With federal funding for COVID vaccines running out, doctors and clinics will soon have to pay for doses. Today, we’ll take a closer look at what this means for pediatricians and how the costs may cut into the care they provide. Also on the program: the state of the housing market, a growing list of Apple App Store critics and the stakes of the University of California strike.

New York City employers will be barred from using artificial intelligence in hiring starting next year, unless the program passes an audit. AI can narrow down candidate pools but often excludes otherwise qualified applicants who lack a college degree. In this episode, we’ll look at the push to address bias in hiring technology. Plus, the looming rail strike, “buy now, pay later” for groceries and why Frontier Airlines won’t answer the phone.

Despite inflation and rising interest rates, consumers are still spending as if they were awash in cash. But now they’re using credit cards, spending more on necessities and less on luxuries. Want more economic data? Plenty will come out next week. Plus, what melting ice means for Greenland, a day care center that saved itself by temporarily closing, and the Weekly Wrap.

As central banks around the world raise interest rates to fight inflation, it’s taking a toll on real estate markets far and wide. Today, we’ll map out where housing markets are stalling and where they’re finding buyers. Plus, retailers cautiously mark down goods, a classic chair gets an eco-friendly redesign and a novelist charts how humans would respond to an environmental catastrophe.

Unemployment claims are at a three-month high, which isn’t a great sign for the economy. But orders for durable goods — like auto parts and manufacturing equipment — were higher than anticipated in October. We’ll try to make sense of the economy’s mixed signals in today’s episode. Plus, a price cap on Russian oil fuels disagreement, “wonky” produce gains traction in the U.K., and small businesses make themselves holiday-ready.

An unknown buyer, or buyers, has been purchasing a lot of gold recently. About 400 tons changed hands in the third quarter, worth more than $20 billion. Sure, countries can use it to pay for imports during a crisis or evade U.S. sanctions, but who would want to and why? Plus, borrowers fret over high interest rates, streaming services are in a bind and marshmallows pose a sticky question for tax policy.

These are still not normal times, and that means a not-quite-normal holiday season. Thanks to inflation, holiday shoppers are getting less bang for their buck, while a pilot shortage is causing major headaches for travelers and regional airports. Today, we’ll unwrap what’s in store. Plus, a CEO succession lesson courtesy of Disney, the FTX debacle worsens crypto trust issues and the threat of eroding beaches.

The transition to remote work during the pandemic could have offered tribal communities an opportunity to curb the outmigration of young people. Yet Native workers have disproportionately been left behind. Today, a closer look at the causes and costs. We’ll also take stock of the week that’s been, dig into booming apartment construction and unpack new guidelines for relieving student debt in bankruptcy.

There’s bad blood between Taylor Swift fans and Ticketmaster after the site was nearly overwhelmed by fans trying to nab concert tickets. But the company is also drawing ire from elected officials who call it a monopoly. Today, how Ticketmaster cornered the market on live events. Plus, Starbucks workers go on strike, the FCC readies an updated broadband map and one reporter documents her return to China’s zero-COVID bubble.

Target released disappointing quarterly numbers today. Revenue growth slowed as shoppers contend with inflation, and the CEO warned of a slow holiday season. Could Target’s results be the ghost of holiday shopping yet to come for retailers? Also, companies find solutions to crowded warehouses, chief diversity officers grapple with a lack of support and international students return to U.S. colleges.

Nearly 40% of workers wouldn’t, according to a new survey. The pandemic dramatically shifted people’s relationships to and feelings about work. In this episode, a look at bleak workplace attitudes and what’s driving them. Plus, what surging metal prices mean for the global economy, how a slowing housing market affects city taxes, and why low levels on the Mississippi River are problematic for agricultural supply chains.

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit today. Tariffs and other restrictions have hampered the already complex relationship between the two countries. Today, we outline the economic stakes of their conversation. Plus, a shortage of electrical transformers frustrates utility companies, the failure of FTX provides a painful lesson for cryptocurrency investors and retailers hope for predictability this holiday season.

