

Animals are going extinct at an alarmingly fast rate, largely due to human activity. Same for plants. This is bad for all kinds of reasons, not least of which is that breakthrough drugs often come from nature. But there isn’t consensus on how to save these species.

Part of the debate asks the economic question: with limited money going to the work, where will it have the most impact? Today on the show, the cost-effective plan to maximize biodiversity that asks ecologists to approach the question more like economists.

Teamwork actually does make the dream work

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Behavioral scientist Jon Levy’s new book — Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius — argues that, in the workplace, leadership is overrated and teamwork is underrated. Today on the show: How super chickens and NBA All-Stars demonstrate the perils of individual performance.

Why moms are leaving their paid jobs

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:52:22 +0000

Moms are quitting — or getting pushed out. Workforce participation for mothers in the U.S. has been dropping for most of this year, and the reasons are more complicated than return-to-office mandates. Today on the show, we talk to moms about why they left their jobs and to economist Misty Heggeness, who has studied the phenomenon.

Find more of Misty’s research here.

How much is AI actually affecting the workforce?

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:00:09 +0000

There’s been a lot of big talk about how artificial intelligence is going to replace white collar workers. But what data do we actually have around AI’s impact on the workforce? Today on the show, we speak to an expert who has measured one aspect of these changes. She tells us how this moment in AI compares to the Industrial Revolution.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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So long, farewell, super cheap tariff-free shopping

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In late July, President Trump signed an executive order to get rid of de minimis, a kind of a loophole where packages valued less than $800 could come into the US without tariffs.

Last week, post offices from India to Austria to France suspended some types of packages to the US. We speak to an Australian jewelry maker, a logistics expert and an economist to learn how this is changing shopping in America.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Cooper Katz McKim. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Inside the illegal vape boom

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:00:05 +0000

A booming underground vape market is thriving. It’s unapproved, unregulated, and risky. Today on the show, we hear from The Atlantic’s Nick Florko to dig into why illegal vapes have flooded the U.S., and what’s at stake.

Related episodes:
The vapes of wrath
How sports gambling blew up

AI creeps in, KATSEYE milkshakes, and China says “Zaijian!” to US soybeans

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: AI shuts out youth from the grind, China leaves U.S. soybeans behind, Gap has the then-and-now in marketing mind.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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What olive oil tells us about Trump's tariffs

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Trump's tariffs are making business harder for international olive oil producers and it turns out those tariffs are even complicating other parts of the Trump administration's agenda, too.

Today on the show: Olive oil and the unintended consequences of Trump's tariffs.

Related episodes:

Three ways companies are getting around tariffs

The legal case for — and against — Trump's tariffs

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Trump's unprecedented attack on the Fed

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:54:32 +0000

Last night, President Donald Trump posted a letter firing Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook. The reason? She was accused of listing two properties as her primary residences, which potentially gave her more favorable lending terms. This marks another escalation in the president’s battle for control of America’s central bank.

We’re publishing our conversation early about whether this is legal, what the Fed might do, and how the Fed’s independence is more fragile than we may think.

Related episodes:

Should presidents have more of a say in interest rates?

Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?

It's hard out there for a Fed chair

Patent Racism
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Three ways companies are getting around tariffs

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 07:05:05 +0000

Businesses are scrambling for ways to minimize the impact of the Trump administration’s global tariff policy. Today on the show, we go over some of the tricks and legal loopholes that companies are employing to get around these sudden import taxes.

Related episodes:
The legal case for — and against — Trump's tariffs
The secret tariff-free zone
You told us how tariffs are affecting you

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can you copyright artwork made using AI?

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:05:01 +0000

Copyright is the legal system used to reward and protect creations made by humans. But with growing adoption of artificial intelligence, does copyright extend to artwork that’s made using AI? Today on the show, how a test case over a Vincent Van Gogh mashup is testing the boundaries of copyright law.

Related episodes:
‘Let’s Get it On’ … in court
Copyright small claims court
The alleged theft at th heart of ChatGPT

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Job retraining and the brain, DC dining, and Robinhood's sports bet

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:27:30 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today’s episode: Job retraining boosts mental health (with more mixed results for romance); the complex picture behind why dinner reservations are down in DC; and the trading platform Robinhood gets into the sports definitely-not-betting game.

