I've Always Wondered ...

If you’re like us, you’ve got a lot of questions about the small, simple, ubiquitous things in the world of business. Let's find the answers.

What have you always wondered about the economy?

Does it make cents to get rid of the penny?

I've Always Wondered ...

What happens to your Christmas tree after the holidays?

I've Always Wondered ...

Why are bananas so cheap?

I've Always Wondered ...

What is the economic impact of lost and stolen packages?

From This Collection

I've Always Wondered ...

Each federal layoff could lead to at least 1 other job loss in the private sector

by Janet Nguyen

Mar 21, 2025

Spending by federal workers stimulates local economies. Once they’re laid off, that could affect nearby businesses, like restaurants.

“It’s not pain that's going to be contained to the federal workforce,” said Emily Gee, senior vice president for Inclusive Growth at the Center for American Progress.

George Frey/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Who selected the Lady Gaga song you’re hearing at the grocery store?

by Janet Nguyen

Mar 14, 2025

Employees and marketing teams select songs from music providers, taking into account customer and employee feedback.

The right music can boost grocery sales, according to one Norwegian study.

Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

How do researchers measure income inequality?

by Janet Nguyen

Mar 7, 2025

Common economic measurements, like GDP growth, tell us how fast the economic pie is growing. But they don’t tell us how the pie is getting distributed.

Income and wealth inequality has widened over the past several decades.

Nastco/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

Why do fruit prices change so drastically from one week to the next?

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 28, 2025

Sometimes a fruit is simply no longer in season. Sometimes grocery stores have to deal with forces outside of their control.

Berry and grape prices can swing drastically over a short period of time.

elxeneize/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

How generous return policies can end up costing customers

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 21, 2025

Customers returned $890 billion worth of goods last year, which is almost triple the amount they returned pre-pandemic.

Some retailers who once offered generous return policies are now clawing those back.

AnnaStills/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

How is the floral industry able to supply all those roses for Valentine’s Day?

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 14, 2025

It’s a globally celebrated holiday that requires the floral industry to import millions of flowers each year. Let’s follow the supply chain.

The U.S. imports most of its roses for Valentine's Day.

iStock/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

Why do you still get unwanted calls from telemarketers?

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 7, 2025

Phone companies have the technology to block unwanted calls, but some haven’t prioritized doing so.

Scammers can disguise their identity by making numbers look like they're coming from your local area or a trusted organization.

iStock/Getty Images Plus

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I've Always Wondered ...

How does the strategic petroleum reserve work?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 24, 2025

A stockpile of oil kept in four large caverns can help with a rainy day.

A view of a Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage site in Freeport, Texas. In total, there are four SPR storage sites in the U.S.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Could natural disasters cause insurance companies to go out of business?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 17, 2025

Insurance companies have a surplus to help pay out claims, but that doesn't mean an insurer will be available in your state.

Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a home during a powerful windstorm on Jan. 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Apu Gomes/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Do blood donation centers sell your blood?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 10, 2025

They do, in order to recoup expenses like staffing, logistics and supplies.

A phlebotomist prepares to draw blood from a donor at a blood donation center in San Francisco, California.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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