logo
episode-header-image
May 2021
33m 16s

A Strange Moment for the U.S. Economy

The New York Times
About this episode
Why is the economic recovery from the pandemic so uneven? Why are companies finding it hard to hire? And why are the prices of used cars surging? Recent economic reports have commentators scratching their heads. We dig into the theories behind this strange moment for the American economy. Guest: Ben Casselman, an economics and business reporter for The New ... Show More
Up next
Today
An I.V.F. Mix-Up and an Impossible Choice
For millions of families, in vitro fertilization is a modern medical miracle. But the field is largely unregulated, and for a small number of parents, things can go terribly wrong.Susan Dominus discusses her story about how two families navigated an unthinkable I.V.F. mistake tha ... Show More
46m 31s
Yesterday
Trump’s D.O.J. Went After the Fed. It Backfired.
The Trump administration’s decision to open a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome H. Powell, has stunned the worlds of business and politics.Colby Smith and Glenn Thrush, who have been covering the news, discuss how the investigation came about, the p ... Show More
28m 15s
Jan 14
Iran on the Brink
Iran is experiencing expansive protests after economic grievances snowballed over the past two weeks into a broader challenge to the country’s authoritarian clerical rulers.In recent days, a full picture of the government’s crackdown on demonstrators has emerged, garnering global ... Show More
28m 46s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
If the economy’s doing better, why are the ‘vibes’ still off?
<p>The American economy appears to be making a miraculous recovery from inflation and the pandemic. So why the bad economic vibes? Consumer sentiment is low, and the Biden administration is struggling to gain credit for dodging recession. The lessons from that could soon be felt ... Show More
25m 52s
Apr 2022
The Economy Is Weird Right Now
Unemployment in the United States is near record lows, wages are growing quickly, and spending in the service sector is increasing as the pandemic lulls. But there's also some worrying news: more job openings than people who want to fill them, global economic uncertainty stemming ... Show More
14m 29s
Jul 2022
Freaking out about the economy? Let's talk.
<p>Gas prices are high, unemployment is low and the tools the federal government has to fight inflation could cause a recession. So how should we think about the economy right now? We asked our econ reporters and a personal finance columnist for advice.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Rea ... Show More
30m 33s
Mar 2023
Yes, This Economy Is Confusing
The past few weeks have been head spinning: U.S. job numbers? Solid... except for those layoffs in the tech sector. Inflation? Slowly dropping... but still high. Not to mention the bank failures...   It all has made us wonder: Why was it so hard for economists to predict this? Wh ... Show More
26m 29s
Jun 2024
The Economic Theory That Explains Why Americans Are So Mad
<p>There’s something weird happening with the economy. On a personal level, most Americans say they’re doing pretty well right now. And according to the data, that’s true. Wages have gone up faster than inflation. Unemployment is low, the stock market is generally up so far this ... Show More
1h 31m