Marketplace Morning Report

A remembrance of Alan Greenspan

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan died today. He was 100. Greenspan served under four presidents in his five terms as central bank chair. This morning, we're joined by Julia Coronado — she’s the founder and president of MacroPolicy Perspectives and once worked alongside Greenspan — to discuss his economic legacy, his role in boosting Fed transparency, and his particular way of communicating. Then, from the latest season of Marketplace's "How We Survive," we dive into the ocean’s vast potential to store carbon.

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Stories featured in this episode:

From “How We Survive”: A Carbon Burial at Sea

Institutional investors versus average homebuyers

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:50:00 +0000

Congress is working on a bipartisan bill to address housing affordability by, among other things, making it easier to construct homes. One provision would place limits on the number of single-family homes that companies and institutional investors can purchase. The idea is to prevent deep-pocketed investors with all-cash offers from competing with regular buyers. Investors say they aren't the problem. So, who's right? This morning, we head to Las Vegas to find out. But first, businesses around the globe are pessimistic about how the war is affecting the economy.

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Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Stories in this episode:

In Las Vegas, institutional investors crowd out prospective homebuyers

The Rural Healthcare Crisis

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

With midterm elections just months away, the top economic concern for voters is the cost of healthcare. That's according to a recent poll from the health policy nonprofit KFF.

With that in mind, the “Marketplace Morning Report” team traveled to southwest Alabama to learn more about how policy decisions at the national level lead to consequences for health care access in local communities across rural America.

Many of the people we met often have to travel hours for basic healthcare needs. And experts say that’s a fate that lies ahead for even more communities because of changing federal policies.

In the absence of action to address health care shortages, many communities are turning within, leaning on each other and their own resilience to navigate the complicated landscape of what services remain.

A rough start to the new U.S.-Iran deal

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:10:00 +0000

A planned summit in Switzerland between the U.S. and Iran was postponed due to a fresh round of Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Though Israel and Hezbollah have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire, the developments are leading to skepticism of a longer-term fix for the Middle East conflict. How are global markets taking this news, and how long might it take to get back to business as usual? Also: the EEOC eliminates federal workforce demographic-tracking requirements, and California buildings must limit "embodied carbon."

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Stories featured in this episode:

California buildings must limit "embodied carbon." Here's what that means

What changing policies mean for higher education

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:50:00 +0000

This Juneteenth, we're checking in on the state of higher education among Black Americans. In 2024, the percentage of Black adults in the U.S. over the age of 25 who’d earned a bachelor's degree or a higher credential hit nearly 28%. That’s almost double what it was in the year 2000. Will the anti-DEI era change that trend? Then, brands have been spending big to reach U.S. Latino audiences during the World Cup.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Stories featured in this episode:

Is AI the answer to inflation?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:25:00 +0000

While the Federal Reserve voted to keep interest rates steady yesterday, the path ahead for rates is far from certain. One big factor is artificial intelligence, which new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh thinks can help workers produce more, adding to the supply of whatever a company makes with the same resources. Today, we'll unpack the argument, then paint a picture of the labor market and dig into energy lessons from the 1970s.

How to market EVs to rural America

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:40:00 +0000

The company behind the new electric Slate vehicle — which has a somewhat rudimentary, Tonka-truck-like frame — is highlighting its simplicity and affordability. Next week, we’re going to learn just how affordable it really is. And while some of Slate’s marketing is geared toward rural and working people, the reality is that driving EVs in those areas can still be a challenge. Then, Hollywood is backsliding on diversity, but that's not true for audiences.

The changing definition of the American Dream

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

What does the American Dream look like to you? Getting ahead? What about homeownership, raising a family, or financial security? This morning, we'll feature a discussion about generational differences in what success looks like and how the affordability crisis is forcing Americans to reevaluate what they're willing to sacrifice to get there. Also on the show: how retail sales data may factor into interest rate decisions and why Yum Brands is offloading Pizza Hut.

Let's talk about that Social Security cliff

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

A recent report from the Social Security Board of Trustees finds that the fund that helps pay for retirement benefits will run out of money earlier than previously projected. This morning, we'll unpack when people's benefits will actually be hit, the Congressional inaction behind this bleak picture, and how immigration policy plays into all. But first, if the Straight of Hormuz reopens, there could be a glut of oil next year.

