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
Aug 22
Economics on Tap: Anime Edition
On the show today, Kimberly joins us from the anime convention AnimeNYC to share more about the economic impact of the anime industry and what cosplayers and business owners are saying about the economy right now. Spoiler alert: Tariffs are top of mind! And, we’ll weigh in on cor ... Show More
26m 48s
Aug 21
What to know about changing COVID vaccine guidelines
COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, and the federal guidelines for who should get vaccinated are in flux. We’ll unpack how it could impact what insurers are willing to cover this fall. And, as President Trump’s federal takeover of Washington D.C. continues, why is the city so q ... Show More
16m 7s
Aug 20
Trump turns up the heat on the Fed
Ahead of the central bank’s big meeting in Jackson Hole this week, President Trump is ramping up pressure on the Federal Reserve, calling for Fed governor Lisa Cook to resign over accusations of fraud. We’ll get into it. And, SpaceX got a win in federal court that could have last ... Show More
23m 56s
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