Marketplace

Boeing posted strong Q1 earnings Wednesday, and executives breathed a sigh of relief. The aircraft manufacturer survived several years of significant tumult, which included labor disputes, plane malfunctions, a production backlog, and shifting FAA restrictions. In this episode, how Boeing managed a comeback. Plus: Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket will start offering perpetual futures, carmakers push to follow Tesla’s direct-to-consumer sales model, and tariffs disrupt regular shipping cycles.

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Haven’t you always wished for robots to do menial labor? That’s sort of what agentic artificial intelligence is — rather than existing solely in a chat box, the technology can excecute complex tasks. These “helpers” have spurred a rat race in certain tech circles: With the help of personalized AI agents, just how productive can you be? Also in this episode: The U.S. dollar drags, budget airlines seek relief from high jet fuel prices, and consumers use credit to keep up with daily expenses.

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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.

Rising gas prices, stemming from President Trump’s war against Iran, have frustrated drivers all spring. But diesel prices are up too, and diesel is the real engine of our economy. In this episode, small business owners face higher costs and uncertainty as diesel prices climb. Plus: Consumer sentiment reaches record lows even as spending remains stable, economists and farmers explain why tomato prices rose 15% in a month, and bond traders expect the Fed to hold rates steady all year.

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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.

QVC, which pioneered live TV shopping shows, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. Leadership made the next step clear: a pivot away from television and toward something akin to social commerce, like livestreamed sales on TikTok Shop. But can the legacy brand compete with new, social media-driven shopping platforms? And after that, we wrap up Kai and Nela’s trip to Vietnam with visits to an AI startup and a neighborhood of expats.

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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.

Cautious employers are hiring more temporary workers, according to the Fed’s latest Beige Book. It's sort of a half-step toward creating permanent roles. The good news is temp jobs can be a leading indicator for overall job market strength. But contract work lacks the stability and benefits of full-time employment. Also in this episode: Kai visits a sprawling electronics street market and a tech startup in Vietnam, jet fuel shortages put Europe on edge, and we check in with a hog and soybean farmer in Illinois.

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.