The G7, war in the Middle East, and African economies

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:35:00 +0000

World leaders are meeting at the G7 in France, and one of the major topics is the diverse economic needs of Africa. The U.S. and Iran are also slated to sign a new peace deal on Friday. This morning, we'll discuss some headlines from the economic forum and how the war has affected African economies. Then, Corpus Christi’s water supply is reaching crisis levels, and one potential solution — a desalination plant — is sparking debate among area residents.

Health insurance companies adapt to people dropping coverage

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:50:00 +0000

More than a million people dropped their Affordable Care Act coverage this year after Congress let enhanced pandemic-era subsidies expire. That number is likely to rise significantly as the year goes on. And for the first time in years, the number of insurers offering ACA plans has dropped, too. We'll dig in. Also on the show: the global wait for fertilizer and the challenges of the teen summer job market.

Lessons for financial success — from outside of Wall Street

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

In a time of economic uncertainty and with so much information at your fingertips, where you get your financial advice matters more than ever. In a new Marketplace series called "Must Be the Money," journalist and author Lee Hawkins has candid conversations with athletes, influencers, and entrepreneurs about wealth creation and navigating today's economy. But first on the show, with an Iran deal and this first Federal Reserve meeting under Chair Kevin Warsh, we'll preview the economic week ahead.

What comes next for the Strait of Hormuz?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:05:00 +0000

A tentative deal has been reached to end the war in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, which has served as a mediator, says the agreement will be signed in Switzerland on Friday. But details of the agreement are scarce, and that uncertainty is likely to be reflected in oil prices. Then, first-time homebuyers remain locked out of the market. And from the latest season of the Marketplace podcast "How We Survive," can cloud-seeders save Utah's Great Salt Lake?

How inflation is changing the way we shop

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Today, “Marketplace Morning Report” Kimberly Adams is joined by economist Lauren Saidel-Baker with ITR Economics to break down the results. The food manufacturer Campbell’s reported a 4% decline in sales, citing inflationary pressures and softer demand, while Smucker’s, Dollar General, and Five Below all flagged consumer stress in their outlooks. Later in the show, we look at how longstanding challenges for rural Alabama communities accessing healthcare might get worse because of federal policy changes.

The biggest IPO ever is here

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:40:00 +0000

This morning, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams joins Marketplace’s Nova Safo to discuss the unknowns with which the stock will debut. SpaceX confirmed the public offering price is $135 dollars per share — that’s how it raised $75 billion, and how it'll make CEO Elon Musk a trillionaire — but the company followed an unconventional IPO process. Later in the show, Adams speaks with hospital administrators in Alabama about how they’re preparing for the effects of rural healthcare changes.

What will the World Cup's impact look like for host cities?

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Today, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams talks with Marketplace’s Henry Epp about his reporting on the tournament. High ticket prices are making it an expensive endeavor for fans, and those in host cities — like Kansas City — aren’t seeing the boon they may have expected from increased economic activity. But first, Adams is joined by Marketplace’s Nova Safo to discuss Visa, which says it integrated its payments network into ChatGPT to allow autonomous agents to shop for you.

The screwworm's return is affecting more than just cattle

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

This morning, we’re taking a look at screwworms — little flies that’ll essentially eat an animal alive if untreated. When cases started spreading in Mexico in late 2024, the U.S. mostly banned the import of live animals. Now, Mexico is responding in kind, with the most visible impact being to the horse industry. Later in the show, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams will unpack how, in Alabama, rural communities and healthcare systems are taking funding issues into their own hands.

How the war in the Middle East is impacting inflation

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:45:00 +0000

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the consumer price index for May this morning, with some bad news for consumers. Headline inflation soared over 4% for the first time in three years, driven in part by higher energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East. The question remains of how much higher oil prices will continue to seep into other areas of the economy. Also on today’s show is a look at how index fund providers could react to SpaceX’s upcoming IPO.

Medicare reimbursements are a hurdle for Alabama hospitals

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:30:00 +0000

This week, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams has been in Thomasville, Alabama as part of our series examining the economic challenges facing rural health care. This morning, we’ll look at how low wages in Alabama can mean low Medicare reimbursement rates — shaping how much doctors and nurses get paid, and how much money hospitals and clinics can make. But first, we’ll cover how solar power use in the U.S. is hitting new milestones amid energy price fluctuations.

A hospital saved her son. What happens now that it's closed?

