Marketplace All-in-One

Things could get weird in the world of oil if Russia follows through on an invasion of Ukraine, analysts warn. Our hosts discuss how the market might react. Plus, we’ve got plenty of updates on the Winter Olympics and the Freedom Convoy at the Canadian border, and we’ll check into the rocket headed for the moon. Stay to the end to catch our Make Me Smiles.

Here’s everything we talked about on the show today:

Got a question for Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday? You can email a note or send a voice memo to [email protected]. Or, you can call and leave a voice message at (508)-827-6278 (508-UB-SMART)!

The highest inflation in years comes with the lowest consumer sentiment in a decade. Or is it the other way around? With low morale due to inflation, wages increase to compensate, prices escalate to address higher wages … and worries of the inflation-sentiment spiral continue. But these mind games won’t last forever. Also on today’s episode, we look into what’s happening with the racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL; how the Russia-Ukraine conflict is driving up oil prices; and how the demolition of weekly motels in Reno, Nevada, has shed new light on the city’s housing crisis.

Well, it depends. For some jobs, wage hikes are actually outpacing price increases. But, overall, prices are rising faster. We dig into the data so you know where you stand. Plus, economist Julia Coronado joins the show to break down the latest in financial markets. And, a majority of the emergency housing vouchers approved by Congress to provide pandemic relief are unused. It’s because they don’t go far enough to cover high rent costs in the booming housing market.

This Valentine’s Day, inflation is also running red hot. Supply chain disruptions are a part of rising prices. And that goes for flowers, too. Also, a major trade route between the U.S. and Canada is open to traffic once again after police cleared out those protesting Canada’s COVID rules. Plus, consumers aren’t feeling very confident about the economy. How does that affect spending? And, markets around the world start the week down on fears of Russia invading Ukraine.

From the BBC World Service: The economic impact for people in Ukraine is already becoming very real. Global stocks drop as the G-7 emphasizes it’s ready to impose harsh economic sanctions on Russia if it invades. Plus, voters in Switzerland say “no” to big tobacco, backing tighter restrictions on cigarette advertising. And, after protests over vaccine mandates, the busiest border crossing between Canada and the U.S. reopens.

During the pandemic, many people reached out for human connection online, leading to a boom in romance scams and “catfishing,” which is when someone fakes their identity or appearance online. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams discussed the situation with Richard Gargan of the background check company BeenVerified, who wrote a report about the scale of the problem and how romance scammers operate.

On this edition of Economics on Tap, we’ll get into the whiplash that some parents experienced today after the Food and Drug Administration reversed course on when it might authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5. Plus, more news from the border of Ukraine as President Joe Biden advises Americans in the area to leave as soon as possible. And to kick off the weekend, we’ve got a round of our favorite game, Half Full/Half Empty, featuring electric trucks, members of Congress trading stocks and a puzzling choice over augmented snacks.

Here’s everything we talked about on the show today:

If anything makes you smile over the weekend, or if you have questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. Or leave us a voice message. We’re at 508-827-6278 (508-UB-SMART. )

Rams or Bengals? Buffalo sauce or barbecue? Cash, credit or crypto? Tune in to the Super Bowl this Sunday, and you’ll notice that cryptocurrency exchange companies are investing millions for screen time during commercial breaks. The industry sees a lot of potential among sports fans, and on today’s show we’ll talk you through the strategy. We’ll also talk about MoviePass, which is staging a comeback in a changed industry. But first: Just how hawkish will the Federal Reserve get?

The second part of our discussion with Ad Age’s Jeanine Poggi explores how this year’s Super Bowl commercials could reflect the diversity and inclusion efforts both in society and within the advertising industry itself. Christopher Low joins us for more talk about inflation’s effect on the markets.

Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just about the game on the field, it’s also been of the biggest days of the year for advertising. What can we expect from this year’s crop of commercials during an era where topics ranging from NFTs to crypto to diversity can be tackled in a TV spot? We speak to Jeanine Poggi, an editor at Ad Age, for some of the answers. Canadian trucker protests are disrupting the supply chain, and various groups have urged the Canadian government to resolve the matter. We take a look at the effects of inflation when it comes to meat prices.