Marketplace

Thinking about buying an electric vehicle? If you can wait till January, you can apply the $7,500 EV tax credit upfront to a car purchase. In this episode, more about why getting that cash at the dealership — rather than from the IRS — could get more EVs on the road. Plus, we’ll dig into what defines Native American art, hear about employers that remain resistant to pay transparency laws and try on the Birkenstock IPO for size.

The number of Americans who want brands to take a stance on political issues is trending down, according to a Bentley-Gallup poll. While a company’s public position on current events may have been on point over the last few years, consumers may see such statements as a ploy to make a buck. Still, there are some issues Americans want companies to speak up about, like climate change and labor conditions. Also in this episode: optimism ahead of corporate earnings reports, the problem with fixing AI bias, and a visit to a mushroom farm.

Real wages — what’s left in your paycheck after accounting for inflation — have been rising for the last several months. So how does the “what’s coming in” column in your finances spreadsheet compare to the “what’s going out” column? In this episode, we get into the nitty gritty of spending power and what it means for the economy. Plus, the green energy transition needs more workers, the lending business is sour thanks to high interest rates, and the Nobel Prize in economics goes to a gender wage gap expert.

Last month, OPEC+ said it would cut oil production to raise prices. Simple economics, right? It worked for a few weeks, but now the price of oil is falling fast. In this episode, we’ll talk about why the oil cartel’s plan isn’t working out — it has a lot to do with low demand for gas across the globe. Plus, how the climate crisis shapes consumer demand and why the WTO lowered its 2023 global trade growth forecast.

The average monthly payment on new mortgages rose 46% in 2022, according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Combine steep home prices with climbing mortgage rates, and it’s a rough time to be a buyer. We’ll dig into how we got here and when things might cool off. Also in this episode, why demand for temp workers might not be the strongest economic indicator and how the recovery is going for Texas cities’ downtown cores.

Nearly half of young adults in the U.S. are living with family — the highest rate since the 1940s, according to a Bloomberg survey. In this episode, we’ll talk to some of them about the hurdles they’re facing, from high rents to cutthroat competition. Plus, Americans are spending less at restaurants and the EU is investigating China’s electric vehicle subsidies. We’ll also hear from Politico’s Sudeep Reddy about whether the bond market could jeopardize the chances for a soft landing.

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes hit the highest level since 2007 — not the best era to bring back, economically speaking. This is bad news for the government’s ability to borrow money, and it’s also not great for everyday Americans who plan to take out a mortgage or pay off their car. We’ll dig into why. Plus, attendance climbs at MLB games, the latest federal JOLTS report shows unexpected strength in the labor market and former Yellow truck drivers struggle to find jobs.

After a three-year pause, student loan payments are resuming and interest is accruing. That means millions of Americans must once again put hundreds of dollars a month toward loan debt — money they’ve been spending freely since March 2020. We’ll ask a few experts about the effect this could have on the economy. Plus, SCOTUS will hear a case about the role federal agencies play in clarifying laws, and supply chains are looking scary this Halloween.

The latest Commerce Department report is kind of a yawn, except for the fact that U.S. food exports — mostly soybeans, corn and wheat — plunged 20% compared to August last year. In this episode, why we’re selling fewer grains. (Hint: It has to do with rain and Ukraine.) Plus, the apprenticeship comeback, industrial-scale ticket scalpers and streaming viewership data.

Americans saved a lot during the first few years of the pandemic. But some economists say those excess savings are running low or even have been entirely depleted. Where did all the extra cash go? Also in this episode: Unemployment falls to fantastic lows in three states, a government shutdown would bring financial stress to Native nations and the majority of millennials now own homes.