Marketplace

... They need some context. Yes, 4.1 percent quarterly GDP growth on an annualized basis is unambiguously good news. But a lot's happened in the economy this quarter that's worth mentioning as we take a wider view on how fast the economy is growing. We'll start today's show by doing the numbers. Then, we'll look at some big numbers, like 1,200 percent profit growth at Amazon. That's a huge leap, and it's especially notable because the company's biggest moneymaker isn't retail. Finally, public housing in NYC needs more than $32 billion in property repairs. How can the city make up that gap?

Summer has traditionally been kind of a dead zone on the television calendar. The big networks mostly save their big premieres for fall. But increasingly, and especially this summer, with streaming services and cable networks pumping out more and more content, there's a lot to watch out there. We'll talk with producer Marti Noxon, who's behind HBO's "Sharp Objects," about TV business and her other two shows on air this summer. Plus, GDP numbers come out tomorrow, and experts predict strong growth. But with tax cuts, tariffs and high consumer spending, what will this number really mean for the economy? Then, looking back on the career of former Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne. 

President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced negotiations today to try and cool recent trade tensions between the United States and the European Union. We'll talk about what's changed, what's still in the "to-do" pile and why American corporate giants are speaking out about tariff pain. Then, more on the state of the American housing market amid the news this morning that home sales were off 5 percent from May to June. Plus: Life, death and whatever crazy stuff is happening on "Riverdale" with Archie Comics co-CEO Jon Goldwater.

The Department of Agriculture announced $12 billion in emergency assistance for farmers hurt by President Donald Trump's trade policies, and retaliatory tariffs from China, the EU and Canada. We'll tell you what you need to know. Then: House Democrats introduced a bill today aimed at making higher education more affordable, including two free years of community college. That's one proposal Arne Duncan pushed as education secretary under the Obama administration. We'll talk with Duncan about his new book "How Schools Work." Plus, a look at the New York startup that wants to be "Yelp for cops." 

Welfare reform is in the air again, with a House bill and a renewed push at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. But what do we really know about welfare in America? Especially since the last reform effort two decades ago? Our podcast The Uncertain Hour will break down the latest numbers. But first: Summer homebuying season is underway, but sales fell in June for the third-straight month amid a shortage of existing homes. We'll look at why, and what that says about the housing market. Plus, why is Amazon suddenly the destination for strange novelty food items? 

President Donald Trump accused China of manipulating its currency today. It's not the first time the White House has thrown out the accusation, but this time it comes amid trade tensions, when the yuan has fallen 8 percent compared to the dollar, which could offset the effects of tariffs. We'll talk about that at the top of the show today, along with Trump's recent comments about the Fed. Then, the latest in Trump’s efforts to roll back Obama-era regulations includes the Endangered Species Act. The administration plans to analyze the economic costs of regulating endangered wildlife, which has environmentalists worried. Plus: What "WALL-E" says about us, a decade after its release, and a conversation with the author behind "The Meg" on the enduring power of sharks on the big screen.

"Domestic car company" is kind of a misnomer these days. Auto manufacturers get parts from all over the world, and companies like Ford and General Motors stand to both benefit and be hurt by tariffs, making the politics much murkier. We'll talk about it, plus we'll hear from one business owner who applied for exclusions from steel tariffs and was denied. Plus, we'll talk about urban heat islands and how we crown the Song of the Summer. 

Antitrust regulators in the European Union are charging Google a $5 billion fine for using its Android software to push out competition and making phone companies pre-install its apps. We'll talk about what that means for the company and the ways overseas regulations reach consumers in the United States. Then, we'll talk about Kathleen Kraninger, who President Donald Trump has nominated to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, despite her lack of consumer finance experience. Plus: Storm chasing as tourism.

Under the Trump administration, federal agencies are no longer required to determine the financial costs of climate change, so a group of scientists have stepped up to the plate. We'll talk about that project and what it can tell us about the real-world cost of carbon. Plus: Amid rising tensions with the United States, Japan and the European Union have struck a new trade deal with each other. Then: We'll talk with Lauren Greenfield about her new film “Generation Wealth."

We're starting today with news from overseas, not Helsinki but Geneva, where the World Trade Organization is fielding complains from China against the United States, and the U.S. against pretty much everybody. We'll talk about what happens next and what it could mean for the brewing trade war(s). Then: site glitches aside, Amazon's Prime Day has become a sort of Black Friday in July, which means a lot of packages will be on the move these next few days. We'll look at whether the shipping industry will be able to, uh, deliver. Plus: If you're sad the World Cup's over, there's always baseball ... and Major League Baseball has lots of open seats.