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 ...

Could the U.S. ever attain 100% employment?

by Janet Nguyen

Sep 6, 2024

The U.S. unemployment rate has never reached zero, and it likely never will. But that’s not a bad thing.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

What types of infrastructure spending have the best long-term economic results?

by Janet Nguyen

Aug 30, 2024

Roads, utilities and telecommunications provide some of the greatest economic returns.

David McNew/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Why do websites still use CAPTCHA?

by Janet Nguyen

Aug 23, 2024

They’re annoying to humans, but they can stop the bots.

Early iterations of CAPTCHA tests asked users to type in the characters they saw on the screen.

milindri/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

How do Treasury bonds work?

by Janet Nguyen

Aug 16, 2024

We looked at where you can buy Treasury securities and when they’re up for auction.

U.S. Treasury bonds can serve as a hedge against market volatility.

Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

How did the Red Hot Chili Peppers go from the concert stage to the T-shirt you're wearing?

by Janet Nguyen

Aug 9, 2024

Companies working on behalf of bands approach big-box retailers to see if they want to carry any merch.

Through Target's website, you can buy band merchandise for your toddler.

Screenshot via Target.com

I've Always Wondered ...

Why do paper bags have a zig-zag cut at the top?

by Janet Nguyen

Aug 2, 2024

Safety, efficiency and looks play a role in the design.

The paper bag's simple zig-zag design can save consumers a lot of pain.

Canonzoom/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

Does the Fed actually set interest rates?

by Janet Nguyen

Jul 26, 2024

The Fed has a series of tools in its arsenal to influence interest rates, including the all-important federal funds rate.

When interest rates go down, the cost of borrowing money goes down too.

NanoStockk/Getty Images Plus

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I've Always Wondered ...

Why don’t we have a phone book for cell phones?

by Janet Nguyen

Jul 19, 2024

The economic incentives didn’t make sense when cellular services first became available.

A phone book showing "the yellow pages" (business listings) and "the white pages" (residential listings).

jhorrocks/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

Why are movie box office results reported in dollars, rather than tickets sold?

by Janet Nguyen

Jul 5, 2024

Knowing a movie’s gross is important for Hollywood dealmaking. The rest of us are just obsessed with records.

The highly popular "Inside Out 2," released this summer, has already made more than $1 billion worldwide. Traditionally, the press has measured a movie's success by how much it's earned at the box office, not by how many people saw the film.

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney/Pixar

I've Always Wondered ...

What causes bond prices to rise and fall?

by Janet Nguyen

Jun 28, 2024

Think of the bond market as similar to the beach house rental market.

A collection of United States debt certificates.

Jitalia17/Getty Images

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