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Planet Money

The Economy Explained
Factory boom, credit card debt defaults and housing
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The Indicator from Planet Money

Factory boom, credit card debt defaults and housing

The economy is in a weird place right now. It seems like every day there are new numbers coming out that say economic conditions are either great or poor. Today, we bring you some indicators this week — factory output, credit card defaults and housing — and bring some clarity to the tumult.

Factory boom, credit card debt defaults, and housing

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Investing in mediocrity
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Planet Money

Investing in mediocrity

Is the key to success in financial markets a matter of luck or skill? One former bond manager shares his strategy: Win big by avoiding winning. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

Investing in mediocrity

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Bart Simpson's American Dream
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The Indicator from Planet Money

Bart Simpson's American Dream

by Paddy Hirsch ,

Last year, we analyzed whether or not the Simpson family's lifestyle was attainable for the middle class. A writer on the show listened to that Indicator, and decided to answer that question with an episode of their own. Today, we bring you a sneak preview of their take on America's shrinking middle class.

Bart Simpson's American dream

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How the burrito became a sandwich (Classic)
NPR

Planet Money

How the burrito became a sandwich (Classic)

by Steve Henn ,

A sandwich is generally defined as something delicious slapped between two slices of bread. New York tax code would beg to differ. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

How the burrito became a sandwich (Classic)

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Tracking 1 million COVID deaths
Financial Times

The Indicator from Planet Money

Tracking 1 million COVID deaths

The United States has hit a million recorded deaths from COVID-19, a likely undercount. Today, how John Burn-Murdoch from the Financial Times tracks COVID-19, and what the true death toll really is.

Tracking 1 million COVID deaths

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Lessons from a former drug dealer
CONBUD

The Indicator from Planet Money

Lessons from a former drug dealer

Are the skills from dealing drugs transferable to the world of legal entrepreneurship? We review the evidence and meet Coss Marte, a former drug dealer who built a successful fitness routine business after a long time in prison.

Lessons from a former drug dealer

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Buy now, pay dearly?
Courtesy of Amelia Schmarzo

Planet Money

Buy now, pay dearly?

by Taylor Washington ,

A wave of companies that allow customers to pay for items from their favorite stores in four interest-free installments has taken over the country. But is "buy now, pay later" lending too good to be true? | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

Buy now, pay dearly?

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Crypto crashed, stocks dropped, and Apple surpassed
AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Crypto crashed, stocks dropped, and Apple surpassed

On today's edition of Indicators of the Week, we bring you the top numbers to know in the stock market, cryptocurrency, and the world's second most valuable company.

Crypto crashed, stocks dropped, and Apple surpassed

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Beating the bond market: Luck or skill?
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The Indicator from Planet Money

Beating the bond market: Luck or skill?

Bill Gross is a retired investor known for creating and dominating the bond market. But what exactly made him so successful? Today, we talk to Aaron Brown, who created a mock portfolio to unpack the success of the Bond King.

Beating the bond market: Luck or skill?

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Can inflation ... inflate away debt?
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The Indicator from Planet Money

Can inflation ... inflate away debt?

We often talk about inflation as a bad thing. But for countries in a lot of debt, inflation has an upside. But can a country try to inflate its way out of debt?

Can inflation ... inflate away debt?

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A 12-year-old girl takes on the video game industry (UPDATE)
Imangi Studios

Planet Money

A 12-year-old girl takes on the video game industry (UPDATE)

by , Steve Henn

When Maddie Messer was 12 years old, she noticed an unfair dynamic in the video games she loved: playing as a man was often free, but she had to pay to play as a woman. So ... she decided to take on the video game industry. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

A 12-year-old girl takes on the video game industry (UPDATE)

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The graying of America

Lay Guzman stands behind a partial protective plastic screen and wears a mask and gloves as she works as a cashier at the Presidente Supermarket on April 13, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images hide caption

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The Indicator from Planet Money

The graying of America

by Alana Semuels ,

America is getting older which is bad news for the state of the labor market. Today, we learn how lower fertility rates and retiring seniors are contributing to shortages in the labor force.

The graying of America

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EU leads the way on controlling big tech
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The Indicator from Planet Money

EU leads the way on controlling big tech

The European Union is poised to pass its latest big tech legislation package. The Digital Services Act could reshape how we interact with big online platforms. Today, we go through some of the highlights of the regulation.

EU leads the way on controlling big tech

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The day Russia adopted the free market
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Planet Money

The day Russia adopted the free market

In the early 90s, American economist Jeffrey Sachs was a part of a team that tried to transform Russia's economy. It did not go as planned. He tells us what he thinks went so wrong. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

The day Russia adopted the free market

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What the Beveridge curve tells us about jobs
AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

What the Beveridge curve tells us about jobs

Unemployment is low and job listings are at a record high: This shows up in a chart called the Beveridge curve. What's driving this? We talk to a former brewery manager to find out.

What the Beveridge curve tells us about jobs

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The palm oil price mystery

People line up to buy cooking oil in Palembang in February 2022, following the shortage of crude palm oil in the country. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator

The palm oil price mystery

by Paddy Hirsch ,

Prices for cooking oil have spiked around the world. You can point to drought and, more recently, the war in Ukraine for reasons why. But palm oil prices were on the rise before those production shocks. Today, we look into the palm oil price mystery.

The palm oil price mystery

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Quantitative easing, meet quantitative tightening
AP

The Indicator from Planet Money

Quantitative easing, meet quantitative tightening

To try and slow inflation, the Federal Reserve is going beyond its typical tool of raising interest rates, and adopting a policy of "quantitative tightening." So ... what is that, exactly?

Quantitative easing, meet quantitative tightening

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Escheat show (Classic)
"Empty pocket"

Planet Money

Escheat show (Classic)

by Audrey Quinn ,

If you're looking for money you've forgotten about, there's a chance the government might have it. The good news is that you can get it back. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

Escheat show (Classic)

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A secret weapon to fight inflation

Education bonds, Series I, United States. Getty Images hide caption

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The Indicator from Planet Money

A secret weapon to fight inflation

Savings bonds are known for their low yields and relative safety. However, the recent inflation spike is creating a heightened demand for the Series I Bond. Today, we learn the mechanics of the I Bond and why it might be the hottest investment of 2022.

A secret weapon to fight inflation

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