Marketplace All-in-One

To help celebrate spooky season we’re sharing an episode from our dustry haunted archives about two of the biggest economic frights of all. When Lulu wrote in asking about recessions and depressions Ryan and Bridget went to the experts at the Federal Reserve. While learning about how the Fed keeps an eye on the health of our economy, the pair accidentally unleash an economic disaster. They’ll need the help of the Fed’s Recession Crushers to get things back in line. Who ya gonna call? The Recession Crushers!

A few Big Tech firms are slated to explain their quarterly earnings later this week. AI will, of course, be the protagonist of these earnings calls. Investors are hoping for some positive character development, or at least a spoiler for any plot twists. In this episode, the next installment of the AI narrative. Plus: Central banks prepare for interest rate setting, Treasury rates rise with heightened risk, and the Energy Department adds helium to its critical materials list — again.

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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.

Read the stories in today’s episode:

AI is the main character in Big Tech's earnings stories
Will the world's central banks rase interest rates this week?
At the Belcourt Theatre, you can see everything (including the documentary)
Helium is back on the U.S. list of 'critical materials'
Treasury interest rates are up because they're looking risky
Aging farmers and the government want to save farms, but for many the cost is too high

The Federal Reserve begins a two-day meeting on interest rates tomorrow. Just last month, the Fed hiked rates by a quarter percentage point. Since then, oil prices have surged, and consumer inflation has intensified. This morning, we dig into analyst expectations for where interest rates go next. Also in this podcast: investor doubt creeps in when it comes to AI spending, and carmakers grapple with competition from China.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Stories from this episode:

Volvo is limping out of a bruising quarter. The carmaker's CEO blames Chinese competition.

Trump administration officials say they’re making progress in trade negotiations with Canada. Talks have been stalled since August, when President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on a range of imports from Canada. Now, with border states hurting and midterm elections around the corner, negotiations appear to be picking up. We hear where things stand. Then, RadioShack — still alive and kicking — is leaning into retro tech ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.

Marketplace Morning Report 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.

Stories from this episode:

RadioShack leans into retro tech to revitalize the brand

Donna Guthrie had obituaries on her mind after her brother passed away in May. She recently celebrated her 80th birthday and started wondering how she might be remembered. So, she asked ChatGPT to write her obituary. It's the topic of today's “Uncanny AI,” our regular segment about our sometimes unsettling experiences with this tech.

Plus, we asked Michelle Huang, a technologist and artist who explores the use of AI for wonder, if this is creepy or healthy.

More on this:

“How AI can connect you with your inner child” from Marketplace Tech