Marketplace

Former retail giant J.C. Penney is a now a “penny stock” and is at risk of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Today, we look at what happens when a company gets delisted. Plus: the future of gig economy workers in California and the unwritten rules of the middle class.

Online shopping has made returns easier than ever — but all that stuff can pile up, and it’s not always in the best shape. Today, we dive into the growing secondary market for your online returns. Plus: How the trade war is affecting food and the growing business of clothes rentals.

As we enter the dog days of summer, several states are offering sales tax holidays. Officials say if you give people a temporary tax break, they’ll spend more at local retailers, and not just on school supplies. But do they really work? Today we dig into it. Plus: A conversation with Ben Folds about his career in music and why FedEx is dropping Amazon.

GM announced last fall it would shut down manufacturing at some of its plants. About 15% of its workforce would get laid off, and there were new jobs available for workers willing to relocate. We follow one family for whom following GM didn’t feel like much of a choice at all. Plus: Toni Morrison’s legacy, China’s new label as a currency manipulator and what it’s like to “curate” snacks at Google.

Usually when the markets have a day like today, we like to say, “Take a deep breath, calm down.” Not today. We’re in uncharted territory now. We catch you up on everything you need to know about China’s escalating tariffs and the race to the bottom for currency. Plus: How businesses react to tragedy.

President Trump says China is bearing the costs of tariffs his administration has imposed on Chinese goods. That’s … not how it works. Today, we look at the effects of the trade war on consumers. Plus: the ice cream sandwich turns 120 and what the pyramids of central Mexico tell us about ancient economies.

Illinois and New Jersey just banned employers from asking for job applicants’ salary history. At least 18 states and as many cities have adopted similar bans. Today, we look at the effort to fix pay gaps in race and gender, and how businesses are responding. Plus: What low construction spending tells us about the economy and a conversation with REI’s CEO.

Well, it happened. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since the financial crisis. It was a quarter point. Markets reacted. We’re still here. So what’s gonna happen next? Today, we look back to 2008, explore negative interest rates and get a former Fed economist to answer your questions. Plus: We dig into what “Medicare for All” really means.

The security breach at Capital One Financial, revealed this week, compromised the personal data of more than 100 million people. The Equifax breach hit 147 million people. Target’s 2013 data breach? Some 40 million. And there have been others. Today, we spoke to a mathematics professor about the odds you’ve been affected. Plus, yes, we’re prepping for the big interest rate cut.

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time since 2008. Does that mean a recession’s on the horizon? Plus: the fight over who gets to sell cancer drugs and the uncomfortable feelings that can happen when your parents control your money.