Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

Despite expectations surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariffs, inflation doesn’t seem to be speeding up — though it’s hard to say for sure without all that reliable federal data. You can thank cooling services inflation (where most consumer spending goes) and a softer labor market, which has reduced some companies’ ability to raise prices. Also in this episode: Corporate earnings look bright and sunny, Visa and Mastercard reach an agreement with merchants over credit card fees, and retailers revive physical holiday catalogs.

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Groceries cost more than ever, and the high prices couldn’t come at a worse time. Nearly two million Illinois residents depend on SNAP benefits, which are now being cut as the government shutdown drags on. How are Chicago-area residents filling the gap, especially with holidays around the corner? In the Loop checks in with Chicago Sun-Times consumer investigations reporter Stephanie Zimmermann, Wicker Park resident Gale Hethcoat and Common Pantry executive director Margaret O’Conor. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Commercial real estate has been struggling in the years since the pandemic. Office attendance has risen, though not as much in smaller cities. And while big banks might not be voicing concerns over this, lending for commercial real estate is a major deal for regional and community banks. We discuss. Also on today's program: markets react to a potential end in sight for the shutdown, and big movies around the holidays could drive ticket sales.

There’s movement in Washington toward ending the government shutdown. The Senate held a procedural vote yesterday. Seven Democrats and one independent senator voted yes with Republicans, which finally broke the logjam and will allow final votes on a bill to reopen the government. It's progress, but there's still potential for derailment. Plus, New Mexico is offering free universal child care starting this month. We'll hear what that means for one family.

From the BBC World Service: China has lifted export controls on computer chips that are vital to car production, marking an easing of trade tensions between China and the U.S. Automakers Volvo, VW, Ford, and Honda had all warned they could face severe supply chain disruptions if the ban wasn't overturned. China has also paused an export ban to the U.S. of some materials that are crucial in the semiconductor industry. Plus, a major cybercriminal reveals all.

Extreme weather caused by climate change is affecting agriculture and raising the cost of foods like coffee, olive oil and chocolate. Cocoa prices have been hitting record highs due to extreme rainfall, drought and heat. And some experts say most of the land used for cocoa production won’t be usable in the future.

Marketplace’s Amy Scott, host of our podcast "How We Survive," explores a new way tech entrepreneurs are making chocolate so that we can keep enjoying it for years to come.

Aid groups say tens of thousands of people have fled violence in el-Fasher, a city in the Darfur region of Sudan, which is in the midst of a yearslong civil war. This follows an official declaration that famine is spreading through the northeastern African nation. John Yang speaks with Sheldon Yett, UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The ripple effects of the Trump administration’s elimination of USAID are being felt in dozens of countries where the agency supported initiatives ranging from public health programs to infrastructure and climate resilience projects. Angeles Ponpa from Northwestern University’s school of journalism traveled to Indonesia to see the effect on one of the world’s fastest-sinking cities. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Cornell University announced a $60 million deal with the Trump administration to restore federal funding and end investigations into the school, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says his country has received an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy and Denmark 's government announced a plan that would ban social media access for anyone under the age of 15. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Consumer sentiment — as in, how everyday people feel about the economy — fell to a low not seen since 2022, according to the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers. The decline was consistent across demographics, except among the wealthiest Americans (as measured by volume of stock market holdings). In other words, economic mood just became another k-shaped indicator. Also in this episode: Colleges shutter satellite campuses to cut costs and small and midsize businesses shrink their headcounts.

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.