Author: Marketplace

From the BBC World Service: U.S. President Donald Trump's economic policies have rattled markets and dented consumer confidence. Few corners of the American market have been spared, from fast food chains to high-profile horse racing events — including the Preakness Stakes, one of three races comprising the Triple Crown. We went along last month to learn what the attitude of race-goers can reveal about the current economic mood. Plus, a review of Washington's multibillion-dollar submarine deal with Britain and Australia.

Building work has started in the Finnish capital Helsinki on what’s expected to become the biggest startup campus in Europe. Finland’s government says it wants the small Nordic nation to offer the best startup ecosystem in Europe. The BBC’s Maddy Savage has this story.

Prices rose 0.1% in May, according to the latest consumer price index — that’s less than some analysts anticipated. It seems tariffs haven’t quite hit consumers’ wallets yet. We’ll explain what might be going on. Later in the episode: Retailers have cut close to 76,000 jobs so far this year, a 274% increase from the same period in 2025, and Kai and Nela visit a truss manufacturer juggling H2-B visas, automation and tariffs.

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President Trump announced a new trade deal with China after days of negotiations. Here’s the thing: Trump’s tariffs on China will stay the same. So what did the two countries actually agree to? We’ll get into it. And, after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired a panel of experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines, doctors and insurance companies are wondering who they should look to for guidance. Plus, a life-sized stuffed moose on Capitol Hill makes us smile.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Trump Hails Progress With China, but Details Are Sketchy"  from The New York Times
• "RFK Jr. just fired the government’s vaccine experts. What do you do now?" from Vox
• "Former CDC director reacts to RFK Jr.’s firing of entire vaccine advisory panel" from PBS News
• "If you move a moose through the Senate" from Roll Call

• "An 84-Year-Old Woman on a Pony Inspires Awe—and Concern—in the U.K." from The Wall Street Journal

  
  

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Hurricane season starts in two and a half weeks. Last year, hurricanes caused $124 billion in damage. This year, the Trump administration is making cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Today, we head to Houston to hear how community "hub houses" offer support during disasters. Plus, the U.S and China appear back on track toward a trade truce and Trump administration policies are causing chaos for rural solar businesses.

A summertime gig can be a rite of passage for many, and summer hiring of teenagers crests right about now. Seasonal jobs may be harder to find this year though amid tariffs, travel restrictions and general economic uncertainty. And when teens don't find a summer job, there can be long-term consequences. Also on the show: the Forest Service is down firefighters ahead of wildfire season and a look at what's next for cooling U.S.-China trade relations.

From the BBC World Service: The U.S. and China say that, during talks in London, they’ve sketched out a framework to dial down their trade fight after slapping big tariffs on each other. But those trade tensions aren’t doing the global economy any favors; the World Bank has slashed its global growth forecast. And later, we hear how a tea plantation in India is fighting climate change with rock dust.

There's a trial run taking place over a type of digital wallet for data. Consumers are in control, and they can sell their data to the highest bidder. This trial run is taking place in Brazil, the first country to try something like this on a national scale. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Sao Paolo-based journalist Gabriel Daros. He's been covering the story for the news site Rest of World.

Later this week, the U.S. Treasury will auction off billions of dollars worth of 30-year bonds. While that may seem yawn-worthy to most of us, the outcome of that sale has big ramifications for consumer borrowing costs down the road. We’ll explain. Also in this episode: Targeting of international students hurts public and private universities, “core goods” is where tariff-driven inflation might show up first, and students at a fast-growing high school in Utah run their own soda shop.

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.

For decades, going to college has been seen as a reliable path to good jobs and economic success in the United States. But a recent Indeed survey reported that over half of Gen Z respondents beg to differ. As tuition prices continue to rise and the Trump administration takes aim at higher education institutions, is the way we view college changing? On the show today, Bryan Alexander, a higher education writer and senior scholar at Georgetown University, explains why college is still a worthy investment for most students, why more people are considering certificate programs and technical schools, and how President Trump’s attacks on elite universities are a risk to higher education as a whole.

Then, Kimberly breaks down the difference between the reconciliation bill and government spending bills in Congress. And, Casey Johnston, author of “A Physical Education,” answers the Make Me Smart question.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Report: 51% of Gen Z Views Their College Degree as a Waste of Money" from Indeed  
• "Against college for all: the AFT president" from Bryan Alexander 
• "Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That?" from The New York Times
• "Good Jobs Project" from Georgetown University
• "House considers Trump cuts as Senate Republicans work on reconciliation bill" from Roll Call
• "Deal or no deal? Inside reconciliation and gov’t funding" from Punchbowl News
• "A muted backlash to Trump’s new travel ban" from Politico 
• "Have Americans grown numb? Trump’s new travel ban met with muted reaction" from MSNBC

• "Finding Strength in a Bigger Body" from The Cut 

  
  

  
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