Marketplace

In case you forgot, President Trump's tariffs had one goal: narrow the U.S. trade deficit. Compare March ‘25 to March ‘26, and the deficit has shrunk by half. But from February to March of this year, it actually widened — exports rose, while imports rose even more. In this episode, what’s driving all that economic activity? (Hint, it’s not tariffs.) Plus: 30-year Treasury yields top 5%, home remodeling is projected to slow in 2027, and we visit a job fair in Philadelphia.

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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.

We’ve said from the get-go that consumers paid the bulk of President Trump’s tariffs. Now that most were ruled illegal, individual businesses will get to decide whether to pass those tariff refunds onto customers. And any litigation of those decisions could take a while. Also in this episode: What’s next for the airline industry sans Spirit, why GameStop wants to buy eBay, and how states could claw back some tax dollars.

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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.

Bad news for your next smartphone purchase: An extended memory chip crunch is upon us, warns Apple CEO Tim Cook. New artificial intelligence projects are outspending the consumer electronics sector on memory, and manufacturers have limited output capacity. Retailers will likely pass those higher costs onto consumers. Also in this episode: A retiree focuses on charitable giving, specialty movie ticket prices climb to $50, and America’s biggest energy port benefits from the Middle East oil tie-up.

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.

U.S. gross domestic product grew by 2% in the first three months of 2026. (It’s a stark improvement to the final quarter of 2025, which saw GDP growth of just 0.5%.) Experts agree massive investment in artificial intelligence is the main driver of that growth. But what does that mean for the rest of the economy? Also in this episode: Financial market predictions fall short of real-life crude oil costs, airlines face an aircraft technician shortage, and social media is in the midst of a bean craze.

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.

Wednesday marked Jerome Powell’s final FOMC meeting as chair of the Federal Reserve. Central bank leaders held rates steady this week, though with the most dissenting votes in over 30 years. Powell also announced his intent to stay on as a Fed governor — the first chair to do so since 1948. In this episode, we recap Powell’s tenure as head of the Fed and unpack his latest press conference. Plus: Companies issue more corporate debt, Taco Bell outperforms sales expectations, and AI spawns new cybersecurity headaches.

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.