Related episodes:
The cautionary tale of a recovering day trading addict
The nepo baby premium, frothing markets, and Apple vs. Apples

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Cooper Katz McKim and Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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What happens when railroads get hitched

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 07:00:01 +0000

Two freight-rail giants could make history if their $85 billion merger gets approved. Union Pacific’s proposed marriage with Norfolk Southern would create the first coast-to-coast rail network. So why hasn’t it happened before now? Today on the show, the business of train mergers.

Related episodes:
How Yellow wound up in the red

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Cobalt-free batteries reign in Chinese EVs. Why not the US?

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:05:00 +0000

There’s been an era-defining race underway between two types of batteries used in electric vehicles: lithium batteries that use cobalt, and ones that use iron phosphate. Cobalt, a metal with a checkered human rights record, has been in the lead. Until recently.

Henry Sanderson’s book on the elements that build electric vehicles is Volt Rush: The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green.

Related episodes:
The race to produce lithium
How batteries are already changing the grid
How batteries are riding the free market rodeo in Texas
How EV batteries tore apart Michigan (Update)
Batteries are catching fire at sea

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How algorithms are changing the way we speak

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:00:02 +0000

Social media has birthed an entire lexicon replicated by millions online — even if these words don’t actually mean skibidi. On today’s show, we talk to author Adam Aleksic about how TikTok and Instagram's engagement metrics, and viral memes, are rewiring our brains and transforming language at warp speed.

Adam Aleksic’s book is Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language

Related episodes:
What we’re reading on the beach this summer

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Three innovations pushing the medical field forward

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:05:01 +0000

Innovation is crucial for long-term economic prosperity. One area where that’s happening aplenty: medical technology. From a cancer vaccine to an Alzheimer’s blood test to a life-changing exoskeleton, we take you on a tour of the economics of health technology.

Related episodes:
The hidden costs of healthcare churn (Apple / Spotify)
More for Palantir, less for mRNA, and a disaster database redemption arc (Apple / Spotify)
It's actually really hard to make a robot, guys (Apple / Spotify)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Voice-over by Greg Hardes. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The nepo baby premium, frothing markets, and Apple vs. Apples

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our rapid run through the numbers you need to know.

On today’s episode: John Legend croons; CPI inflation soothes; Same job as mom? You’ll earn more, dude; Apple vs. Apple, a courtroom feud.

Related episodes:
Why every A-lister also has a side hustle
The DOJ's case against Apple
The Intergenerational Transmission of Employers and the Earnings of Young Workers
Generational Wealth: How High Earners Help Their Children’s Careers

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why every A-lister also has a side hustle

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:00:03 +0000

Seemingly every celebrity has their own brand these days, whether it’s booze (Cameron Diaz, Matthew McConaughey) or cosmetics (Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga) or squeezy food pouches (Jennifer Garner). Today on the show, what is fueling the celebrity business bonanza? We hear from two legendary singers, Lisa Loeb AND John Legend, who are pursuing ventures outside of show business.

Related episodes:
The celebrity crypto nexus
The Olympian to influencer pipeline (Apple / Spotify)

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why Trump's spending bill could close your grocery store

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:29:48 +0000

Trump’s tax and spending law makes the largest cut in history to one of the nation’s biggest safety net programs. Today on the show, we explore how cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, impacts families and grocery stores alike.

Based on the digital story: Independent grocery stores have had a tough five years. SNAP cuts will make it harder

Related episodes:
Do work requirements help SNAP people out of government aid?
When SNAP Gets Squeezed
The trouble with water discounts

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The arduous system for getting aid into Gaza

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 07:00:02 +0000

Insulin needles. Sleeping bags. Nutella. These are items Arwa Damon’s charity — International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance — has tried to send to Gaza and Israel has rejected. It’s a glimpse into the harsh reality of a humanitarian crisis with no end in sight. Today on the show, we talk to Damon about the economics of running a humanitarian nonprofit and what’s stopping more aid from reaching Gaza.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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What we're reading on the beach this summer

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:00:59 +0000

It's time for our annual beach reading recs. Today we bring you three books, with a little economic learning to boot. Our recs:

Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service by Michael Lewis
El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott
Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic

Related episodes:
Beach reading with a side of economics How to beach on a budget
How to beach on a budget

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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More for Palantir, less for mRNA, and a disaster database redemption arc

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 07:00:59 +0000

It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today's episode: Palantir crosses a billion dollars in quarterly revenue (what do they actually do again?); mRNA vaccine research gets a big cut in RFK Jr's health department; and a climate disaster database gets a new lease on life.