When Elon Musk purchased Twitter, he borrowed billions. Now, the banks that helped finance that purchase are trying to offload those loans, but potential buyers are offering a sharply lower price of 60 cents on the dollar. Investors are wary of the risk after Musk’s first weeks as Twitter CEO. Also in today’s episode, a look back at this week’s economic data, a review of Amazon’s cost-cutting strategy and a warning for buyers in the crypto-sphere.

October’s consumer price index contains a glimmer of hope. Though prices are still on the rise, inflation may finally be starting to moderate. On today’s show, what to make of one month’s worth of mildly good news. Also on the program: a computer chip oversupply, a pulse check of the real estate market and a lab trying to disaster-proof buildings.

After rapid growth during the pandemic stalled, Meta announced that it’s slashing 13% of its workforce. It’s not the only company cutting staff and grappling with dashed expectations. Today, we’ll interrogate the sustainability of the more-is-more approach to corporate growth and what it means for the folks being laid off. Then, a crypto exchange crash, inflation’s impact on medical insurance and a firsthand account of identity theft.

It can be overwhelming to take stock of everything — and everyone — lost during the pandemic. But how do you quantify the time lost? For millennials, the sequestered years are ones traditionally marked by major life events, like marriage or having children. Today, we’ll tally the costs. Plus, small-business owners feel cautious about the economy, AMC Theatres strikes a deal with Zoom and trade schools see enrollment spikes.

Tech giants Twitter, Stripe and Lyft slashed jobs last week, and Meta will reportedly follow suit. It’s a reversal of the sector’s pandemic hiring spree and could be an indicator of wider cuts across the economy. Plus, conservative groups spend big on school board elections, Florida’s cultural institutions try to recover after Hurricane Ian, and a Supreme Court case threatens the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell received some welcome news in today’s jobs report: Wage growth is slowing a tad. The gains certainly aren’t as low as the Fed is hoping for, but the moderation could be a hint that the job market is starting to cool off. Plus, Twitter provides an example of how not to go about layoffs, and YouTube’s copyright tool sparks frustration for musicians.

Ahead of the holiday travel season, pilots at two major airlines rejected tentative contracts this week, and a third voted to authorize a strike. Pilots are bargaining for better wages and quality-of-life provisions, all while clocking record-high overtime and grappling with staff shortages. Also in this episode, worker productivity gets a boost, graphite shortages are bad news for EVs, and extreme heat threatens low-income households in Miami.

The Federal Reserve announced another interest rate increase today. On the program, we’ll unpack the key questions on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s mind as he guides the central bank in its quest to quell rising prices. Then, it’s back to Buffalo, New York, where we visit a food truck providing better access to fresh produce and reflect on what economists could learn from the people behind macroeconomic data.

A cooling labor market means cooling inflation — at least in theory. But fresh data shows that job openings are growing and the quits rate remains high. Today, we’ll dig into the implications for workers and the Federal Reserve. Then, we’ll travel back to Buffalo, New York, to hear how the pandemic has altered the trajectories of a global hospitality company, a small inn and a young worker.

We spend a lot of time on this program talking about the big-picture data of this economy. But data doesn’t tell the whole story. Today, we travel to Buffalo, New York — a city where low-wage workers have enjoyed wage growth of more than 40% in the past few years — and hear how workers along one street are navigating inflation, the labor market and recovery from the pandemic.

Inflation is the unwanted guest who somehow has not taken the hint. Prices are still rising month over month. And though the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes are being felt throughout the economy, we’ll likely be asking that question for a while before prices start to stabilize. Plus, a race toward I bonds, a plan to keep college students in STEM and the economic woes of going on tour.

Last quarter’s gross domestic product showed better-than-expected growth. Problem is, GDP is backward-facing, and a strong dollar, rising mortgage rates and slowing consumer spending all hint at trouble ahead. Later in the program: how schools are prepping to train chip production workers, why investment is pouring into quantum computer development and how a dark chapter of history spawned a booming tourism industry in Salem, Massachusetts.

We’re in the throngs of earnings season. Corporate ​​earnings releases are kind of like report cards for large companies, and while many have beaten quarterly expectations so far, their outlooks tend to be a little less rosy. Today, we’ll check the mood of corporate America. Plus, schools weigh spending options for COVID relief funds, short-term mortgages worry British homeowners and small businesses see supply chain relief.

