Marketplace

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.

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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:

Inflation dipped slightly in July, but remains above Fed's target
Retail sales dropped sharply in July as consumers tighten spending
The AI slop-ification of Etsy
Fewer Canadian shoppers leave border businesses struggling
The 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 July
How small business owners are dealing with rising costs
Coal still behind natural gas, renewables in electricity production
How one restaurant is navigating Puerto Rico’s water crisis
Free 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 up
Refined oil prices face more pressure than crude, and consumers will pay the price
To understand how war impacts financial markets, look to the past
What 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 nihilism
Why lines of credit have become a preferred piggy bank for homeowners
Credit card delinquencies approach Great Recession levels
China 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 falling
Why Bed Bath & Beyond's parent company is pivoting to mortgages and flooring
Should we ditch paper checks? You probably write more than you think
She chose rural South Carolina over Italy and England
One bright spot in an otherwise-meh labor market? Temp jobs
A new kind of AI chip: Pringle-making gets optimized by artificial intelligence