In his statement after the Federal Reserve’s rate-setting meeting yesterday, Chair Jerome Powell said, basically, that a too-resilient economy could put inflation-cooling measures at risk. But isn’t resilience a good thing? In this episode, economists get into what the Fed chief’s comment means and whether it’s a sign of more interest rate hikes to come. Plus, pharmacists walk out of their jobs, citing burnout and understaffing, and California consumers have issues with electric vehicles.

The Federal Reserve opted to keep interest rates unchanged at its policymaking meeting today, but there’s Treasury news that has interest rate implications. In this episode, we’ll get into the Treasury market and why the Fed isn’t buying bonds but hedge funds are. Plus, tribal nations are fighting for a role in river management decisions, WeWork is on the brink of filing for bankruptcy and remote workers are at their wits’ end with digital communication tools.

Recent data shows that while labor costs are still rising, they aren’t growing crazy fast. That’s good news for the Federal Reserve, which wouldn’t want to see a wage-price spiral nightmare this Halloween. In this episode, we’ll look at why the Fed is spooked by too-fast wage growth and where labor costs might be headed. Plus, an Iowa corn and soybean farmer reports a record harvest, Japan eases up on its bond yield controls and California child care workers unionize for better pay and benefits.

In a recent Harris poll, 44% of respondents said they’re stressed economically. But in the same poll, 34% said they’re optimistic. What gives? In this episode, how the American middle class is experiencing the current economy. Higher costs and lower personal savings are two big components affecting that economic vibe. Plus, how is New York City dealing with subway flooding, which parts of artificial intelligence can the Biden administration regulate and what the heck is the employment cost index?

Health care costs contributed big to September’s inflation reading, though the sector’s price increases have lagged other industries for most of the last year. But lately, consumers and insurers are shelling out more for medication, nursing homes and hospitals. In this episode, we’ll diagnose the root cause of high health care spending, which is expected to make up a fifth of the U.S. economy by 2030. Plus, why the cost of corporate debt is on the rise and haunted houses’ frightening finances.

Gross domestic product expanded at a 4.9% rate in the third quarter, driven by a consumer who couldn’t pass up high-priced concert tickets and big-ticket durable goods. But is that torrid pace sustainable? We’ll also examine why companies are holding on tight to their workers and how Buy American rules can complicate infrastructure buildouts.

As America gets older, its people need nursing homes, and nursing homes need nurses. There’s not enough of them, and even government mandates may not fix the problem. We delve into the gap. Also, GM slows down its electric vehicle program, and Microsoft has the momentum in its long rivalry with Google.

As the federal budget deficit widens, we’ll take a look at one contributing factor: the Federal Reserve’s obligation to pay interest to banks. It’s outpacing income the Fed makes from the securities it bought as part of its quantitative easing strategy. Also in this episode, women who’ve started their own businesses weigh in on the pros and cons compared to traditional jobs. Hydropower dams struggle in the face of changing weather patterns, and the H-1B visa application process may get some updates.

Do users actually like Google’s search engine best, or does its role as default option seal the deal? That’s the question at the center of the Justice Department’s antitrust trial against Google — whose parent company, Alphabet, spends billions to be the default on all sorts of devices. In this episode, we examine the psychology of defaults and why they wield serious power. Plus, we’ll investigate the revenue side of the budget deficit and get your bond yield questions answered.

In the most recent Beige Book, the Philadelphia Fed reported a staffing firm said it’s having an easier time filling night and weekend shifts. Could this mean the labor market is loosening up? We’ll talk to some folks around the country who are picking up jobs at odd hours. Also in this episode: rental car agencies pile on fees, China restricts graphite exports, and class barriers break down at … Applebee’s?