Business activity growth soared in April, according to S&P Global’s purchasing managers index. The topline number might sound rosy, but experts think the growth spurt is really a sign of fear. In this episode, why businesses spent month two of the war in Iran stockpiling goods. Plus: Avis experiences a stock market “short squeeze,” business owners apply for the first round of tariff refunds, and we look back at the 1970s to understand the economics of oil price caps.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.

Boeing posted strong Q1 earnings Wednesday, and executives breathed a sigh of relief. The aircraft manufacturer survived several years of significant tumult, which included labor disputes, plane malfunctions, a production backlog, and shifting FAA restrictions. In this episode, how Boeing managed a comeback. Plus: Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket will start offering perpetual futures, carmakers push to follow Tesla’s direct-to-consumer sales model, and tariffs disrupt regular shipping cycles.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.

Haven’t you always wished for robots to do menial labor? That’s sort of what agentic artificial intelligence is — rather than existing solely in a chat box, the technology can excecute complex tasks. These “helpers” have spurred a rat race in certain tech circles: With the help of personalized AI agents, just how productive can you be? Also in this episode: The U.S. dollar drags, budget airlines seek relief from high jet fuel prices, and consumers use credit to keep up with daily expenses.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.

Rising gas prices, stemming from President Trump’s war against Iran, have frustrated drivers all spring. But diesel prices are up too, and diesel is the real engine of our economy. In this episode, small business owners face higher costs and uncertainty as diesel prices climb. Plus: Consumer sentiment reaches record lows even as spending remains stable, economists and farmers explain why tomato prices rose 15% in a month, and bond traders expect the Fed to hold rates steady all year.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.

QVC, which pioneered live TV shopping shows, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. Leadership made the next step clear: a pivot away from television and toward something akin to social commerce, like livestreamed sales on TikTok Shop. But can the legacy brand compete with new, social media-driven shopping platforms? And after that, we wrap up Kai and Nela’s trip to Vietnam with visits to an AI startup and a neighborhood of expats.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.

Cautious employers are hiring more temporary workers, according to the Fed’s latest Beige Book. It's sort of a half-step toward creating permanent roles. The good news is temp jobs can be a leading indicator for overall job market strength. But contract work lacks the stability and benefits of full-time employment. Also in this episode: Kai visits a sprawling electronics street market and a tech startup in Vietnam, jet fuel shortages put Europe on edge, and we check in with a hog and soybean farmer in Illinois.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.

The results are in, and despite concerns that the war in Iran would dampen big banks’ earnings, they’re doing just fine, thank you. On earnings calls this week, several banks shouted out consumer “resilience” for keeping everything chugging along. How long might that resilience hold up? Also in this episode: Small business owners slog through tariff refund paperwork, China is well-positioned to ride out this oil price surge, and we’ve got more of Kai’s visit to Vietnam.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.

As the U.S. population ages, our economy will rely more on nations with younger workforces. Nations like Vietnam, where there are two working-age adults for every dependent. As part of our ongoing Age of Work series, host Kai Ryssdal and ADP chief economist Nela Richardson visit a garment factory and outdoor vendor market in Ho Chi Minh City to learn more about Vietnam’s economy. But first: Companies contend with higher transportation costs and the Fed faces oil industry demand destruction.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.

Grocery prices rose less than 2% in March, according to the latest consumer price index. The cost of some staples, including eggs, butter, and cheese, fell from spikes last spring. Certain produce prices moved in the opposite direction. In this episode, how the global economy affects your grocery bill. Plus: The war in Iran ripples through big banks’ earnings, fuel economy regulations soften the blow of high gas prices, and Kai visits Southern California’s Little Saigon ahead of a trip to Vietnam.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.

Nearly 600 Marketplace fans gathered at the Aratani Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to watch Kai Ryssdal present Marketplace Live, in partnership with LAist.Kai was joined onstage by economics author, educator, and content creator Kyla Scanlon to talk about AI, prediction markets, Federal Reserve independence, and the war in Iran. Later, former “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio joined Kai to discuss his experience rebuilding after the LA fire and his new job as Marketplace senior correspondent covering future effects.Note: This show was recorded on March 29, and the situation in Iran has changed since then. Follow our latest coverage here.