In the Commerce Department’s retail sales report for July, sales at stores of all kinds were down 0.6%, when a modest increase in sales had been expected. Though some discretionary purchases are up, consumers are certainly tightening their belts. Also in this episode, we look at the decline of Etsy, how businesses near the Canadian border are dealing with fewer visitors, and the staying power of Candy Crush.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Inflation dipped slightly in July, but remains above Fed's targetRetail sales dropped sharply in July as consumers tighten spendingThe AI slop-ification of EtsyFewer Canadian shoppers leave border businesses strugglingThe incredible staying power of Candy Crush Saga

The government is selling 30-year bonds with interest rates at a quarter-century high. We talk with Greg Ip at the Wall Street Journal about how that could be a warning from investors over stubborn inflation and mounting debt. Also in this episode, we look at how energy prices shape the Producer Price Index, rising prices for retailers, and coal slipping as an energy source, before diving into infrastructure with a look at Puerto Rico’s water crisis and solar panel installation in Ann Arbor, Michigan.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Inflation cools for producers in JulyHow small business owners are dealing with rising costsCoal still behind natural gas, renewables in electricity productionHow one restaurant is navigating Puerto Rico’s water crisisFree solar panels and home batteries? Ann Arbor's trying it out

The average household’s buying power has slipped by about 0.1%, when the latest CPI report is compared to last week’s jobs numbers. In layman’s terms, Americans took a pay cut over the last year. But economists aren’t so clear on what comes next. In this episode, we’re on the inflation-outpacing-wages beat. Plus: Drivers brace for continued high gas prices, fractional homeownership startups present tradeoffs in this squeezed housing market, and we break down some lesser-known economic indicators.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories from this episode: Inflation has slowed, but wage growth hasn't caught upRefined oil prices face more pressure than crude, and consumers will pay the priceTo understand how war impacts financial markets, look to the pastWhat you should know about fractional homeownership

Credit card delinquencies are sitting at 13% so far this year. It’s the highest national rate since the tail-end of the Great Recession. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, including high inflation and job uncertainty, is partially to blame. Also in this episode: Home equity lines of credit become more popular as traditional borrowing rates climb, small business owners are cautious but optimistic — and trying to hire — and Kyla Scanlon explains economic nihilism.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Younger consumers are turning to "little treats" in the face of economic nihilismWhy lines of credit have become a preferred piggy bank for homeownersCredit card delinquencies approach Great Recession levelsChina is shaping the technology of the future. Where does that leave the U.S.?Small business owners are feeling uncertain but optimistic

More bad news from last week’s jobs report: Wage growth slowed to 3.2%, the lowest yearly rate in five years. Combine that with high inflation, and consumers are losing purchasing power. In this episode, where did the wage growth go? Plus: Temp firms report increased demand, Bed, Bath & Beyond’s parent company wants to expand into services, and Pringles implements AI on the production line. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:U.S. consumers' real earnings have been fallingWhy Bed Bath & Beyond's parent company is pivoting to mortgages and flooringShould we ditch paper checks? You probably write more than you thinkShe chose rural South Carolina over Italy and EnglandOne bright spot in an otherwise-meh labor market? Temp jobsA new kind of AI chip: Pringle-making gets optimized by artificial intelligence

The July jobs report is out, and it’s a doozy: The U.S. labor market shed a net 23,000 jobs last month. Previous months, which saw moderate gains, were revised down. In this episode, which sectors cut the most roles, and what it all signals about the broader economy. Plus: Climbing car prices lock buyers in longer-term loans, communities combat a teacher shortage by building affordable housing, and we want to hear your stories about voluntarily leaving the workforce.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:The economy lost 23,000 jobs in July. Should the Fed be worried?Here's where the economy lost jobs in JulyCar prices continue to rise. Auto lenders compensate with long-term loansThe school districts building affordable housing for teachersHow leaving the labor force helped this caregiver find her calling

