Author: Marketplace

AI chatbot adoption is moving rapidly. We can already ask the tools to help us find local restaurants, a good deal on an item we’re looking to purchase. And soon, we’ll even be able to buy products from Walmart through ChatGPT. But as more people turn to AI for search and shopping, what happens to small businesses that traditionally depend on web searches and online reviews?

Our picture of the U.S. economy grows fuzzier each day the government shutdown continues. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which publishes the most reliable economic data, has been a barebones operation since the shutdown began. In this episode, how this month’s data from the public and private sectors may be affected. Plus: Recruiters give mixed takes on the job market, oil services companies are up against low prices and a supply glut, and streaming platforms set their sights on video games and podcasts.

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.

Agriculture is notoriously susceptible to the whims of the elements. Farmers and ranchers can see their entire livelihoods turn on one bad hailstorm or ill-timed heat wave, which are more frequent as our planet continues to warm. Today, we'll head to Colorado to hear about an apprenticeship program that's embedding climate literacy into its teachings. But first: the value of the dollar, this morning's web outages, and pain for small- and mid-sized businesses

There's been a major outage of Amazon Web Services, the Amazon system that does computing for other companies. The list of impacted sites and platforms is lengthy: Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Fortnite, Lyft, McDonald's, Robinhood, and Amazon itself, to name a few. We'll hear more. Plus, altcoins are poised to take a step into the financial mainstream, and China plans its economic future as it deals with tariff fallout and slowing economic growth.

From the BBC World Service: As members of China's ruling Communist Party gather to discuss the country's economic plans for the next five years, news that growth has slowed to a one-year low hangs over proceedings. Then, Bolivia's next president has said a priority will be tackling his country’s economic crisis. And as Diwali — the Hindu festival of light — begins, we'll ask how consumers in India are dealing with the rising price of gold, which is central to gift-giving there.

California has enacted a law requiring rideshare giants Uber and Lyft to collectively bargain with their drivers. Because the drivers are technically independent contractors, they otherwise would not have federally-protected labor rights like full-time employees. The new state law could be a game changer.

Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Levi Sumagaysay, reporter at CalMatters, who helps sift through the details of the law.

Two midsize U.S. lenders claimed they were victims of loan fraud this week, sending bank stocks into a tailspin. But by close Friday, markets evened out — and for good reason: Regional banks, overall, are actually doing well. In this episode, we dispel the midsize bank sector doomsayers. Plus: Rising auto loan delinquencies could be a consumer debt canary in the coal mine, American culinary sensibilities have moved beyond “foodie” culture, and goats are the star employees in one family's landscaping business.

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.

Today we’re taking a trip to Kimberly’s hometown: St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis Public Radio’s politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum joins Kimberly to break down the fights over Missouri’s congressional maps and voter-led ballot initiatives. And, we’ll get into how St. Louis is recovering from the historic tornado that swept through the city earlier this year. Plus, are you Half Full or Half Empty on St. Louis style pizza?

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Democratic National Committee will contribute to blocking Missouri congressional map" from STLPR
• "Missouri voters and lawmakers clash over ballot initiative powers" from AP News
• "Missouri Gov. Kehoe activates National Guard to assist ICE agents" from STLPR
• "FEMA approves additional funding and assistance for St. Louis tornado debris cleanup" from STLPR
• "Should you postpone your flight during the government shutdown?" from Marketplace
• "Thune dangles Obamacare vote after shutdown ends" from Politico 

• "Thin-Crust Fans, Meet St. Louis Pizza: Crunchy, Cheesy, and Totally Underrated" from Serious Eats

  
  

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

Global stocks took a hit today. There was red across the board from New York to Japan as investors have started to worry about the health of regional banks in the U.S., and the recent bankruptcies of an auto lender and car parts manufacturer. We'll learn the latest. Also, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is suing to block the Trump administration's planned visa charges, and fewer international travelers are opting to come to the States.

Rates on 30-year mortgages fell again this week to an average of 6.27%, according to FreddieMac. That could boost consumer spending on home improvements in 2026, new research finds — and be driven by homeowners locked in with lower rates who recognize that an addition or coat of paint is less daunting than starting over in this housing market. Also on the show: a check-in on regional banks and a bite of a carbon fat croissant, from the latest season of Marketplace's "How We Survive."