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The Economy Explained
Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions
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The Indicator

Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions

We are back to answer your listener questions. On today's show, we explain reverse mortgages and their risks, why insurance has gotten so expensive, and whether there's a catch to charitable donations at the store.

Why is insurance so expensive right now? And more listener questions

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TikTok is filled with tax advice. Is any of it worth listening to?

COVINGTON, KY - APRIL 8: Kathleen Malone works on tax returns at the Cincinnati Internal Revenue Service Center April 8, 2005 in Covington, Kentucky. The tax filing deadline is a week away. Mike Simons/Getty hide caption

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Planet Money

TikTok is filled with tax advice. Is any of it worth listening to?

by , Molly Messick ,

TikTok, and other apps like it, are filled with financial advice. Some of it is reliable, some... less so.

TikTok is filled with tax advice. Is any of it worth listening to?

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What Subway's foot-long cookie says about inflation
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The Indicator from Planet Money

What Subway's foot-long cookie says about inflation

In this edition of Indicators of the Week: the new incentive for speed in cash prizes for Olympic track and field, growing iPhone assembly in India and the curious inflation puzzle of the foot-long cookies at Subway.

What Subway's foot-long cookie says about inflation

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The IRS wants to do your taxes for free. Will it last?
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The Indicator

The IRS wants to do your taxes for free. Will it last?

With tax season upon us, many people are paying someone or a software to get their tax returns done. A small group of people, however, are filing online directly with ... the IRS. For free. Today on the show: how the IRS's tax filing experiment came to be, how it's been working so far, and who doesn't like it.

The IRS wants to do your taxes for free. Will it last?

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Why the EU is investigating China's wind turbines

EU Commission Margrethe Vestager speaking to the media in Brussels in March 2024. On Tuesday April 9th she announced an investigation into Chinese wind turbine subsidies. Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Europe hide caption

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Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Europe

The Indicator

Why the EU is investigating China's wind turbines

Europe wants clean energy, but it's struggling to compete with the low cost of China's green technology. The E.U. just announced it's investigating the subsidies received by Chinese wind turbine suppliers, which play a part in those low costs.

Why the EU is investigating China's wind turbines

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What do the royals do all day, anyway?

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The Indicator

What do the royals do all day, anyway?

You've heard of the British royal family, but what about the "working royals?" Today on the show, an expert on the royals explains what the job is like — how they measure productivity, how they get paid, and how this tiny, specialized workforce of 11 people might cope with the health crises of King Charles III and Kate Middleton.

What do the royal do all day, anyway?

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Why companies spin off

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The Indicator

Why companies spin off

General Electric has been staggering along for years as a conglomerate. But recently, it's turned to a popular strategy to unlock new value: spinning off. Just last week, GE spun off its clean energy business into a new company: GE Vernova. On today's show, we explore what a spin off is and why companies do them.

Why companies spin off

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Do I need a four-year degree?
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The Indicator

Do I need a four-year degree?

The U.S. labor market continues its hot streak, adding 303,000 jobs last month — more than expected. Many of these jobs will require a four-year degree despite a push among some employers to eliminate these requirements. On today's show, we look at the state of the job market for people without a four-year college degree.

Do I need a four-year degree?

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Japan had a vibrant economy. Then it fell into a slump for 30 years.
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Planet Money

Japan had a vibrant economy. Then it fell into a slump for 30 years.

by , Molly Messick ,

Last month, Japan's central bank raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years. That is a really big deal, because it means that one of the spookiest stories in modern economics might finally have an ending.

Japan had a vibrant economy. Then it fell into a slump for 30 years.

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How the 'shadow fleet' helps Russia skirt sanctions
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The Indicator from Planet Money

How the 'shadow fleet' helps Russia skirt sanctions

"Shadow fleet" refers to the collective of ships used by countries that have sanctions against them, like Russia, to transport commodities around the world. These ships pose threats to global and environmental security because they skirt international maritime law. So what can be done about them?

How the 'shadow fleet' helps Russia skirt sanctions

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The real estate industry on trial
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Planet Money

The real estate industry on trial

In 2019, Mike Ketchmark got a call. Mike is a lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri, and his friend, Brandon Boulware, another lawyer, was calling about a case he wanted Mike to get involved with. Mike was an unusual choice - he's a personal injury lawyer, and this was going to be an antitrust case.

The real estate industry on trial

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The Indicator Quiz: Labor Edition

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The Indicator

The Indicator Quiz: Labor Edition

The sun is shining, birds are singing, and...our allergies are going NUTS. That can only mean one thing: It's time for The Indicator Quiz! The show where we bring a lucky listener on to test their econ knowledge. Today's quiz focuses on questions related to labor. Play along with us and see how you do! Are you interested in being a contestant on our next Indicator Quiz? Email us your name and phone number at indicator@npr.org and put "Indicator Quiz" in the subject line.

The Indicator Quiz: Labor Edition

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Can breaking the law be good for business?
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The Indicator

Can breaking the law be good for business?

Does breaking the law ... make financial sense? Paying future fines and settlements at the risk of harm to people and the environment? Some legal scholars argue that's just the cost of doing business.Today, we ask whether a company's duty is to the law ... or to its shareholders.

Can breaking the law be good for business?

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How much of your tax dollars are going to Israel and Ukraine

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Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

Planet Money

How much of your tax dollars are going to Israel and Ukraine

There's been a lot of disagreement in Congress and in the country about whether the U.S. should continue to financially support the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

How much of your tax dollars are going to Israel and Ukraine

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Three ways consumers are feeling the pinch

Shoppers walk past a delivery truck outside a Family Dollar in Hyattsville, Maryland. Family Dollar has announced it's closing 600 stores this year. Bloomberg / Contributor hide caption

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Bloomberg / Contributor

The Indicator

Three ways consumers are feeling the pinch

Many broad economic indicators are positive, but consumer sentiment is negative. Even with cooling inflation and low unemployment, consumers are still feeling the economic strain. In today's episode, we look at three ways the US consumer is feeling the pinch.

Three ways consumers are feeling the pinch

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Should schools be paying their college athletes?
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The Indicator from Planet Money

Should schools be paying their college athletes?

March Madness is in full swing as Men's and Women's college basketball teams across the country compete for the NCAA championship. However, the Dartmouth Men's Basketball team made headlines just before the tournament for its successful unionization vote.

Should schools be paying their college athletes?

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Help Wanted at Boeing

David Calhoun stepped down as CEO of Boeing and will remain until the end of 2024. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The Indicator

Help Wanted at Boeing

Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun has resigned and will step down at the end of the year. It comes after a series of mishaps with the aviation company including a door plug blowing off a 737 MAX 9 mid-flight. In today's episode, we turn to a head-hunter to explore what Boeing might look for in a new CEO.

Help Wanted at Boeing

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Name our mascot. No, really.

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The Indicator

Name our mascot. No, really.

You might notice we're looking a little refreshed thanks to our new podcast logo. Today on the show, we ask some marketing experts what goes into building a strong brand, and whether our own makeover hits the mark.

Name our mascot. No, really.

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The interest-ing world of interest rates
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The Indicator

The interest-ing world of interest rates

Countries all over the world are making big moves in monetary policies. From unexpected cuts to long-awaited hikes to a cautious cling to the status quo, this edition of Indicators of the Week has it all. Today, we explain the motivations for these drastically different approaches.

The interest-ing world of interest rates

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