Marketplace

French voters hit the polls Sunday to decide between incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and hard-right rival Marine Le Pen — known for her pro-Russia, anti-NATO and anti-European Union sentiments. Though Macron leads in the polls, Le Pen has working-class appeal. Today, we’ll get you caught up on the election and its economic consequences. Plus: It’s Earth Day, but supply chains and trade wars are holding the renewables industry back. But first: We’ll hash out tariffs and rate hikes in the Weekly Wrap.

Two years ago, 4.2 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits. Last week, that number was 184,000. Nowadays, job seekers can be picky while employers bend over backward to attract and retain workers. Today, we look at the historic strength of this job market. Plus: What’s behind the surge in natural gas prices, what Shanghai’s lockdown feels like nearly four weeks on and how flight attendants in the ’60s helped working women’s rights take off.

Homeowners associations aren’t just making rules about lawn ornaments and holiday decorations. HOAs are increasingly leveraging their authority to restrict investors from buying up houses to rent. Today, we’ll dive into what that means for wannabe buyers and renters. Also on the program: Consumers stick with pricier brands (for now), inflation complicates infrastructure spending and student debt cancellation could narrow the racial wealth gap.

The International Monetary Fund slashed its prediction for global economic growth in 2022. Some big reasons: the war in Ukraine, fallout from sanctions on Russia, and the pandemic. Those factors are complicating the jobs of economic forecasters everywhere. Today, we dig into it. We’ll also revisit those Trump-era tariffs, examine the market for digital voices and check in on the evolving economics of streaming platforms.

Elon Musk has a 9% stake in Twitter and offered to buy the company Thursday. Now, Twitter has countered by activating a “poison pill,” a move that gives other shareholders the opportunity to buy more shares and dilute Musk’s power. We’ll also chat about whether we’ve reached peak inflation in the Weekly Wrap. And while China’s COVID-19 restrictions disrupt global supply chains, trucking capacity in the U.S. begins to loosen.

Today, the Federal Reserve released its March meeting minutes. While many Fed officials are keen on half a percentage point interest rate hikes going forward, the central bank is also planning to shed $95 billion worth of bonds per month. We’ll dig into its plans to turn down the temperature of the economy. Plus: Why economists care about the Case-Shiller home indexes and what temporary protection status means for Ukrainians and Afghans.

The value of the ruble tanked under international sanctions after Russia invaded Ukraine. It’s since recovered, at least on paper. Today, we look into how the Kremlin manipulated supply and demand for its currency to keep it stable. Plus: The European Union proposes a Russian coal ban, the war in Ukraine boosts beer prices and the Great Resignation may actually be kinda normal.

Why are prices rising so quickly? The pandemic, supply chain snarls and war in Ukraine are obvious culprits. But, c’mon, what about corporations padding their profit margins? Or just-in-time supply chains? Today, we try to piece together the inflationary puzzle. Plus: The U.S. is maintaining its global financial clout — for now, the trucking industry grapples with wait times at ports and warehouses, and stock buybacks make a comeback.

Employers are on hiring sprees and they’re offering higher wages. Workers are coming off the sidelines in in-person, professional and business services. At the current rate of job growth, the economy could return to pre-pandemic employment levels this year — once inflation, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine don’t stand in the way. It’s a red-hot jobs market, and today we’re digging in. Plus, how wildfire building codes have helped protect newer California homes.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently ordered state agencies to investigate families that provide gender-affirming medical care to transgender kids for child abuse. Some parents are now looking to move to states with stronger LGBTQ protections — but that can be an expensive and disruptive solution. Today, we hear from some of those families. Plus, we’ll do the numbers on business costs, durable goods and shrinking consumer purchasing power.