The stock and bond markets may tumultuous right now, but gold prices have been on a tear. This week, they hit an all time high of $3,500 an ounce. In this episode, why nervous consumers, investment firms and even central banks are trading in cash for gold. Plus: The Trump administration announces incentives to get self-driving cars on the road and the largest passenger ship in the U.S. prepares to be sunk for science.
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26:16
Trump aims axe at community lender fund
The Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund supports lenders in far-flung and underserved areas. It also made a laundry list of federal programs President Trump deemed unnecessary and ordered to be “eliminated” last month. In this episode, how local banks are preparing for the possibility of losing that critical funding. Plus, leaders in the past who championed tariffs, retailers fret over consumer stress and apartment construction tapers off.
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25:53
Say goodbye to affordable clothing
Trump’s tariffs will touch the vast majority of industries, but apparel — clothes, shoes, accessories — will be particularly impacted. Around 98% of clothing sold in the U.S. is imported, primarily from China. In this episode, we look at how tariffs have complicated the apparel supply chain. In short? Even fast fashion may no longer be cheap. Plus: The services sector braces for tariff-induced stings, home sales rose in March and a community bank CEO talks handling uncertainty.
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25:29
No job? No office phone? Thanks DOGE.
Verizon lost nearly 300,000 monthly phone subscribers in the first quarter. The telecom giant put partial blame on ongoing government layoffs. Verizon will bounce back, analysts say, but its bad news may be followed by similar corporate disclosures reflecting DOGE-driven funding cuts and an atmosphere of paring back. Later in this episode, the U.S. lags China in nuclear power expansion, economic instability hinders AI data center investment and Catholic nuns struggle to find affordable care as they age.
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25:19
Boeing aircraft, duty-free no more
The scale and volatility of the trade war may be surprising, but tariffs aren’t new — unless you’re an aircraft manufacturer. (A trade agreement eliminated duties on commercial jets in 1980.) Last week, China told its airlines to reject Boeing deliveries, and since then at least two jets have been redirected to U.S. soil. Also in this episode: Student visa revocations could impede U.S. innovation in tech and science, home sellers are making concessions and consumers struggle with credit card debt.
Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day's business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. "Marketplace" takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people just trying to get by.
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