logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
21m 23s

Less is not always more in economic data

MARKETPLACE
About this episode

It’s Friday, folks! Today we’re talking about some news coming from former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to take away key spending powers from Congress if reelected. We’ll get into what that would mean in practice. Plus, we’ll talk through the latest from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which just announced it’ll be decreasing the number of households surveyed for important reports like the monthly jobs report. It’s a move that will make decoding what’s going on in our economy more a little more challenging. Plus, we’ll get into Bazooka gum, the rise of Uncrustables and Forever Stamps getting more expensive during a round of Half Full/Half Empty.


Here’s everything we talked about today:




We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Up next
Yesterday
The countdown to a government shutdown begins (again)
Now that the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is law, Congress is turning its attention to another matter: avoiding a government shutdown. We’ll explain what it will take to keep the government running beyond Congress’ Sept. 30 deadline. And, we’ll fill you in on another deadline: Pr ... Show More
13m 6s
Jul 8
Who profits from immigration detention?
Republicans’ freshly passed spending bill sets aside $45 billion just to expand immigration detention centers. And a number of private companies are poised to profit from the surge in funding. On the show today, Deirdre Conlon, co-author of the new book “Immigration Detention Inc ... Show More
25m 13s
Jul 7
The first national private school voucher program just dropped
Republicans’ newly passed tax and spending law establishes the first major federal program for shifting public money to private schools. It comes in the form of a wonky tax break. We’ll explain how it will work. And, we’ll get into how massive cuts to Medicaid will impact rural h ... Show More
19m 16s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Spending cuts aren’t the only answer to the budget deficit
There’s been a lot of talk about the ever-growing U.S. federal deficit lately. That discussion has largely revolved around spending cuts. But the flip side of the issue— that is, increasing revenue — is largely ignored. We’ll get into what increasing the government’s revenue coul ... Show More
15m 37s
Jan 2024
It’s a rough housing market out there, folks
A drop in preowned home sales in December was the cherry on top of the worst year for the U.S. housing market since 1995. We’ll get into the causes of the slump and what it would take for the housing market to get back on track. And, a tax deal that would expand the child tax cre ... Show More
28m 51s
Mar 2023
All the single ladies … in the U.S. economy
The majority of women in the United States are single, and they’re becoming a big force in our economy. Single women now make up a significant share of the job market, homeowners and college graduates. But we’ll get into why that doesn’t necessarily amount to a boon for women’s w ... Show More
17m 23s
Apr 2023
Make Me Smart: A very cherry blossomy edition
Today’s News Fix comes with a side of cherry blossom-themed cocktails: New survey data shows that while most workers in the United States value paid time off, nearly half aren’t using all their vacation time. We’ll get into what the new research says about norms in the American w ... Show More
25m 33s
Aug 2020
Surveillance: Stimulus Standoff With Furman
Tony Dwyer, Cannacord Genuity Chief Market Strategist, says a negative feedback loop will become great enough that lawmakers in Washington will reach a stimulus deal. Lisa Hornby, Schroder Investment U.S. Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, says there is a tremendous dislocation betw ... Show More
41m 21s
Nov 2023
Team Favorite: Despite Recession Fears, Small Businesses Keep Opening. Can They Survive?
We're taking a break this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, so here's an episode you might have missed. We'll be back on Monday with a new episode. Even with a looming recession, high interest rates and a tight labor market, small businesses have been opening at record rates ove ... Show More
23m 28s
Jan 2019
The Bad Deals Edition
On this week’s episode, Anna, Emily, and Felix remember Jack Bogle, discuss constant Brexit drama, and take a look at bad dealmaking. In the Slate Plus segment: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s proposed vacation plans for New Yorkers. Email: slatemoney@slate.comTwitter: @feli ... Show More
43m 49s
Dec 2021
Money Talks: The not-so-great resignation
The idea that the pandemic has prompted people to quit their jobs en masse fills corporate earnings calls, headlines and social media. But do the data hold up? Host Patrick Lane investigates what is really going on in the labour market. Will the Biden administration usher in a ne ... Show More
28m 37s