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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 ...

How much food are we wasting? 

by Janet Nguyen
Jun 3, 2022
Households end up squandering about one-third of the food they buy. More affluent people are among the biggest wasters.
About $240 billion worth of food is wasted annually in the United States, according to research.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do some areas have underground utilities and others have them overhead? 

by Janet Nguyen
May 27, 2022
Burying power lines is much more expensive, but pretty views and reduced risk are part of the debate.
"On the California grid, on a typical summer afternoon, the peak demand is about 30,000 megawatts," says Severin Borenstein of UC Berkeley. "And on the really hot days, it goes to about 50,000 megawatts."
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why the interest on your savings isn’t growing along with Fed rate hikes

by Janet Nguyen
May 20, 2022
The average savings rate is still just 0.07%. Part of the reason: Banks have too much money. Let us explain.
New requirements by the Treasury Department would tighten the mission of CDFIs by requiring money to go toward the most financially underserved groups.
John Moore/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

How do grocery stores make money when their profit margins are so low?

by Janet Nguyen
May 13, 2022
Margins can be as little as 1%. But there are three ways to look at rate of return, and other factors to consider.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do companies have to make more money each year? 

by Janet Nguyen
May 6, 2022
Most of them face the pressure of investors.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why does the Federal Reserve raise rates in quarter percentages?

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 29, 2022
The Fed recently hiked rates by 25 basis points, and plans to raise rates several more times this year alone.
A view of the Federal Reserve Board building in Washington, D.C.
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do oil companies call themselves “energy” companies? 

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 22, 2022
Over the past several decades, several corporations have tried to distance themselves from being known as oil and gas companies.
A view of a Chevron gas sign in Houston, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

What’s the difference between 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans? 

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 15, 2022
Workers in the public education and nonprofit sectors are familiar with 403(b)s, which lack the regulation that comes with 401(k)s.
Workplace retirement plans are meant to help you afford to have some fun after you're done earning a paycheck. More than half of working adults participate.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do we report the Dow first? 

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 8, 2022
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is the country’s second-oldest market index.
A view of the Dow's closing numbers back in March 2020, when fears over the spread of COVID-19 intensified.
BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

How did Top 40 radio become a hit?

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 1, 2022
The label refers to both a broadcast format and a category of music.
LFO62/Getty Images Plus
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