Related episodes:
How Palantir, the secretive tech company, is rising in the Trump era
An indicator lost: big disaster costs
Moonshot in the arm

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Cooper Katz McKim. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The legal case for — and against — Trump's tariffs

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:00:59 +0000

President Trump's new round of tariffs took effect today. It will bring in billions of dollars to the government, in part paid for by U.S. importers who can decide whether to pass that cost onto American families. But are these tariffs legal?

Today on the show, the arguments for and against the president's tariffs and what happens to that tariff revenue if Trump loses.

Related episodes:
Trump's tariff role model
Dealmaker Don v. Tariff Man Trump
Are Trump's tariffs legal?

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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What you need to know about the jobs report revisions

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 07:00:59 +0000

Why do revisions to the jobs report happen? Today on the show, we speak with a former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics about why revisions occur and how we should interpret the monthly report's actual message.

Related episodes:
Can we still trust the monthly jobs report? (Update)
What really goes on at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Update)
How you're using AI at work

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Can we still trust the monthly jobs report? (Update)

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:51:18 +0000

Since his return to office, President Trump has waged something of a pressure campaign on economic data and the people in charge of delivering it. His firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner following a weak jobs report now has some wondering: can we still trust the official numbers? Today on the show, we're resharing our conversation with former BLS commissioner, Erica Groshen on her current fears for the integrity of government data. The original version of this story aired March 7, 2025.

Related:
What really goes on at the Bureau of Labor Statistics? (Update) (Apple / Spotify)
Would you trust an economist with your economy? (Apple / Spotify)

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What really goes on at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Update)

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:00:59 +0000

On Friday, we reported on the latest jobs numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which showed weaker than expected growth. On Friday afternoon, President Trump fired the person in charge of those numbers.

The monthly jobs report is a critical tool for the economy, used by businesses to make decisions and the Federal Reserve to set rates. So how exactly are those figures collected? Today, we're re-airing our behind-the-scenes look at how the BLS puts together the jobs report ... one call at a time.

This show originally aired June 6, 2022.

Related:
Can we trust the monthly jobs report?
Would you trust an economist with your economy?

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Corey Bridges. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How you're using AI at work

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 15:40:56 +0000

AI is a hot topic for both employers and employees in the workforce. That's why we wanted to hear from our listeners about how they are using AI at work. Today on the show, we explore the good, the bad and the ugly of AI in the workplace.

Related episodes:
Is AI overrated?
Is AI underrated?

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Why the Fed could lose $1.5 trillion

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

The Fed is on the hook for an estimated one-and-a-half trillion dollars. Despite the recent headlines, that's not because of building renovations. It's a much larger cost blowout caused by big actions taken during the pandemic to help the economy: quantitative easing.

Today on the show, we talk to both a critic of these actions and someone who helped put those those actions in play.

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The risk of private equity in your 401(k)

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:00:59 +0000

Private equity is a risky business. There are high-highs and low-lows. A retirement plan, on the other hand, is meant to be a reliable beast. But President Trump believes your 401(k) can handle it! On today's show, the president's expected executive order could help offer some legal cover for fund managers who include private equity in your retirement portfolio. What are the risks and benefits?

Related episodes:
The Prudent Man Rule (Apple / Spotify)
Carried interest wormhole (Apple / Spotify)
Let's party like it's NVIDIA earnings report day! (Apple / Spotify)

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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The hottest multilateral club doesn't include the US

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

BRICS is an economic alliance of countries that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several other nations. They met earlier this month to discuss everything from international law to global health. President Trump, however, is not a fan of BRICS and threatened members with increased tariffs.

So why has this alliance generated so much animosity from the President? Today on the show, we talk to the economist who coined the term "BRICs" about the origins of the group and why the international economic organizations have been western dominated for so long.

Related episodes:
China's trade war perspective
Is the US pushing countries towards China?

