Marketplace

How is the consumer-spending sausage made? Not impulsively — today’s shoppers are value- and credit-savvy. Procter & Gamble attributed its sales growth to bulk purchases against a backdrop of rising consumer debt delinquencies. Is the strong, spendy economy not what it seems? Also in this episode: Cash donations may be the best way to help LA fire victims, a poorly worded Trump executive order puts transportation officials in a tizzy and an apple farmer talks about immigration and the labor supply.

President Donald Trump’s first day back in office came with dozens of executive orders and announcements. In this episode, we dig into why some of these decisions aren’t in domestic industries’ best interests. A 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico could create havoc in American automakers’ spiderwebbed production chain, and plans to boost domestic oil production could actually undermine profitability. Plus: Netflix’s subscriber numbers and a steel mill byproduct is a natural form of carbon capture tech.

The economic data of the last few months has reflected more than the typical turbulence. Labor strikes, natural disasters and political uncertainty have affected  consumer sentiment surveys, producer prices, mortgage rates and more. In this episode, we asked economists how they’re separating the significant from the irrelevant. Plus, Sudeep Reddy at Politico talks Trump’s economic messaging, Los Angeles wildfires intensify the region’s housing shortage and bond yields are up globally.

Retail sales ended last year strong, despite a somewhat uneasy economic mood. Today, we dig into a tool many spenders used to keep up: credit. Non-housing debt just hit a record high, according to the New York Federal Reserve — that includes credit card and buy now, pay later purchasing. Also in this episode: Activist legal groups strategize in anticipation of Trump’s second term, history-themed media is having a moment and housing starts leapt up from November to December.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: During a tumultuous few years, consumer spending has kept the U.S. economy afloat. December retail data reflects that: Americans may be uncertain about their economic future, but they didn’t hesitate to spend it up during the holidays. But does the almighty consumer show signs of wavering? Also in this episode, China has built up its trade war playbook, wholesale electricity prices stabilize and the cost of retrofitting homes to resist wildfires varies.

The December consumer price index is in, and inflation did tick up a bit. The stickiest category? Shelter, which was up a whopping 4.6% year over year. In this episode, we break down the multitude of reasons housing prices remain high. Plus: What’s next for humanitarian parole recipients as Trump takes office, why the American workweek is shrinking and EV adoption grows alongside an expanding charging network.

It’s Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s last week on the job. We called her up to discuss the future of the CHIPS Act, her experience working with the tech elite and Donald Trump’s plan to “tariff our way” to revitalizing U.S. manufacturing. Also in this episode: Americans think finding a new job would be tricky but don’t plan to leave or lose their current one. Plus, the co-working industry sees signs of life and producer prices stayed mostly flat in December.

Vehicle fuel efficiency requirements, also known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, were enacted in response to the 1970s oil embargo. But CAFE regulations have been buffeted by energy politics since that time. Once in office, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to carry on that tradition. Also in this episode: Homeowners affected by natural disasters have mortgage relief options, employers in expensive areas invest in manufactured housing and tech giants (still) dominate the stock market.

As many as 10,000 buildings have burned in the Los Angeles wildfires, officials say, and nearly 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate. Angelenos who want nearby housing in the short or long term will be faced with one of the lowest multifamily vacancy rates in the country. Also in this episode: Airlines are optimistic as business travel ticks up, and 5.5 million Americans would like a job but aren’t actively searching for one. We’ll explain why.

Is economic uncertainty a feeling or a fact? Though you may think uncertainty defies measure, in this episode, we call up some economists who put a number on it. And, as wildfires rage in Los Angeles County, insurance firms — including California’s insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan — brace for catastrophic payouts. Plus: President Joe Biden may further restrict the flow of AI technology to China, and Thailand’s auto sector finds hope in manufacturing Chinese electric vehicles.