Marketplace Business News

07/04/2025

A wrestling gym, a wedding venue, and an elementary school inside an old mall? American malls are reinventing themselves, and Kimberly is here for it.

We're back on YouTube next Friday at 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET for Make Me Smart's Economics on Tap livestream. Revisit last week's episode at mktplc.org/3IrmQzm — and make sure to subscribe and turn notifications on so you don't miss the next one!

07/04/2025

When Joanne Hislop had triplets, her employer allowed her to work part-time. But that wasn’t the end of her story.

When Joanne Hislop had triplets, her employer allowed her to work part-time. But that wasn't the end of her story.

07/04/2025

In 2024 only 86 of the 9,761 craft breweries in the U.S. were Black-owned, less than 1% overall, according to a report from the National Black Brewer’s Association.

Since founding Crowns and Hops in 2016, Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter have been on a mission to create a Black space in an industry with very few Black owners.

And until this past May, one milestone had eluded Ashburn and Hunter: a physical location of their own where they could sell their beer on tap. Now, Ashburn and Hunter have a chance to do just that with a pop-up taproom residency in partnership with Creature Comforts DTLA, available through the end of September.

“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal spoke with the co-founders at the taproom about the space, as well as what it’s been like operate during the protests and where they’d like to take their brand next.

Listen to their conversation: https://mktplc.org/4nCIBfW

07/04/2025

At tense times like these, military families brace themselves, knowing their loved ones might be deployed.

That’s what service members signed up for, but deployment can extract a cost from families.

Uncertainty around deployment can make it hard to plan financially.

07/03/2025

The fear of ICE raids is keeping California farm workers on edge. Plus, we visit affordable housing built on public land, break down why lower tariffs will still pinch consumers and discuss the latest jobs report.

Today on Marketplace.

Plus, we visit affordable housing built on public land, break down why lower tariffs will still pinch consumers and discuss the latest jobs report.

07/03/2025

Today, the House passed the GOP’s massive tax and spending bill — a major win for Republicans. But the language around the bill and how it passed has been full of wonky jargon.

We break down a few key terms you need to know. For more on the bill and what’s in it, hit the link 👉 : https://mktplc.org/44sz8yW.

07/03/2025

When you combine a rising demand for labor with a shrinking workforce, you get an environment that is primed for wage growth. But experts say that the increased labor costs that accompany wage growth could amount to higher prices for services and goods.

Labor costs are a big component of the cost of services, and consumer spending on services accounts for nearly half of this economy.

07/03/2025

In California, the Associated Press uncovered more than 200,000 so-called "ghost students" — scammers using AI to pose as college students and pocket financial aid.

In some cases, real people are left with debt after their identities are stolen.

Associated Press data reporter Sharon Lurye explains how scammers are using stolen identities to steal financial aid and student loans from colleges and prospective students.

07/03/2025

The U.S. dollar has lost 10% of its value since January as global investors responded to trade tensions and rising deficits.

But the drop is counterintuitive — current financial conditions would typically support a stronger dollar. Here’s what that means for the rest of the economy.

The U.S. economy is still a good investment, if you look at growth and high interest rates, but investors are rattled by high tariffs and high deficits.

07/03/2025

What can a consumer spending pullback do to the job market? Plus: Why the U.S. dollar has been falling and how economists analyze hiring data.

Today on Marketplace.

What can a consumer spending pullback do to the job market? Plus: Why the U.S. dollar has been falling and how economists analyze hiring data.

07/02/2025

Last week a company called QuantumScape announced what it says is a major breakthrough in solid-state battery production.

Solid-state battery technology is seen as something of a holy grail for the EV industry and the potential advance has investors excited.

Quantumscape said it plans to start selling solid-state batteries to companies like Volkswagen by next year.

07/02/2025

What might the dismantling of USAID mean for U.S. influence abroad? Plus, school districts are scrambling as federal education dollars are on hold and the WNBA is expanding.

Kimberly Adams and Reema Khrais unpack the news on today's episode of "Make Me Smart."

https://mktplc.org/3TGVYOx

What the shutdown might mean for U.S. influence abroad.