Marielle Segarra

Senior Reporter

SHORT BIO

Marielle Segarra is a former reporter for Marketplace. She covers taxes and consumer psychology. She covered retail, consumer psychology and the economy. One topic she enjoyed exploring: how we shop – and the emotions that come up as we do. Pride. Guilt. Frustration. She also followed small businesses as they find their way in the pandemic and is always trying to show people how the ins and outs of the economy are relevant to their lives.

What was your first job?

Summer camp counselor to a bunch of 5-year-olds.

In your next life, what would your career be?

I think I would still want to create things. Maybe I'd be a chef. Or an interior designer. Or I'd write for a TV show.

Fill in the blank: Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you ______.

Financial stability, which is a good start.

What’s the favorite item in your workspace and why?

My stash of chocolate.

Latest Stories (452)

How a new shop owner is navigating the pandemic

Oct 9, 2020
After opening her children's clothing store in May, this first-time entrepreneur is seeing a profit. Now if she can just figure out why her customers shop when they do.
Maris Johansson, above, has hired her first employee for her shop, Broomtail, in Denver.
Credit: Joslyn Griffin

How did the Biden campaign create fly swatter merch so quickly?

Oct 8, 2020
A fly swatter is a very specific piece of promotional merchandise. Branding specialists explain how it works.
The now-famous fly rests upon the head of Vice President Mike Pence during Wednesday's vice presidential debate in Utah.
Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images

Why do economists compare recessions to letters of the alphabet?

Sep 30, 2020
Is it a V-shaped recovery? Or a J, L, U, W or K?
What kind of economic recovery are we in, exactly?
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Retailers prepare for a surge in online sales this holiday season

Sep 22, 2020
The thing is, it’s cheaper for retailers when you shop in-store.
A FedEx driver makes deliveries in Manhattan on Sept. 17 in New York City. While consumers have come to expect free shipping, it's costing companies.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
A TikTok office in Culver City, California. Both Oracle and Walmart are interested in data.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

What live music looks like during a pandemic

Sep 11, 2020
Verzuz battles are really more like live music love fests.
Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, creators of Verzuz, at an event in 2019. The live shows streamed on Instagram and Apple Music pit two music icons against each other in live performance of their songs.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Revolt
A closed J.C. Penney store at a mall in San Bruno, California. The retailer is an anchor store in a lot of malls.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Audio diary: Returning to the office

Sep 9, 2020
We hear from listeners about returning to their workplaces for the first time since March to grab supplies for home.
An empty office in Seattle, Washington. Returning to the office to grab supplies for home can bring up unexpected emotions.
John Moore/Getty Images

Retailers go "conservative"

Sep 8, 2020
Going into the fall and the holidays, retailers are being cautious about what they buy.
A reopened Urban Outfitters store in Santa Monica, California. Heading into fall, retailers are being cautious about having too much inventory.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

A 2018 Supreme Court tax decision is helping state budgets during the pandemic

Sep 3, 2020
Ruling enabling states to collect sales taxes on online purchases turned out to be key.
States are collecting substantial online sales tax revenue while some other forms of commerce shrink.
Mapodile/Getty Images