The last few years have been a roller coaster for renters. Though  rents are up roughly 9% year over year, that’s an improvement from the increases seen last year. Is this a sign that the rental market is finally moderating, or just a temporary seasonal dip? Plus, a boost in new car inventory, new pay transparency laws that encourage fair compensation and banks’ role in the racial wealth gap.

The Fed’s interest rate hikes continue to be felt across the economy. First, we’ll hear how those higher rates are luring investors away from tech companies, then we’ll see how decades-high mortgage rates are stretching the time houses remain on the market. Also on the program: Medicare recipients foot the bill for a rejected Alzheimer’s drug, and artificial intelligence rocks the digital art world.

Last spring, the worst wildfire in New Mexico’s history grew from prescribed burns lit by the U.S. Forest Service. It cost the federal government billions and devastated hundreds of homes and businesses. Now, liability concerns are making the Forest Service more cautious about using the wildfire prevention tool — just as experts say it’s needed most. Plus, persistent global recession fears and the intentional dryness of earnings calls.

The United Kingdom’s economy was sent into a tailspin during Liz Truss’ six short weeks as prime minister. Today, we’ll check in with Marketplace’s London bureau chief to discuss the political and economic fallout of Truss’ resignation and hear what’s next for 10 Downing Street. We’ll also dissect the corporate strategies for price hikes, follow the money in midterm elections and weigh infrastructure improvement options for cash-strapped towns.

It’s been a rough year for the stock market. But the stock market doesn’t always provide a clear roadmap of where the economy is headed. Today, the factors behind stock market volatility and how much we can read into the ups and downs. Also in the program: Europe turns to coal to avoid an energy crisis and a look at natural disaster modeling following Hurricane Ian.

Across the economy, companies are bracing for a cold economic winter. While banks are stockpiling cash to cover defaulted loans, tech companies like Microsoft are slimming staff and scaling back recruitment. In today’s episode, a look at how companies are prepping for an economic downturn. Plus, a silver lining for supply chains, second lives for school buildings and a nationalized green energy company proposal in the U.K.

The Department of Education recently opened its application for student loan forgiveness. With over 40 million people eligible for debt relief, it’s the largest operation of its kind in the department’s history. Today, we take a look at the logistics, hurdles and stakes for the federal government. Plus, a pricier holiday shopping season, a flawed economic indicator and a boost in accessibility for hearing aids.

Think of inflation as a runner. In parts of the economy, that runner is slowing — still going forward, just not as fast. Today, we’ll unpack which sectors are leading the race and which are faltering. Plus, how the Fed is tackling that persistent inflation, what a Kroger-Albertsons merger means for your grocery bill and how China’s economy is doing on the eve of its 20th Communist congress.

Core inflation registered 6.6% in September on a yearly basis. But just how much pain you feel paying your bills depends on who you are and what those bills are for. In today’s show, a look at why the headline inflation figure is probably different from the inflation you feel. Plus, the factors behind sky-high airfares, the problem-solving prowess of women in leadership and the hurdles to correcting unequal federal policies.

A recent proposal by the Joe Biden administration could reclassify gig workers as employees rather than independent contractors and expand benefits and protections for millions of Americans. Today, a look at what the move would mean for workers and companies. Also, big but slowing price increases for producers, a dramatic cooling in the mortgage business and a firsthand account of Hurricane Ian’s damage near Fort Myers, Florida.

A union representing freight railroad workers rejected the most recent tentative contract with major railroads, meaning that a strike — and threat to the supply chain — is once again possible. Today, we’ll take a look at the concerns over working conditions and the costs of a strike. Plus, a sign of small business optimism, a drop in computer demand and discussion of financial reparations following a wrongful conviction.

Today, we’ll provide an economic preview for the week ahead. First, we’ll take a look at Social Security’s anticipated cost-of-living adjustment and hear what the historic increase would mean for recipients being squeezed by inflation. Then, we’ll dive into what Wall Street will be listening for in this week’s corporate earnings calls and check out the hefty discounts shoppers can expect this holiday season.

