Marketplace

Though it may not be instantaneous, China-based online clothing brand Shein makes it pretty darn close. They’ve cut the clothing design and production process down to as little as a few days. In today’s show, we talk about one of the fastest-growing e-commerce companies in the world revolutionizing fashion and apparel. But first: rental bidding wars, California’s power-sharing predicament and why we believe economists’ predictions when they seem to get it oh-so-wrong.

Red news booths used to dot Shanghai’s cityscape. Now, finding a newspaper in China’s financial capital is a difficult task. Newspaper circulation in China dropped by 37% between 2010 and 2019, according to government statistics. So, what does that mean for the few remaining newsstands that some say have outlived their use? Also on the show today: environmental justice guidance from the White House, hopes for Broadway’s reopening and fewer financial aid applicants.

The recent pandemic-induced recession only lasted only two months and ended in April 2020, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research’s Business Cycle Dating Committee. On today’s show, we’ll dig into why that is and why it feels like the recession is far from over for some Americans. Then, how manufacturers and retailers sneakily hide the fact that food prices are going up. Plus, what equitable infrastructure looks like for communities of color, low maintenance costs for electric vehicles and selling homemade bread straight from Grandma’s recipe box.

The number of 16- to 19-year-olds who work jumped to nearly 32% in June, meaning teens are helping ease the economy’s worker shortage. On today’s show, we’ll hear from two teenagers about what they’re doing to earn money. Plus, the European Union’s controversial carbon tariff, the red-hot homebuilding market and the Biden administration plays a cyberattack blame game.

Los Angeles County is reinstituting an indoor mask mandate starting this weekend. This might not be a shock to some, but it could have impacts on local businesses. We also talk about how the surge in leisure travel has spurred a growing need to retrain airline staffers, Canada reopening its border to nonessential visitors from the U.S. and the marketing power of TikTok.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo covered a variety of topics in today’s interview, which is the first half of our show today. Plus: Foreclosures, stadium litter and the state of the Chinese economy. Later, we check in with the post-Brexit European Union. Is Brussels trying to punish British film and TV?

Firefighters working for the federal government are often the first line of defense, but near the end of the line when it comes to pay, especially compared to their peers on the state and local level. That’s led to a boiling point for many, who leave for higher-paying jobs. Also, we look at all the elements that go into a flight, examine the advertising impact of the Olympics being a no-fan zone and check in on an upcoming food hall in California.

More than 30 million families will start receiving a new monthly payment from the government this week. On today’s show, we’ll look at how working parents might spend the money. Also, we examine a new report’s findings on clean energy, ask you to imagine a lake (it’ll make sense later) and explain what a “point” is on the Dow, Nasdaq and S&P.

Analysts are projecting epic earnings growth, especially when compared to the pandemic-ravaged second quarter of 2020. We take a look at what that could mean for companies going forward. Also, some coffee (prices) talk, the movement of the Bureau of Land Management headquarters and a look at where we stand on inflation.

The president signed an executive order today that targets anti-competitive practices. One of the items the order covers? Hearing aids, an industry where four companies control 84% of the market. Also, we discuss states’ cutoff of unemployment benefits, electric vehicles and a light pollution saga in Texas.