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:41:00 +0000

We heard earlier about the closure of a hospital in Thomasville, Alabama, as part of our series chronicling the economic crisis that rural hospitals are facing. Now, “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams speaks with the director of Thomasville’s public library about the critical role the hospital played during a personal emergency and where community members turn now that it’s closed. But first, we’ll check on how small businesses feel about inflation and find out how SpaceX’s initial public offering could affect the rest of the market.

When the only hospital in town closes

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:05:00 +0000

Yesterday, as part of our series examining the economic challenges facing rural health care, "Marketplace Morning Report" host Kimberly Adams visited Thomasville, a town of 3,500 people in southwestern Alabama. Today, we'll learn from town residents what happens to a community — and its local economy — when addressing certain healthcare needs also means a multi-hour drive. But first, what would a government-controlled sovereign wealth fund that invests in AI look like?

Oil markets scramble after new strikes in the Middle East

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Oil prices are still heading up this morning, but a bit more slowly after tensions in the Middle East appear to be easing. Earlier today, Israel and Iran attacked each other for the first time since the ceasefire in April. What’s behind these rising oil prices, and why are traders bidding up crude? Also in the show: a preview of May inflation data and encouragement to work from home in World Cup host cities.

What the rural healthcare crisis looks like in Alabama

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:35:00 +0000

There are about 700 hospitals at risk of closure across rural communities in the U.S. Financial headwinds are mounting, with disappearing federal subsidies and cuts to Medicaid. Alabama is a state familiar with hospital closures and at risk for more. This morning, host Kimberly Adams visits Thomasville Regional Medical Center, a hospital that looks frozen in time but has been closed for almost two years, to learn what happens to a community's economy and access to healthcare when vital resources disappear.

A blockbuster jobs report

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:05:00 +0000

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its May jobs report earlier this morning. The economy created 172,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate stayed at 4.3%, and the April number was revised up by 64,000 jobs. Who's doing all this hiring? Also on the program, global food prices stabilized last month, but we're not out of the woods yet. And we'll check in on the momentum of the $100 billion wedding industry.

Should you buy SpaceX, Open AI, or Anthropic stock at IPO?

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:05:00 +0000

SpaceX is expected to go public next week in what could be the biggest initial public offering ever. Anthropic has also filed for an IPO, likely later this year; OpenAI is moving in that direction, too. With all the hype around these companies, should retail investors — or regular people, for that matter — get in on these IPOs? We do the numbers so you don't have to. Plus, migrant workers in Italy are organizing for better conditions, and Anthropic wants coordinated plans for slowing AI development.

A different kind of launch for SpaceX

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:10:00 +0000

SpaceX is set to go public next Friday. If all goes according to plan, the company is seeking a valuation of nearly $2 trillion. That would be the biggest initial public offering on record, and it would make CEO Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. We'll learn more. Then, as part of Marketplace's "What's That Like?" series, we head to Zigong, China, to learn what it takes to be a master lantern artisan.

Wanting full-time, only finding part-time

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

The jobs report comes out tomorrow. One of the stats in the report that's been rising is the number of people working “part-time for economic reasons.” That’s BLS-speak for workers who would like to be full-time but have had their hours cut or haven’t been able to find full-time jobs. Today, we'll hear from some of those workers and what it means for the overall job market. Also: construction jobs in the Mountain West and red warning signs in the Fed's Beige Book.

Let's do the (trimmed) numbers

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:50:00 +0000

The Federal Reserve has long relied on the PCE as its preferred measure of inflation. But there's another inflation yardstick known as the trimmed mean, which tries to smooth out big inflation bumps. Last week, the Dallas Fed's trimmed mean came in at 2.3% — lower than the PCE and much closer to the Fed's 2% target. What accounts for the difference, and why does it matter? Then, we hear how 48 "base camp" venues are preparing to host World Cup athletes.

More tariff whiplash

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:35:00 +0000

A day after lowering tariffs on some agricultural and manufacturing machinery, the Trump administration is proposing new tariffs on 60 countries, including major trading partners. President Donald Trump has been seeking to rebuild its global tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down many in February. Then, we'll dig into Big Tech's spending spree on AI infrastructure. And after, figure skating is having its biggest moment in decades. Can it last?

