Afleveringen
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Just like some people fudge the numbers to lower their taxes, some companies do the same when paying tariffs on foreign goods. The federal government is mostly trusting that whatâs in that shipping container is actually 100 bicycles, and not 500 bicycles. But erratic, rapidly changing trade policy is making it easier to evade tariffs, a customs broker told us. Also in this episode: Car insurance costs dip (but probably wonât stay down), a six-figure household income isnât what it used to be, and the U.S. dollar takes a tumble.
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Stocks arenât the only assets in the financial markets that were beat up this week by President Trumpâs tariffs. Bonds suffered too. After 3-year Treasury yields rose in the face of disappointing demand, bond investors are scrutinizing Treasury auctions for signs of further weakness. Also in this episode: Trump's anti-DEI push could hurt minority contractors, Atlanta Fed chief Raphael Bostic counsels caution and a millennial in Texas dreams of becoming a homeowner.
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Weâve said it more than once lately: This economy is defined by uncertainty. And as President Trump makes aggressive, if erratic, moves on trade and federal funding, firms and organizations are taking action to protect their interests. In this episode, some universities issue bonds ahead of federal funding cuts and some companies retract their investor guidance for 2025. Plus: Tariffs canât reshore every sector of manufacturing and we launch a series documenting the consumer economy, focused on the views and experiences of people.
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The issuance of corporate bonds has slowed to a crawl, thanks to all that uncertainty in the economy. And without raising money in the bond market, firms may pull back on long-term investments. Also in this episode: The Democratic Republic of the Congo extends its ban on cobalt exports to raise prices, strains in the bar and restaurant business lead to closures and we answer listener questions on trade policy.
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Import levies on Chinese goods amount to 54% right now. But some things that China excels at producing will likely remain in China. In this episode, why shoemaking canât up and leave anytime soon. Plus: Copper prices ballooned and tanked in the past few weeks, European carmakers weigh their options in the trade war and recession fears, not inflation fears, are driving bond yields.
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Tariff-driven inflation will hit Americans with the lowest incomes the hardest, slashing their disposable income by at least $1,700 a year, the Yale Budget Lab predicts. Weâll explain why. And the labor market could suffer too if demand falls for all those higher-priced products. Plus, New Mexico allocates oil and gas revenue to child care programs, and in booming West Texas, some residents struggle to access running water.
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Uncertainty about tariffs and trade policy has been top of mind since President Donald Trumpâs election in November. We finally know how high those tariffs will be (between 10% and 54%) and to which countries theyâll apply (almost all of them). Now, a key question is: How much will prices rise? In this episode, business owners prep for the costs and some economists predict an economic downturn. Plus: The administration wants the IRS to share undocumented immigrantsâ protected information with Homeland Security.
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Corporate dealmakers hoped merger and acquisition ventures would heat up this year. But the first quarter of 2025 saw the slowest M&A activity in more than a decade, according to Dealogic. In this episode, why firms arenât shelling out billions to buy another company in this economy. Plus: Nintendo announces a new Switch console, Gen Z suffers in a low-hire, low-fire job market, and a new study shows nonwhite bankruptcy filers face a lower likelihood of debt relief.
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People feel richer â and spend accordingly â when their assets rise in value. Thatâs called the wealth effect. But when folks get their retirement account statements for Q1 of 2025, they may feel the opposite, since most of those accounts lost value. Will Americans pull back on their spending as a result? Plus, subcompact cars steer into the sunset, farmers are pessimistic about tariffs, and very small businesses can be a bellwether of economic trends.
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Just how expensive has homeownership become? To afford a typical home, households need an income of about $117,000 right now â a 50% increase from $78,000 in January 2020, according to a Bankrate report. Over the same five years, wages rose just 27%. What gives? Also in this episode: The dollarâs value drops, Europe weighs economic independence amid tariff troubles and falling enrollment shrinks budgets at rural public schools.
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Consumers say theyâre fed up with inflation, then they keep spending. But their behavior could be catching up with their anxiety, an economist told us. The clues are in data released today by the Commerce Department. Also in this episode: Can you live on just 13 gallons of water a day? One water-saving group thinks itâs possible. Plus, we look into how cities, farmers and compost brokers are tackling organic waste.
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The U.S. economy grew at a 2.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported today. That number tells us where the economy was headed coming into this year. But with uncertainty surrounding tariffs, that story has taken a turn. Plus, how sinking credit scores caused by student loan delinquencies could hurt the overall economy, and the dramatic rise in modern-day train heists.
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More tariffs are on the way, this time targeting vehicle imports. President Donald Trump favors import taxes, partly because, he argues, theyâll help shrink the U.S. trade deficit. But if tariffs cut Americansâ spending on imports, foreigners are likely to cut their contribution to funding the U.S. budget deficit. Also on the show: BLS economists use not one but six different methods to measure unemployment, and organizational studies professor Elizabeth Popp Berman explains why university endowments canât simply replace federal funding.
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The latest reading marks the fourth straight month of declining consumer confidence, and it fell more than expected. How will the souring mood affect spending and the job market? Also in this episode: Political economist Mark Blyth discusses how President Trump might respond to a potential recession. Plus, why tariffs are making investors wary of the U.S. and a company claims to have a new way to make seawater drinkable.
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The Donald Trump administration wants to strengthen U.S. manufacturing with tariffs on imported goods. We look at the latest purchasing managers report to see if new trade policies have made an impact. Also in this episode: Homeownership rates stall for Gen Z and millennials, shakeups at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and Baltimoreâs new Francis Scott Key Bridge design takes shape.
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Weâre tackling a âmysterious and importantâ question in todayâs episode: Should Congress use âcurrent policyâ or âcurrent lawâ baseline when measuring tax cuts? Itâs not unlike our reporterâs internal struggle on whether to cancel Apple TV+ now that Season 2 of âSeveranceâ has ended, or renew it. Except lawmakers are dealing with trillions of dollars. Plus: African immigrants fill critical home health aide roles in Texas, and The Conference Boardâs Leading Economic Index falls for the third-straight month.
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More tariffs are set to take effect April 2, and in most cases, American consumers and businesses will pay the tax. Weâll explain why some sectors expect prices to rise as soon as next month while others wonât feel a pinch until later in the year. Also in this episode: Tariffs could inflate the dollarâs strength while sapping demand for American exports, Gen Zers feel âtrappedâ by microtrends and Alaskan crude oil production is projected to jump in 2026.
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Federal Reserve policymakers arenât cutting interest rates right now, though they expect two rate cuts in 2025. When â and if â those cuts come will depend on how the trade war shakes out. In this episode, what static rates mean for consumers and businesses. Plus, more byproducts of tariff-driven economic uncertainty: bond spreads widen and export prices rise, particularly on agricultural products.
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âRecessionâ recently peaked on Google Trends â a sure sign Americans are sweating the possibility of an economic downturn. But what do the numbers say? Well, the hard data so far reflects a pretty strong economy. But the soft, economic-vibes data, is ⊠less optimistic. Plus: Government credits help Tesla and other EV-makers stay afloat, liquefied natural gas exports are slated to double in five years and advocates help young people whoâve aged out of foster care find resources.
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About 8.9 million. Thatâs how many U.S. workers worked more than one job in February â an all-time high, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We spoke with some workers holding multiple job about why this economy necessitates a second (or third) gig. Plus, economist Mohamed El-Erian on DOGE and recession odds, and we break down why the U.S. energy mix probably wonât change much under President Donald Trump.
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