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Marketplace®

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Mar 28, 2025

Are U.S. consumers finally running out of steam?

Consumer anxieties may be catching up with their spending behavior. Also: a look into a water-saving pilot project and the compost supply chain.

Are U.S. consumers finally running out of steam? — Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images

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Segments From This Episode

The Weekly Wrap
by Kristin Schwab
“Marketplace” host Kristin Schwab speaks with Jordyn Holman at The New York Times and Rachel Siegel at The Washington Post about the latest personal consumption expenditure report and the economic impact of new tariffs and declining consumer sentiment.
Are we finally done with revenge spending?
by Savannah Peters
Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Consumers have been saying how fed up they are with inflation. But they keep on buying stuff, says Stephen Brown at Capital Economics.
A water-saving experiment got some LA homes to use half as much as their neighbors
by Caleigh Wells
Caleigh Wells/Marketplace
The experiment is part of a project to cut per-capita water use to just 13 gallons a day.
Business is up for this Michigan-based gift and stationery store owner
We check in with retailer Annie Lang Hartman, owner of Wild Lettie in Leelanau County, to hear how her business is doing amid the downturn in consumer sentiment.
A dirty story about the compost supply chain
by Maria Hollenhorst
Maria Hollenhorst/Marketplace
A look at how cities, farmers and compost brokers help close the loop on organic waste.

Music from the episode

The Team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer
Maria Hollenhorst Producer II
Andie Corban Producer I
Sarah Leeson Producer I
Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II
Sofia Terenzio Associate Producer I
Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer
Nicholas Guiang Assistant Producer

Are U.S. consumers finally running out of steam?