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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 ...

Can we trust the expiration dates on our food?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 3, 2025

These dates tell us how long food will maintain its highest quality, but pantry items are often still safe to eat after expiration.

For shelf-stable items, "expiration" dates are guidelines, not rules.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

What should you do if you misplace a savings bond, or the owner dies?

by Janet Nguyen

Dec 20, 2024

You can fill out forms available on the government’s TreasuryDirect site in order to claim a missing bond or redeem a bond that belonged to a person who’s now deceased.

Misplaced your savings bonds? There's a form for that.

Jitalia17/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Why tariffs will hurt American consumers and fail to compensate for tax cuts

by Janet Nguyen

Dec 13, 2024

Tariffs are a tax that American companies pay to the U.S. government when importing goods. To make up their bigger tax bill, those companies tend to hike prices.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

How microchips came to power your phone and the economy

by Janet Nguyen

Dec 6, 2024

As our devices and vehicles perform increasingly sophisticated actions, chip demand has soared.

Sunshine Seeds/Getty Images Plus

I've Always Wondered ...

How the U.S. benefits from providing military aid to other countries

by Janet Nguyen

Nov 22, 2024

Loans used to make up a third of military aid, but dropped to just 1% in 2001. Now the U.S. mostly provides grants.

U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky after a meeting at the White House in 2023.

I've Always Wondered ...

Would changing the Fed's inflation target help people afford homes?

by Janet Nguyen

Nov 15, 2024

The trick is finding inflation's sweet spot — too much or too little can lead to a lot of problems for the economy and consumers.

If the Fed allows inflation to go up to 4%, then mortgage rates will rise, says Michael Klein, an economics professor at Tufts University.

Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

How do natural disasters impact consumer spending?

by Janet Nguyen

Nov 8, 2024

They cause billions of dollars worth in damage, but many regional economies prove to be resilient.

An aerial view of destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

I've Always Wondered ...

Who pays to maintain old graves at a cemetery?

by Janet Nguyen

Nov 1, 2024

If you want to learn the history of your community, cemeteries are a good place to start.

Green-Wood Cemetery in New York, which was founded in 1838, is a National Historic Landmark.

Maike Schulz

I've Always Wondered ...

Longer mortgages could make housing more affordable. Why is 30 years the standard?

by Janet Nguyen

Oct 25, 2024

Longer-term mortgages would mean lower monthly payments, but they're more expensive overall.

All financial loans come with tradeoffs. The 40-year mortgage would be no exception.

Allison Dinner/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

13 GOP-led states rejected federal funding to feed kids. Where does that unused money go?

by Janet Nguyen

Oct 18, 2024

A new summer program is helping to feed millions of families in dozens of states. But not everyone qualified.

Families in dozens of states received $120 in summer EBT benefits for each eligible child.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images