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 podcast episode explores the use of machine learning to analyze the Beige Book, a publication that provides insights into the US economy. Economists and data scientists have used machine learning to classify sentences in the Beige Books as positive, neutral, or negative about the economy, which has provided valuab...
This podcast episode explores the emerging profession of dental therapists in the United States, who are trained to provide basic dental care in underserved areas. With only a small number of dental therapists currently practicing in the country, legislation is being considered in some states to expand their presence a...
This podcast episode explores the perception of a recession in the US economy despite its actual expansion, as well as the financial struggles and bankruptcy of Red Lobster. It also discusses the shifting drug use patterns in the US, with near daily marijuana use surpassing near daily alcohol use for the first time, an...
This podcast episode explores the history of US tariff policies and their consequences. It highlights three distinct eras of tariff policy in the US, starting with tariffs being a means of raising revenue, then shifting towards a protectionist approach to trade, and finally experiencing a period of reciprocation and ne...
This podcast episode explores the influence of Fortnite on pop culture, the conflict between Epic and tech giants Apple and Google over app store practices, and the potential risks and opportunities associated with the proliferation of app stores. It discusses how Fortnite dances became a trend before TikTok, the duopo...
This podcast episode explores the phenomenon of reviving Tupac Shakur even after his death in 1996. It discusses the release of new Tupac songs in the early 2000s, holograms and interviews featuring Tupac, and the legal questions raised by Drake's use of an AI-generated replica of Tupac. The controversy surrounding Dra...
This podcast episode explores the disparities in wealth and housing between urban and rural areas, focusing on Alabama's Black Belt. It emphasizes the differences in generational wealth building, with urban and suburban areas prioritizing selling homes for equity extraction, while rural areas pass down homes as the mai...
This podcast episode discusses the implementation of tariffs by the Biden administration on imports from China, the impact of tariffs on jobs and trade in the U.S., the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, and the potential reduction of educational requirements for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). It explo...
This podcast episode explores the factors contributing to the economic growth in the Dominican Republic, including the establishment of free trade zones and the country's ability to adapt to challenges such as China's entry into the World Trade Organization. It also discusses the income inequality and limited job oppor...
This podcast episode explores the rising rents in Providence, Rhode Island, as well as the impact of the lock-in effect on rental home prices. It discusses the challenges faced by big cities in the Northeast due to low construction and high demand, as well as the unintended consequences of the Fed's efforts to combat i...
This podcast episode explores the stalling progress of women in the workforce despite advancements, highlighting the persistence of the gender pay gap and the underrepresentation of women in high-paid fields. It introduces the winner-take-all approach in business culture, which places women at a disadvantage and priori...
This podcast episode explores the concept of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and their potential to revolutionize payment systems. It discusses how crypto technology is being used to develop faster, cheaper, and more secure payment systems like Circle and Stripe. Governments and central banks are intrigued by th...
This podcast episode explores the rise of gold as an investment choice, particularly due to expectations of falling interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty. It also discusses the slow rollout of funds for infrastructure projects, the potential reversal of clean energy policies by Donald Trump, and the consolidation...
This podcast episode discusses the challenges faced by the Social Security system, primarily the demographic shift with the retirement of the baby boomer generation and declining birth rates. The imbalance between workers and retirees poses a strain on the system, and if not addressed promptly, benefit cuts could be im...
This podcast episode explores the challenges faced by Venezuelans in their economy and the impact of de facto dollarization. It discusses the economic growth and inequality in the country, as well as the desire for change in the upcoming elections. Despite the difficulties, many Venezuelans still hold love for their co...
This podcast episode explores the use of hazard maps in Juneau to identify landslide risks and implement building restrictions. The maps aim to prevent building in areas with a significant potential for loss of life and property. Although the hazard maps have been met with resistance due to the revealed risks, some hom...
This podcast episode explores the management of water resources in the western US, with a focus on the Colorado River and its significance to cities, agriculture, and the economy. It highlights the role of the Shoshone power plant in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, and its legal right to a significant amount of water. The e...
This podcast episode discusses the importance of monitoring the average hourly wage as an indicator in jobs reports. While the current increase in wages is small, it can be viewed as a positive sign for the overall economy. The tight labor market has led to employers raising wages to attract more workers, contributing ...
This podcast episode explores the concept of endowments and the effectiveness of divestment campaigns and shareholder activism. It discusses the challenges of divesting from companies with ties to Israel and highlights the example of Engine No. 1, an activist investment firm. The section also discusses the impact of di...
This podcast episode explores the recent decision by the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady and the impact it has on businesses and various sectors of the economy. It discusses the understanding that businesses have about the tools available to the Federal Reserve to regulate the economy and the complexities...
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