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)

Why it's a problem if J.Crew and other retailers file for bankruptcy at the same time

May 1, 2020
J.Crew is expected to file for bankruptcy this weekend, according to multiple news reports.
A J.Crew in Washington, D.C. The company is expected to file for bankruptcy this weekend.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

During lockdown, why dress up?

Apr 30, 2020
Sales at clothing retailers dropped by 50% in March.
Loungewear will do just fine while you're working at home.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Thanks to COVID-19, there's a new category in retail: the cloth face mask

Apr 24, 2020
The cloth face mask has become a chance to make a fashion statement.
Cloth face masks have become a chance to make a fashion statement in the time of COVID-19.
Jens Schlueter/Getty Images

As retail industry melts down, lingerie company Natori confronts a threat

Apr 20, 2020
Most of its business is with department stores, many of which are closed. “It’s been pretty much a disaster,” President Ken Natori says.
From left, Ken Natori, president of lingerie and loungewear company Natori; his mother, Josie, CEO; and her husband, also Ken.
Josh Wong/courtesy of Natori

Apparel retailers have an inventory problem

Apr 15, 2020
Clothes are stranded in stores during a normally popular time for shopping.
It might be hard for retailers to sell when malls look like this one did on March 29 in New York.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Accountants find little relief in extended tax deadline

Apr 14, 2020
Tomorrow was supposed to be Tax Day. Accountants are not resting.
This year, the federal tax deadline has been pushed back to July 15.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Fed steps in to finance COVID-19 relief loans for small businesses

Apr 7, 2020
The Federal Reserve is creating a "lending facility" to keep things running smoothly for small business loans.
The central bank is finding new ways for it to finance the loans commercial banks are being told to write to small businesses.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

What happens when retailers stop paying rent?

Apr 6, 2020
Stores are closed. Sales have evaporated. A lot of retailers can’t pay their rent.
Urban Outfitters announced last week that it would stop paying rent at its stores during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

How did we end up in a ventilator bidding war?

Apr 1, 2020
Competition among states for ventilators has driven prices sky high.
A ventilator and other hospital equipment is seen in an emergency field hospital to aid in the COVID-19 pandemic in Central Park on March 30.
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

COVID-19 draws apparel manufacturers into the surgical mask business

Mar 24, 2020
Hanes. The fashion designer Christian Siriano. And lots of small apparel companies are getting into the mask-making business.
A shortage of surgical face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has some unexpected manufacturers stepping up.
Scott Heins/Getty Images