News
Attempting to predict the economy in 2026
2+ mon, 3+ day ago (231+ words) Seven-foot-tall "2026" numerals are displayed after an illumination ceremony in Times Square in New York City on Dec. 18, 2025. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption So, yeah, you should probably take economic forecasts with a grain " heck, a giant…...
The U.S. unexpectedly loses 92,000 jobs, adding to worries about the economy
3+ day, 6+ hour ago (552+ words) We got a double dose of disappointing economic news today. The U.S. job market is looking a lot weaker after a downbeat report from the Labor Department. Meanwhile, gasoline prices continue to soar as a result of the U.S. war with Iran....
Oil surges to its highest price since 2023, and stocks drop after U.S. jobs report
3+ day, 34+ min ago (833+ words) Michael Gagliano works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. Seth Wenig/AP hide caption NEW YORK " Oil prices touched their highest levels since 2023 after surging again Friday because of the Iran war, while a weak…...
No lawsuits required: U.S. Customs is working on a system to refund tariffs
3+ day, 57+ min ago (409+ words) Cargo containers are staged near cranes at the Port of Tacoma in Washington. Ted S. Warren/AP hide caption U.S. customs officials say they're working on a system to deliver tariff refunds, and they hope it'll be up and running within 45 days....
China sets a lower economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% for 2026 as challenges loom
4+ day, 13+ hour ago (750+ words) Chinese President Xi Jinping, left and Chinese Premier Li Qiang chat during the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Thursday, March 5, 2026. Ng Han Guan/AP hide caption BEIJING " China has signaled continuity rather than change for…...
Want a 2.5% mortgage? Buy it. : The Indicator from Planet Money
4+ day, 12+ hour ago (193+ words) Remember those juicy mortgage rates from back in 2021? You don't actually need a time machine to get one today. You just need to find someone willing to sell their house AND their mortgage to you. Called "assumable mortgages,' they take…...
The anxiety rattling China’s youth : The Indicator from Planet Money
5+ day, 12+ hour ago (277+ words) China will soon unveil its economic blueprint for the next five years, including a target for economic growth. This comes as consumption is down, wages aren't rising, and property prices continue to drop. So what's the plan? Today, we hear…...
The candy heir vs. chocolate skimpflation
6+ day, 9+ hour ago (1070+ words) A few years back, the Planet Money newsletter spotted a trend of companies skimping on the quality of their goods and services in response to inflationary pressures, and we coined a new word to describe it: skimpflation. Well, the concept…...
Mortgage rates fall below 6% for the first time in years
1+ week, 4+ day ago (515+ words) And now some good news about the U.S. housing market. Mortgage rates have fallen below 6% for the first time in 3 1/2 years. This could potentially thaw a housing market frozen by high mortgage rates. Here to tell us more is NPR's personal…...
Tariffied! We check in on businesses : The Indicator from Planet Money
11+ mon, 2+ day ago (191+ words) Trump's wave of tariffs is here. Just about everyone in the world of business is still processing exactly what this means. It's a massive, widespread increase in taxes. Today on the show, we hear from business people we've had on…...