Marketplace

After three major bank failures, regulators and industry leaders are hoping all this turmoil fades in the rearview mirror. But there’s still likely to be curves on the road ahead: new regulation, industry consolidation, branch closures and loan scarcity. Today, we’ll map it out. Then, how brands like Victoria’s Secret stage comebacks and an exploration of work requirements for welfare, courtesy of the Marketplace podcast “The Uncertain Hour.”

Banking giant JPMorgan Chase is taking over the failed First Republic Bank, but not without some guarantees. Turns out the deal was sweetened by the FDIC agreeing to be responsible for certain First Republic losses. Plus, what small banks are making of the turmoil. Then, FTC Chair Lina Khan on AI regulation and taking on powerful companies.

Congress passed billions in funding for semiconductor manufacturing last year. Today, we’re joined by Gina Raimondo — the woman in charge of distributing those funds — to dig into what is at stake. And later: Treasury proposes new regulations on nonbanks, leisure travel roars back and more strikes loom in the U.K.

Political squabbling about raising the debt limit is well underway. But to meaningfully address federal debts and yearly deficits would require big actions. Elected officials could raise taxes and chip away at things like defense spending, Social Security and Medicare — but doing so isn’t popular. We’ll also dig into coal’s decline, investment in technical training and Britain’s new trade deal.

The intensity of a possible economic slowdown will depend on how much banks tighten credit conditions, said Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, in an interview with Marketplace today. We’ll ask about data he’s watching closely and the central bank’s messaging challenges ahead of its rate decision. Later, Reddit rethinks data access and California utility companies rethink how they charge for power.

After this year’s banking crisis, some lenders have bumped up interest rates on savings accounts to lure new depositors. But if the hassle of switching banks makes you go, “ugh,” blame it on what economists call “deposit stickiness.” What would it take to get customers unstuck? Plus, Netflix’s failed foray into live-streaming, and the origin of the modern welfare system, courtesy of the Marketplace podcast “The Uncertain Hour.”

We got seriously mixed signals from the consumer economy today. Retail sales dipped in March, while consumer sentiment ticked up. Is this economy headed for a soft landing or a cliff? Today, we parse the good, the bad and the downright confusing. We’ll also take the pulse of bank borrowing and check in on seasonal hiring ahead of higher-temps season.

The phrase “too big to fail” conjures images of the 2007-08 financial crisis. But the notion that the collapse of certain financial institutions could torpedo the larger economy goes back much further. On today’s show, we’ll trace the roots and evolution of “too big to fail.” Plus: earnings reports from TBTF banks, new car prices and the rebranding of milk.

You know what a lot of people do when mortgage rates are too high to buy? They stay renters. And despite slowing rent inflation, that additional demand for apartments can increase competition and boost rent prices. Today, we delve into the connection between rates and rents. Also on the program: potholes, pickleball and the love of background TV shows.

The countdown is on till Tax Day, which falls on April 18 this year. But many Americans will be in for an unpleasant surprise: a slimmer tax return resulting from expired pandemic tax credits. We’ll also examine why money market funds are popular right now, what “due diligence” means, and what ingredients go into TikTok’s favorite Starbucks order: the Barbie drink.