A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money , The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less. Sign up for our newsletter . Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes for Planet Money and sponsor-free listening for The Indicator.
This episode of The Indicator from Planet Money, a co-hosted news/current affairs podcast, focuses on “11th-hour” actions taken by the Biden administration before the end of its term. The hosts discuss three key indicators: a $2 billion lawsuit against Capital One for allegedly misleading customers about interest rate...
This news podcast discusses the California FAIR Plan, a fire insurance program acting as an insurer of last resort. The podcast details how the increasing frequency of wildfires and the withdrawal of traditional insurers from high-risk areas are straining the FAIR Plan, leading to higher premiums and limited coverage ...
This news podcast discusses the current state of lithium production in the United States, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in establishing domestic lithium mining and processing. The podcast begins by highlighting the importance of lithium for batteries and the current dominance of Chinese companies in lit...
This news podcast episode examines the contrasting approaches of California and Texas to managing their power grids, focusing on the role of grid-scale batteries. The episode begins by describing a near-blackout situation in Texas in September 2023, highlighting the crucial role of batteries in preventing widespread o...
This news podcast discusses the rapid growth of grid-scale battery storage in the United States, focusing on California's experience. The podcast begins by recounting the legislative efforts in California starting in 2010 to incentivize battery storage, which initially faced skepticism but ultimately proved successful...
In this episode of NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money, titled "Jobs Friday," the hosts break down the December 2024 jobs report, highlighting significant trends in the labor market. They discuss the headline figures, including a 4.1% unemployment rate and 256,000 new jobs. The conversation then shifts to wage growth...
This episode of NPR's Planet Money takes a closer look at Investopedia's top 10 financial terms for 2024, shedding light on the public's interest in economic topics. The podcast delves into key terms like "inflation," which has prompted more detailed searches, along with "tariffs," "NVIDIA," "stock split," "Bitcoin," a...
In this episode of the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the focus is on Netflix's new venture into live sports, particularly its impressive $5 billion deal with WWE for exclusive rights to Monday Night Raw and other live events. The discussion dives into why Netflix is branching out from its usual on-demand content, aim...
In this episode of the Indicator podcast, the focus is on the growing water tensions in rural Arizona, particularly surrounding Fondamonte—a Saudi Arabian-linked alfalfa farm and its substantial impact on local water resources. The podcast reveals how Fondamonte's excessive water pumping, along with lenient state regul...
In this episode of the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the hosts explore the lasting economic effects of Jimmy Carter's presidency. They focus on three significant indicators: Carter's choice of Paul Volcker as Fed Chairman, which sparked a necessary but tough battle against inflation; the deregulation of six major ind...
In this episode of the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the discussion centers on how U.S. stocks have significantly outperformed global markets since the Great Recession. This trend has led many investors to favor an "America-first" strategy. The episode weighs the pros and cons of this approach, pointing out that whil...
In the latest episode of the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the hosts delve into how movie theaters are leveraging unique popcorn buckets to enhance their revenue amid dwindling box office sales and fewer film releases. They trace the journey of these collectible buckets, starting with AMC's R2-D2 design in 2019 and h...
In this episode of the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the hosts delve into how U.S. Congress members invest and whether those strategies yield positive results. They track two exchange-traded funds (ETFs)—one based on the trades of Democratic lawmakers, dubbed "Nance," and the other on Republican trades, called "Cruz....
In this episode of the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the focus is on the surprising global shortage of reading glasses, even though they are inexpensive in the United States. It reveals a staggering fact: around 510 million people worldwide lack access to these crucial aids, which results in an estimated annual econo...
This NPR Planet Money Indicator podcast episode discusses the increasing accessibility of video games for people with disabilities. It follows the journey of how the game industry, initially neglecting accessibility, is now incorporating features like simplified controls and audio cues after feedback from disability a...
This podcast episode delves into the rise of holiday rom-coms made specifically for TV, tracing their journey from a niche interest to a staple of holiday entertainment. It highlights Hallmark's "Countdown to Christmas" as a pivotal influence, showing how its affordable production model, focused on heartwarming stories...
The Planet Money Indicator podcast explores essential economic indicators to keep an eye on for 2025. Adrian Ma emphasizes the importance of tracking inflation expectations, which can reveal consumer behavior and potential inflation trends. Jeff Guo discusses the concept of “the star,” or the ideal long-term interest r...
In a lively discussion on the Planet Money Indicator podcast, the hosts playfully debated their top contenders for the "Indicator of the Year" 2024. They considered consumer sentiment, which highlights economic worries and political changes, Bitcoin’s price—essentially a litmus test for institutional trust—and the intr...
The podcast challenges the notion that an aging population, often referred to as the "silver tsunami," will alleviate the housing affordability crisis by boosting housing supply. Research indicates that many empty-nesters live in areas that are already affordable, and a significant number are hesitant to sell their hom...
In a recent episode of Planet Money Indicator, the story of New Jersey bag manufacturer Kim Veccarella highlights the contradictions in President Trump's economic policies. Although Trump pushed for tariffs to strengthen American manufacturing and a weaker dollar to help exporters, the episode reveals that these tariff...
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