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Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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A baby bonds bonanza

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

Baby bond fever is catching on. In recent years, states like Connecticut have been experimenting with giving newborns government-seeded accounts that grow tax-free until they are 18. Now, President Trump's signature tax and spending bill will give a thousand dollars to every U.S.-born baby through 2028. On today's show, what are baby bonds and could they help tackle wealth inequality?

Related:
Baby bonds, proportional representation, and no left turns
Could cash payments ease recessions?
Building generational wealth in rural America

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Fact-checking by Cooper Katz McKim. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Nigeria notches new highs, Magic gathers millions, and crypto climbs

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

On today's episode: Nigeria gets a GDP surprise, Magic the Gathering mutes tariff impact for Hasbro, and Bitcoin reaches record highs following the passage of the GENIUS Act.

Related episodes:
How stable is Stablecoin? (Apple / Spotify)
Episode 609: The Curse Of The Black Lotus

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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How to beach on a budget

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 07:00:24 +0000

It's the Beigie Awards, our eight times a year salute to the art and science of telling stories about the economy. The most recent Beige Book shows that Americans are finding ways to spend less money ... including on their vacations. On today's show, we find out what Benjamin Franklin and Jersey Beach goers have in common.

Related episodes:
How many times can you say uncertainty in one economic report?
Trump's cuts come for food banks
The secret tariff-free zone

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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When Uncle Sam owned banks and factories

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 12:11:26 +0000

The quintessential American economic myth is that the free market picks winners and losers. But the federal government has long had a role in this equation, from the current administration all the way back to the Great Depression. Today on the show, we uncover the history of the country's national investment bank, which shaped the relationship between the government and the market in ways that are still felt today.

Check out Chris Hughes Substack

Related episodes:
The day Russia adopted the free market (Apple / Spotify)
Giant vacuums and other government climate bets (Apple / Spotify)

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Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Lunch with the man who coined TACO

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

Despite presidential saber rattling and huge tariff threats, the U.S. stock market keeps reaching record highs. Why?

Today we sit down with the man who coined the acronym TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) and chew through several hypotheses. (Over tacos, of course.)

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Your tinned fish obsession is helping resurrect a lost industry

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

Once upon a time, the states had a thriving tinned fish market. Like a lot of U.S. manufacturing though, that's been lost. But sardines are having a moment right now and that may help a growing effort to resurrect this lost industry.

Related episodes:
Why do shrimpers like tariffs (Apple / Spotify)
When a staple becomes a luxury (Apple / Spotify)
We're gonna need a bigger boat-building industry (Apple / Spotify)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Bonus episode: The Indicator plays... movie business trivia!

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

To cap off our weeklong series on all things Hollywood, we're going to have a little fun! Tune in to hear Adrian, Darian and Wailin battle it out as they try to name movies based on cryptic descriptions of the businesses featured in them. You can play along!

Related episodes:
When is cosplay a crime?
The story of China and Hollywood's big-screen romance
Why aren't filmmakers shooting in LA?
Before La La Land there was Fort Lee, New Jersey

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:07:52 +0000

Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this essential American service survive and thrive. Visit donate.npr.org now.

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Are you not entertained ... by our movie-related indicators?

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

The movies come to Indicators of the Week. We dig into why one film is letting you reserve tickets a whole year in advance, what ticket prices might tell us about tariffs and inflation, and how Los Angeles might be cutting back on the red tape when it comes to making movies there.

Related episodes:
Why aren't filmmakers shooting in LA? (Apple / Spotify)
The story of China and Hollywood's big-screen romance (Apple / Spotify)
When is cosplay a crime? (Apple / Spotify)
Before La La Land, there was Fort Lee, New Jersey (Apple / Spotify)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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When is cosplay a crime?

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 07:00:59 +0000

Cosplay—or dressing up as your favorite character from pop culture—is fun! But it can fall into a legal gray area when it comes to companies' intellectual property.

Today on the show: a group of cosplayers, Lucasfilm(!), a lawyer, and finding economic symbiosis in order to express yourself.

Related episodes:
Before La La Land there was Fort Lee, New Jersey (Apple / Spotify)
Why aren't filmmakers shooting in LA? (Apple / Spotify)

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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