News
‘Pro-worker AI,’ streaming fatalities, and other fascinating new economic studies
10+ hour, 22+ min ago (1551+ words) Greg Rosalsky | March 10, 2026 Economists are constantly churning out fascinating research, and as much as we try at Planet Money, there's a lot of stuff we don't cover. So, periodically, we like to do a little round-up of interesting economic papers…...
China sets a lower economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% for 2026 as challenges loom
5+ day, 12+ hour ago (889+ words) BEIJING " China has signaled continuity rather than change for its economy, setting a slightly lower target for growth this year in the midst of a property slump and other headwinds at home and growing uncertainty abroad. Premier Li Qiang announced…...
Mortgage rates fall below 6% for the first time in years
1+ week, 5+ day ago (308+ words) A for sale sign is posted outside a home, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. U.S. mortgage rates have finally fallen below 6%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage is at 5.98% this week, according to a new report from the Federal Home Loan…...
Trump’s many tariff tools mean consumer prices won’t go down, analysts say
1+ week, 6+ day ago (1005+ words) James Doubek | February 25, 2026 Consumers likely won't see cheaper prices at the grocery store or shopping mall, economists say, despite the Supreme Court striking down many of President Trump's tariffs. There are a couple reasons why: For one, the president has…...
How much power does the Fed chair really have?
1+ mon, 10+ hour ago (1517+ words) Greg Rosalsky | February 10, 2026 President Trump recently nominated Kevin Warsh to become the next chairman of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. And it's got us thinking about the power of the Fed chair, and where that power comes from. On…...
China’s trade surplus surges 20% to a record $1.2 trillion, even with Trump’s tariffs
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (607+ words) Aerial view of a container terminal in Nanjing in eastern China's Jiangsu province, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. HONG KONG " China's trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, the government said Wednesday, as exports to other countries made up for…...
Trump calls for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates
1+ mon, 4+ week ago (544+ words) Stephan Bisaha | January 12, 2026 President Donald Trump has floated the idea of putting a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%. "They've really abused the public," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Monday, describing credit card companies. "I'm not…...
DOJ subpoenas Federal Reserve in escalating pressure campaign
1+ mon, 4+ week ago (417+ words) President Trump and Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell toured the central bank's headquarters last summer. Trump has complained about cost overruns on the central bank's renovation project, while also pressing the Fed to cut interest rates more aggressively. The Justice…...
The U.S. economy grew robustly as Americans continued to spend
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (587+ words) Alina Selyukh | December 23, 2025 The U.S. economy grew robustly in July, August and September, powered by steady consumer spending, especially on health care. The gross domestic product " the broadest measure of the nation's economic activity " for the third quarter grew at an…...
Inflation cools slightly in November as worries about affordability grip Americans
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (712+ words) Scott Horsley | December 18, 2025 The cost of living continued to climb in November " though a little less than two months ago " as seven in ten Americans say they're barely able to pay their bills. Consumer prices in November were up 2.7% from…...