Inside a massive 24-hour braiding salon

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:20:00 +0000

At Nadine’s Hair Braiding, located in suburban Maryland, customers can walk in at 2 p.m. or 2 a.m. and find a stylist. The 10,000-square-foot salon operates with roughly 400 braiders working as independent contractors and serves hundreds of clients a day. Today, we're visiting the salon to learn about the challenges — and successes — of running such a huge operation. Also: why President Trump is reducing tariffs on certain large machinery, and how remote work could be sidelining younger workers.

What it's like on the ground in Cuba right now

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:17:00 +0000

It’s been about four months since President Donald Trump threatened sanctions against countries supplying much-needed oil to Cuba. The country's economy is already struggling with shortages, inflation, rolling blackouts, and the longstanding U.S. embargo. This morning, we'll hear from a sociologist and retired professor at the University of Havana who's lived through nearly every major chapter of Cuba’s modern economy — from the rise of Fidel Castro to the current economic crisis. But first, there's a modern gold rush (but this time for uranium).

The Fed's credibility is a "priceless asset"

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:50:00 +0000

Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell accepted the Profile in Courage award last night. Today, we'll delve into the role of the central bank, its current controversies, and signals from new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. Then, there's another potential wrinkle in the tariff refund process. And later, who’s underrepresented when it comes to shaping AI policy? A new mapping tool aims to boost transparency over the future of AI.

The state of the dollar store

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:40:00 +0000

Dollar General reports earnings tomorrow. The company already saw its stock jump last week after one of its rivals, Dollar Tree, reported a great first quarter. This hints at a growing demand for deals from consumers across the income spectrum who are feeling pinched by inflation. Then, we chat with the creators of an interactive map, which shows users the different companies and people who are shaping AI regulation across the U.S.

Cheaper EVs are on the way

Fri, 29 May 2026 15:10:00 +0000

The Jeff Bezos-backed Slate is a super bare-bones EV that can be configured as an SUV or pickup with starting costs in the mid-$20,000s. Chevrolet, Nissan, Toyota, and Subaru presently offer fully electric models in the $30,000 and $35,000 range, and Ford plans on launching a lower-cost electric truck next year, too. Today, we dig into the growing competition for cheaper electric cars. Also on the show: a check-in on consumer savings and market movements.

"Just me, myself, and I with the same bills"

Fri, 29 May 2026 11:50:00 +0000

More than a third of all Americans think they’ll lack enough savings to retire, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. For some, one solution to financial precarity in retirement is going back to work, or unretiring. Today, we hear from a 74-year-old retiree who's back in the job market in order to make ends meet. But first, durable goods orders are a sign of strong growth in a sea of economic worry.

Inflation's heading in the wrong direction

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:20:00 +0000

Inflation's heating up and is well above the Federal Reserve's goal. The central bank's preferred reading on inflation came out this morning for April. Prices are up 3.8% from a year ago; it was 3.5% in March. What does that mean for the future of interest rates and the inflation consumers expect going forward? Then, we'll discuss how the war in Iran has added new pressure to an already strained farm economy.

A harsh economic reality for famers

Thu, 28 May 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Before war in the Middle East, roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer shipped by sea moved through the Strait of Hormuz. In the last three months, fertilizer prices have climbed between 30% and 50%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. It's yet another growing expense for farmers, and it comes at a time when more farms in the U.S. are closing or going bankrupt. But first: A new study finds racial bias in AI hiring tools.

Should federal workers be bound by NDAs?

Wed, 27 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The Office of Personnel Management is proposing a strict new non-disclosure agreement for federal workers, which would bar them from disclosing “non-public, confidential, or proprietary information.” The Trump administration says a new agreement is needed to stop leaks to the press. A draft of the NDA is being published today. Then, from the latest season of Marketplace's "How We Survive," can we engineer nature to slow the climate crisis?

Younger consumers are stressed — but resilient

Wed, 27 May 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Consumers have grown increasingly worried about inflation, and many are delaying major purchases, according to J.D. Power. That's especially true for people under 40. In a survey, J.D. Power found that only about a third in that age group believe they can cover everyday expenses. We'll dig in. But first, Spotify has long invested in podcasts and audiobooks. Now, it wants you to listen to magazine articles on the platform, too.

Disillusioned and doomspending

Tue, 26 May 2026 15:05:00 +0000

Heard of "doomspending"? It refers to a feeling of hopelessness about your financial future and spending more freely now than you maybe should. From Marketplace's "This Is Uncomfortable," we dig into the self-defeating financial decisions we sometimes make — from splurging to regain a sense of control to not saving for retirement because it's hard to envision the future — and how to rethink those impulses. But first: new strikes in Iran but the same old market uncertainty.