The economy has made a remarkable recovery since the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, but where would we be without that downturn? On today’s show, we talk “what ifs” with economists. Plus: semiconductor demand, oversharing on LinkedIn and what to make of the September jobs report.

When the pandemic began, many working moms took a step back from their careers. Now, multitudes of women are still sidelined due to a lack of affordable, reliable child care. Today, how a worker shortage in the sector creates a barrier to women reentering the job market. Plus, potential food relief for Floridians reeling from Ian, a rural hospital’s reopening struggles and the battle over Iran’s internet censorship.

Critics are worried that the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates too quickly and may tip the economy into a recession without taming inflation. So what else can the Fed do? Today, we dive into the policy, politics and power at Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s fingertips. Plus, a squeeze in warehouse space, a predicted slowdown in global trade and the people locked out of China by its zero-COVID policy.

The number of job openings dipped 10% between July and August — a bigger drop than many economists predicted. It might show that the imbalance between supply and demand for labor is shrinking, and could be a sign that the Fed’s rate hikes are working. Plus, how workers are “performing” productivity, why importers are struggling to take advantage of a strong dollar, and when will this bear market finally end?

Europe is looking to boost imports of liquefied natural gas as winter approaches. But supply chain problems abound, from too few ships to transport natural gas and too few facilities to load and unload it. Today, a look at what it’ll take to solve Europe’s energy crisis. Plus, rising interest rates hit manufacturing, libraries are stretched thin and a vineyard tries to adapt to the climate crisis.

The economy seems full of contradictions right now. The threat of a recession looms and inflation is rampant, but consumers are still spending. Economists often look to history when making predictions, but the past offers little guidance to make sense of our current economic moment. Plus, the challenges of moving to more storm-resilient infrastructure and the toll of rising energy costs on U.K. businesses.

Last year, dozens of container ships waited off the Californian coast — some for weeks — to  dock and unload all the goods consumers were demanding. But those backlogs have eased substantially. Today, we’ll take a trip to the Marine Exchange of Southern California to hear what’s changed since and what hasn’t. Plus, why jobless claims are dipping and what Hurricane Ian means for Florida’s fragile insurance industry.

The U.S. dollar has been appreciating this year as investors take advantage of climbing interest rates. But the value of the dollar is forcing economies around the globe to pay the price. Today, we’ll delve into how a strong dollar is affecting imports, exports and the debts of foreign countries. Plus, the Bank of England makes a drastic move, and Hurricane Ian highlights power grid resilience.

Plenty of folks who began working from home during the pandemic are still there. Today, we’ll take a look at how much that WFH reality may be pushing up housing costs and what it means for the Federal Reserve’s inflation fight. Plus, how portfolio dips affect your spending, how women’s colleges are responding to financial pressures and what Gallup’s CEO thinks about happiness and work.

The stock market is not the economy. But financial markets around the world are looking at economic conditions right now and not liking what they’re seeing. Today, we’ll unpack the threats to global economic growth, which experts warn won’t let up anytime soon. Also, investors bail on British bonds, HIPAA excludes health apps and workers who cleaned a coal ash spill fight for compensation — and their lives.

The soft landing the Federal Reserve hopes for the economy appears increasingly out of reach. Stocks tumbled this week and fears of a global recession loom, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell isn’t looking to back off his inflation fight. Today, we’ll try to chart the rocky path ahead. Plus, a look at natural gas reserves, a check-in with publishers and booksellers, and a taste of the nonalcoholic beverage industry.

Around this time of year, companies begin hiring seasonal workers. Yet some large companies are planning on fewer hires. Despite a tight labor market, companies are uncertain whether consumer spending will remain strong through the holidays and are anxious about a recession. Plus, the Bank of Japan tries to prop up the yen, school districts call for cybersecurity funding and U.S. oil reserves reach a four-decade low.

That is how Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell characterized price stability while discussing the central bank’s interest rate hike Wednesday. The move pushes its benchmark rate to 3% or higher from zero in just six months. Today, we’ll explain what the Fed will be looking for to show that inflation is under control. Plus, what corporate layoffs tell us about the economy and how Germany is responding to its energy crisis.