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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 ...
Does it make cents to get rid of the penny?
What happens to your Christmas tree after the holidays? 
I've Always Wondered ...
What happens to your Christmas tree after the holidays? 
Why are bananas so cheap?
I've Always Wondered ...
Why are bananas so cheap?
What is the economic impact of lost and stolen packages? 
I've Always Wondered ...
What is the economic impact of lost and stolen packages? 

From This Collection

I've Always Wondered ...

Where does money collected from corporate fines go?

by Janet Nguyen
Aug 12, 2022
It depends, but usually the money heads straight to the U.S. Treasury.
A statue of the first United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton stands in front of the U.S. Treasury. If you've ever wondered where corporate fines go, they usually head here.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Check, please! But wait, isn’t it a bill?

by Janet Nguyen
Aug 5, 2022
The origins of the term reflect worries about accuracy and honesty at restaurants.
Sasithorn Phuapankasemsuk/iStock/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Would government price controls help solve our inflation problem? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 29, 2022
Many economists say that temporarily capping prices would be a short-term fix, leading to consequences once controls are lifted.
The Federal Reserve hiked interest rates Wednesday for the fourth time this year in its effort to influence prices for goods and services by indirect means.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why aren't mulberries sold at grocery stores?

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 22, 2022
The trees are easy to grow, but the berries are fragile and have a shorter shelf life compared to other fruits.
Mulberries are ripe when they fall off the tree.
altanakin/iStock/Getty Images Plus
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I've Always Wondered ...

Where did the stock market’s $7 trillion loss in value go? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 15, 2022
It’s been a bad year for the stock market and cryptocurrency, which have lost billions in value.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on a morning in June, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened lower.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Does the possibility of recession make employers reluctant to lay people off?

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 8, 2022
The struggle to hire has hit industries requiring specialized skills particularly hard.
A construction worker carries materials as he works on a home under construction at a housing development on March 23, 2022 in Petaluma, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why is your paycheck deposited early at some financial institutions?

by Janet Nguyen
Jul 1, 2022
A look at how direct deposits travel from your employer to you.
Wells Fargo plans to offer early direct deposits to customers later this year.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

The long, tangled story behind country-of-origin labels

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 24, 2022
“Made in” labels started as a way to protect domestic economies. Globalization has made it a lot more complicated.
Country-of-origin labels in the U.S. date back to the 19th century.
MYCHELE DANIAU/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

When is a powerful company considered a monopoly?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 17, 2022
The feds broke up giant AT&T. But experts say now it’s harder to make allegations of anti-competitive behavior stick.
Being a monopoly doesn't in itself mean a company is engaging in illegal behavior.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

How do experts know the causes behind the stock market’s ups and downs?

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 10, 2022
While the monthly jobs report or inflation numbers can move the markets, sometimes the reasons for daily fluctuations are less clear.
A trader working at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. A high consumer price index reading led to widespread selling and large losses for the major indexes.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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