Month: August 2025

Consumer spending was up pretty significantly for more expensive items last month — things like cars and furniture. All that big-ticket buying comes despite a softening labor market and broader economic uncertainty. We'll parse the data a bit more. Also on the program: we'll hear what we can expect from homebuilder confidence and learn how the startup world is grappling with tariffs and the cancellation of government grants and contracts.

From the BBC World Service: A court in Australia has handed the airline Qantas a record fine — just under $59 million USD — for illegally laying off 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. And later, could plans for sweeping tax cuts on consumer goods boost India’s economy in the face of U.S. tariffs? Plus, the root vegetable cassava is one of the world's most versatile crops. We'll hear more about Nigeria's cassava market.

Esports is a multi-billion dollar industry, with players making millions by getting good at video games. But while traditional athletes, usually, retire into coaching, managing or being a pundit, what does an esports player do when they’ve hung up their controller? The BBC’s Will Chalk files this report from the U.K.