Author: Marketplace

The rate of jobless Americans who’ve been out of work for over 27 weeks — also known as “long-term unemployed” — hit 26% in December, according to the latest jobs report. That’s the highest it’s been since February 2022. In this episode, why the rate is rising and what it says about the broader economy. Plus: Businesses curb 2026 growth plans, a farmer discusses AI in agriculture, and we check in with an Asheville, North Carolina, tea company over a year since Hurricane Helene.

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Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The January jobs report and consumer price index come out this week, and experts expect both employment and inflation to hold relatively steady. But that jobs report will also include revisions to 2025 data. Will that show a net loss of jobs over the last year? Also in this episode: Foreign investment in U.S. Treasurys stays strong, Hollywood prepares to renegotiate key labor agreement with SAG-AFTRA, and Michigan wants to sue Big Oil for antitrust violations.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

On today’s show, WNYC reporter Brigid Bergin joins Kimberly to talk about New York City’s brand new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose campaign on affordability caught nationwide attention. We’ll get into how Mamdani is tackling affordability during his first days in office, how the business community is reacting, and how his administration is navigating an unpredictable White House. Plus, the case for daydreaming more in 2026.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani announce push for free child care for NYC 2-year-olds" from Gothamist 
• "NYC to provide expansion of free child care in "high-need" areas" from Marketplace
• "MAMDANI’S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor signs executive orders targeting junk fees and subscription traps" from amNY
• "The Mamdani vs. big business era begins as mayor pledges 'economic justice'" from Gothamist
• "Politics Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child, family aid to 5 states over fraud concerns" from CNBC  
• "The new go-to for Napa Valley wine lovers? Costco" from Marketplace 
• "Google adds proofreading, AI summaries to Gmail with new update" from Marketplace 
• "Why you should put down your phone and daydream instead" from The Washington Post
• "At grocery stores, shopping with a side of biometric surveillance" from Marketplace

We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

According to the just-released December jobs report, only 50,000 people were hired last month, fewer than expected. Overall, the month capped off the slowest year for job creation since 2020 and the second slowest since 2009. Plus, LA fire survivors share personal items lost and found in the aftermath of the blaze.

Altadena residents eager to build more fire-resistant new homes run up against obstacles of expense, labor, availability of materials, and of course, the question of whether insurance will pay for it.

From the BBC World Service: The Iranian government has shut down internet access in response to ongoing protests, with demonstrators calling for the removal of the country’s Supreme Leader. Also, a major recall of Nestle baby formula expands to more countries, and after a volatile 2025, what’s on the horizon for cryptocurrency in the new year?

X, formerly Twitter, is facing a global backlash because users are directing the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, to generate non-consensual intimate imagery. Users have been popping up in the replies of women — and sometimes minors — tagging Grok and asking it to generate images of them in bikinis or undressed.

The company and its owner, Elon Musk, have both clarified illegal content will not be tolerated on the platform.

Plus, President Donald Trump signed an executive order late last year aimed at blocking states from enforcing local AI regulations — something a majority have adopted in some form.

And, Meta is a victim of its own success. Its new Ray-Ban smart glasses are selling too fast to keep up with demand.

Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, to discuss all these topics on this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.

Labor economists will tell ya, productivity growth leads to more hiring. The idea is, once a company is operating more efficiently, they’ll try expanding, which usually comes with new jobs. But in this frustrating and bizarre economy, data show major productivity gains and a stagnant labor market … coexisting? Also in this episode: New York City expands a free child care program, one reporter tries to do the job(s) of the federal government, and economists expect a less-grim December jobs report.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

In the wake of U.S. military action in Venezuela, including the capture of the country’s leader Nicolás Maduro, we’re left with questions about what this moment could mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and the global economy. On the show today, director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Jason Marczak joins Kimberly to explain why the Trump administration is shifting its focus back toward the Western Hemisphere, harkening back to the Monroe Doctrine. Plus, what it would take to revitalize Venezuela’s economy.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Experts react: The US just captured Maduro. What’s next for Venezuela and the region?" from the Atlantic Council
• "Donald Trump asserts control over Venezuela—and all the Americas" from The Economist
• "For Big Oil, Venezuela's reserves show long-term promise" from Marketplace  
• "What Is the Monroe Doctrine, and How Is Trump Reasserting It?" from Time
• "Dispatches from Venezuela: Red roofs and the new ogling" from Marketplace

Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Supermarket chain Wegmans has made headlines this week for their use of surveillance technology on customers. But they’re far from the only retailer deploying this type of tech to prevent theft — and encourage extra spending. Plus, a retired nurse shares her plans for rebuilding in Altadena.