Author: Marketplace

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.

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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.

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

  
  

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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."

From the BBC World Service: A landmark agreement to reduce carbon emissions from global shipping is in danger of collapsing after President Donald Trump intervened. We'll unpack. Then, Singles' Day — China's biggest online shopping event — typically takes place on Nov. 11 but has started early this year as weak consumption dogs the world's second-largest economy. Plus, the global tattoo industry could grow to $6.5 billion by 2033. We talk with artists about the state of the tattoo biz.

AppleTV+ ditches the plus in its name. Plus, Walmart announced an e-commerce deal with OpenAI so customers can shop through ChatGPT.

But first, Instagram announced what it called PG-13 settings for teen accounts. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Joanna Stern, senior personal technology columnist at the Wall Street Journal, to discuss all these topics and more.

If you have ever bitten into a plant-based burger and felt dissatisfied, or even grossed out, you’re not alone. In this episode, we explore the uncanny valley of meat and dive deep into what makes meat so … meaty. Plus, “The Splendid Table” host Francis Lam joins Amy Scott for a taste test of cultivated meat and shares his go-to recipes for climate-friendly proteins.

CEO confidence fell in the latest quarter of 2025. Executives surveyed by The Conference Board voiced concerns over inflation, tariffs, and global trade uncertainty. In this episode, how the economic mood of corporate leaders could affect everyday Americans. Plus: Chipmaker TSMC reported a profit surge amid increased demand, a career tech program in Alabama trains the next generation of skilled workers, and the NFL remains a cultural and economic powerhouse despite ongoing challenges.

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 this rough labor market, job seekers are more vulnerable to scams. We’ve all seen those texts, right? The ones offering jobs with suspiciously high pay for suspiciously little work? On today’s show, Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to share what happened when she replied to one of these scam messages. Plus, why AI and the shift to remote work has fueled the rise in job scams.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• "Job scam texts have become more frequent and more believable" from Marketplace
• "Who experiences scams? A story for all ages" from the Federal Trade Commission
• "Job Scam Texts Are Duping Gen Z, Millennials Amid Unemployment Fears" from Business Insider

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

U.S. and Chinese officials are getting together on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington to try and preserve a fraying trade truce. Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a ray of hope, ahead of a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. Plus, what economic picture is non-governmental data painting right now? And, we’ll hear how some countries are vying for a piece of the AI revolution.