So maybe no AI-induced job apocalypse?

Tue, 26 May 2026 12:17:00 +0000

At a recent conference, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman toned down his talk of mass worker displacement caused by AI. He said he thought AI would have had more of an impact on the elimination of white-collar jobs by now, adding that he’s “delighted to be wrong about this” and that there’s a “human part” of work that can’t be replaced. Also on the show: a preview of a Q1 GDP revision and the astronomical costs to attend this year's World Cup.

A different type of college counselor

Mon, 25 May 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Last month, four high school seniors participated in an experiment. A Stanford economist was given a list of colleges they were accepted to, what they were contemplating studying, their financial situations, and the aid packages they were offered. Then, she recommended the most economically sound college choice for each. Today, we'll delve into her choices and thinking. But first: why it would be crazy to think about cutting interest rates right now.

Worries about water out West

Mon, 25 May 2026 11:35:00 +0000

A new U.S. Department of the Interior report confirms what many already feared: The Colorado River system, which pumps out water to 40 million people in seven western states, is looking grim. It was already depleted from drought and a dry winter, but there’s now concern over hydropower and keeping taps flowing in Phoenix and Tucson. We'll dig in. Then, the number of Latino-owned businesses is growing at a fast pace.

When an algorithm tells you how to do your job

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:30:00 +0000

HotSOS Housekeeping is an app that uses real-time data to help hotel housekeepers speed up room turnover. But the constant monitoring means the tracking of every move, which can add stress and discomfort for some workers. Today, we hear from two housekeepers — one who has union protections and one who doesn't — about how the algorithmic app has changed their worklives. But first, rising prices mean the central bank may flirt with interest rate hikes this year.

The cost of that Memorial Day travel

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:40:00 +0000

Memorial Day weekend is here, kicking off the summer travel season. More Americans are expected to hit the roads this year, but it comes at a time when gas prices are the highest they've been in four years — up about a $1.40 since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, and Iran effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz. Also on this morning’s podcast: high-profile concert cancellations and a preview of consumer sentiment.

Big Tech's big IPOs

Thu, 21 May 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Some of the biggest names in tech are making moves to go public this week. SpaceX — Elon Musk’s rocket, social media, and AI company — filed for an initial public offering yesterday. And the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, could file for an IPO as soon as tomorrow. These companies have raised a lot of private capital over the years. Why go public now? Plus, the pharmaceutical industry is investing billions in finding exotic radioactive isotopes to treat cancers.

Call it the "Great Flattening"

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:55:00 +0000

About 8,000 Meta employees lost their jobs this week. The company is looking to offset its massive AI spending and “operate with a flatter structure." 'Flatness' has become a common refrain when tech companies shed jobs. It refers to the elimination of layers of middle-management roles, as AI agents take over some coordinating functions. Also on the show: Nvidia faces stiffer competition, and we learn about advancements in radiation cancer therapies.

Why you should care about the global bond sell-off

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:05:00 +0000

Investors have been souring on bonds. To entice them back, bond yields have been rising. The yield on the 30-year bond yesterday hit 5.2%, the highest rate since 2007; 10-year yields are about as high as they've been in more than a year. Many people have exposure to bonds in their retirement accounts. Bond yields also impact the rates on mortgages and business loans. We'll explain. Then, Google's search revenue remains strong — thanks in large part to AI.

A longer — and more expensive — fire season

Wed, 20 May 2026 11:55:00 +0000

The number of hot, dry, windy days is increasing, setting the stage for fires. Wildfire season is off to an awful start. In March, Nebraska had its largest wildfire in state history. Right now, a fire outside of LA is forcing evacuations. While the federal government spends about $3 billion on wildfire suppression each year, most of that is being spent, and states are having to fill the gaps. Also: why Google is "leading the way" in the AI race.

Should home insurance companies be making this much money?

Tue, 19 May 2026 14:30:00 +0000

If you’re a homeowner — this is no surprise to you — property insurance can be expensive. It seems to get more and more pricey each year. Some might blame climate change or natural disasters, but if you look under the hood of the $1 trillion in premium payments last year, the numbers might tell a different story. We'll unpack. But first, we'll discuss and preview earnings for some of America's largest retailers.