Marketplace

The S&P 500 has hit more than two dozen record highs this year, and it’s got AI firms to thank. In fact, it’s easy to forget that a lot of other public companies are in a tough spot. In this episode, why there’s a widening bifurcation of the stock market. Plus: Rising auto loan delinquencies could be a warning sign for broader consumer strife, financial institutions kick off Q3 earnings season, and Kai explains what the yield curve tells us about the bond market.

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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 stock market gap between AI and everything else is growing
What to watch for in next week's Q3 earnings
"Circular spaghetti": What the tangled AI supply chain means for regulation
Want to know what the bond market is thinking? Check out the yield curve
Rising auto loan delinquencies reflect the K-shaped economy

We got fresh data showing imports and inventory levels are up. Is it a sign of a strong economy, or a sign businesses are bracing for impact? In this episode, AI remains a major driver of this strange economy. Plus: The U.S. is simultaneously importing and exporting a ton of semiconductors, the euro drops to a 17-month low, and monetary policy disproportionately impacts Black employment rates.

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:

Imports and inventories are rising. Does that mean the economy is strong?
Semiconductor imports and exports have been rising all year
The Black-white employment gap is growing. What's that say about the economy?
Sometimes quitting a job is a "real sign of strength"
France's debt pushes the euro to 17-month low
World Cup business keeps kicking after the final whistle

Despite Trump’s best efforts (a flurry of loosely targeted tariffs), the U.S. trade deficit is widening. But why is it widening? And what does it all have to do with foreign investment in government debt and the strength of the U.S. dollar? We’ll explain. Plus: Electric truck sales rev up amid record-high diesel prices, a 19th-century novelist popularized economic theory for her broad audience, and investors prep for upcoming Treasury auctions.

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:

What exactly are investors looking for in this week's government bond auctions?
The U.S. dollar is at its strongest in 18 months
The Regency-era novelist who popularized economics through her books
Here's why the trade deficit is growing
As diesel prices soar, so do electric truck sales
The algorithm knows you have a baby, and it will exploit that

In Nike’s earnings report this week, the brand said it may begin shrinking its operations and laying off workers. It’s been losing market share for a while now. We look at what went wrong in the last decade. Also in this episode: the government-funded EV discounts that still remain, the business of affiliate links, and a former business owner’s mini retirement during fatherhood.

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:

An unsettling economic picture
Can Nike get its mojo back?
A year after federal EV tax credits ended, a patchwork of state EV incentives remains
Here, take my link! The rise of affiliate links
How becoming a dad brought this outdoorsman full-circle

The PCE price index (that's the Fed's preferred measure of inflation) held steady year-over-year in the latest report. Economists expected it to move up. So, why didn't it budge -- and why aren't we all celebrating? Also in this episode: Seasonal work is hard to find so far this fall, Trump's immigration crackdown weakens construction productivity in South Texas, and Kai explains the long-term implications of rising borrowing costs.

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's preferred inflation measure was lower than expected in August. Is that a good thing?
Can the U.S. just grow its way out of debt?
Immigration crackdown adds delays, costs to South Texas construction
More people are looking for seasonal work this year. So far, it's hard to find
There are more private security guards than police. How much are they paid?