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Animal shelters had a strong 2020. Then came the affordable housing crisis.

May 14, 2024
Rescues and shelters are taking “proactive” action to keep pets that have a home in their home.
Dogs receive vaccines at a clinic hosted by the Wisconsin Humane Society. Free and low-cost vet clinics are one way animal rescues are helping with the rising cost of owning pets.
Courtesy Wisconsin Humane Society

How can the WNBA maximize this moment?

May 14, 2024
Superstar rookies Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamila Cardoso bring a new wave of fans and media attention to the professional game — and now the WNBA's challenge is making it last.
Star players like Caitlin Clark don't hang around forever, so the WNBA is now tasked with getting new fans invested in teams, storylines and the league as a whole.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Consumers don't expect their incomes to grow as fast as prices

May 13, 2024
Consumers forecast inflation at 3.3% this time next year and are less confident that their earnings will rise as much as they had expected.
Consumers expect to spend more on the need-to-haves, like housing and food. Discretionary want-to-haves in their budgets may be squeezed.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Primary home stock gets a boost as demand for second homes drops

May 13, 2024
Softer demand for second homes has led to greater inventory in some markets, but overall, the climate is still competitive for buyers.
In 2023, demand for vacation home mortgages fell 40%, according to Redfin. And there are signs things haven’t exactly picked up this year.
zimmytws/Getty Images

More companies are adopting policies to support employees recovering from addiction

May 13, 2024
Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. have a substance use disorder, and most are in the workforce. Could employers take a bigger role in recovery?
Research shows that recovery-supportive workplace policies can reduce turnover costs, injuries, accidents and health care costs.
SDI Productions/Getty Images

Fast-food chains may need to offer more value meals to lure customers

May 13, 2024
McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut have reported soft sales as customers reject inflated prices. That means franchises have to get creative.
Fast-food restaurants hope that meal deals will bring back patrons who feel that eating out has become too expensive.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The U.S. exports more petroleum than it imports. So why are we importing at all?

May 13, 2024
It's largely about the chemistry of the oil and the mechanics of the refineries. In many cases, importing foreign crude is cheaper.
An oil pumpjack in Texas. Importing foreign crude oil is often cheaper for the United States.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Communities were sometimes winners in the Numbers gambling game

May 13, 2024
The illegal game has similarities with a state lottery. For many Black residents of Detroit, it represented an opportunity.
In Detroit, Numbers men — who ran an underground gambling game — were known for funding legal Black-owned businesses and social services.
Illustration: Dylan Miettinen/Marketplace | Vintage Postcard: Yesterdays-Papers/DeviantArt

The days of free refills may be over

May 13, 2024
McDonald’s announced that it would phase out its self-service machines by the end of 2032. More restaurants may follow suit.
Self-serve refill machines will be phased out at McDonald's by 2032.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

From the 1920s to the 2020s, cash-strapped homebuyers turn to smaller homes

May 13, 2024
Home builders are making new homes smaller to keep prices down. In Southern California, where land is scarce and housing is expensive, buyers are turning to small pre-war homes or ADUs.
Smaller pre-war homes, built before 1940 and under 1,500 square feet, vary in price based on location, size and condition. In South L.A., price per square foot can range from $300-800.
Courtesy Michael Robleto