As high gas costs pile up for drivers, Big Oil is getting jumpy. That’s because one way to bring prices down, at least temporarily, is an oil export ban. The Trump administration hasn’t signaled support for such a ban, but oil firms are being proactive, by lobbying the White House to find alternatives. Also in this episode: CEOs are sour on this economy, a major university invests big in artificial intelligence, and we analyze the difference between Fed Chair Warsh and former Fed Chair Powell’s public statements.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Big oil is not up for another export banCan you spot the difference between Warsh and Powell's FOMC statements?Why you should care about CEOs' confidence in the economyThe FIRE movement: How soon can I quit?USC pushes to expand AI research with $200 million gift

You know how wages have, on average, stagnated when you account for inflation? Well there’s one group that saw some actual wage growth last month: Job changers. Pay growth for people who switched jobs was 7% in July, according to ADP. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the entire labor market is heating up — some in-demand labor sectors might be accounting for most of that bump. Also in this episode: Gen Z bucks the K-shaped economy trend, insurance billing errors can add up for employers, and Kai visits a used EV auction.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Job-changers are seeing their highest wage increases in nearly a yearGen Z is spending more across all income bracketsIn healthcare, catching errors from insurers is a growing industryThe entrepreneur building a marketplace for used EVs

In July, the manufacturing sector grew at its fastest month-to-month rate in four years. A new tax law likely boosted company spending to some degree, but AI investment packed the biggest punch — demand is strong and the money is flowing. Also in this episode: McDonald’s suffers a sales slump, the latest JOLTS data points to a steadily improving labor market, and Kai talks to one economist behind a Trump administration investment tracker.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Manufacturing sector benefits from continued AI demandTracking down the Trump administration's $27.6 billion in investmentsWhy job openings have been rising slowly this yearMcDonald's sales soften as diners spend cautiouslyWhere did China's oil imports go?

Permian Basin oil companies are reporting strong quarterly earnings, as the Iran war keeps prices up and supply restricted. West Texas, formerly in a slump, has seen an uptick in hiring and new rigs. But oil companies are moving cautiously — they want to avoid a bust after the boom. Also in this episode, more caution: Small businesses carefully weigh workforce expansion, the U.S. invests billions to prop up the Japanese yen, and a Colorado peach farmer preps for a water shortage.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Why did the U.S. just spend billions to prop up the Japanese yen?What the bond market is trying to tell usHow small- and medium-sized firms are navigating this labor market momentBecoming a freelance court reporter helped this mom find herselfHigh oil prices lift all boats in the Permian Basin, but companies remain cautiousPeaches pay the bills for Western Colorado farmers, but drought makes their future uncertain

Amazon’s autonomous vehicle company, Zoox, can now roll out 2,500 of its vehicles annually in the next two years. Are more robotic cars coming, or will there be more speed bumps? But first, we’ll look at the market impact of the Fed’s decision to keep interest rates steady in our Weekly Wrap. Plus, the effect of rising health insurance costs for employers, a retiree returning to the workforce for a family business, and a look at how Boulder, Colorado is making room for the Sundance Film Festival.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:Weekly Wrap: Kevin Warsh's dilemma on interest ratesRising health insurance costs may take a bite out of your paycheckLeaving retirement for a new family businessAmazon's self-driving Zoox taxis are about to hit the roadsWhen a legendary film festival comes to Colorado, will homeowners open their doors?

Since 2020, the cost of groceries has risen 26%. But contrary to what you might think, cash-strapped consumers aren’t necessarily staying away from pricier options. In this episode, why Americans are doubling down on organic — even as the cost of their overall grocery haul rises. Plus: Why more customers are choosing chargebacks, what economists predict about inflation two years from now, and how a Maine nonprofit is bringing lobstering to the next generation.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today’s episode:The Fed doesn't have an inflation crystal ball, but it does have "sticky-price CPI"In spite of price hike fatigue, consumers are still snapping up organic foodsCredit card chargebacks are on the rise — part of the reason is fraudMultiple wars drive up the price of diesel"Never would have expected to be here": Young Mainers consider the lobster