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Hear that boom? It’s the economy.
Oct 26, 2023

Hear that boom? It’s the economy.

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GDP went gangbusters last quarter, but many expect reality to set in soon. Also, students are finding quicker, lower-cost paths to careers.

Segments From this episode

GDP grew 4.9% in Q3, the highest since 2014. How'd we get here?

Oct 26, 2023
The answer will be pretty familiar: consumer spending, and lots of it.
A majority of GDP growth came from people splurging on concerts, restaurants and durable goods.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Can the U.S. keep driving the global economy if other countries aren't keeping up?

Host Kai Ryssdal talks to Ana Swanson of The New York Times about why U.S. GDP is booming compared to the rest of the world.

In tight labor market, businesses practice "strategic retention"

Oct 26, 2023
Economists at the Dallas Fed reported some evidence of “labor hoarding” in the latest Beige Book.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Undergraduates flock to associate degree and certificate programs

Oct 26, 2023
They're cheaper and quicker than earning a bachelor's degree. When students complete their courses, jobs will likely be waiting for them.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden toured a North Carolina community college in June. Many students are choosing to forgo the bachelor's degree path to a career.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Federal "Buy American" rules could be stalling infrastructure projects

Oct 26, 2023
Rules to boost the domestic economy now apply to broadband and water equipment. Delays and higher costs can be part of the trade-off.
The Gila River Indian Community develops projects to conserve water. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said federal rules requiring the use of American-made construction materials can be an obstacle.
SafakOguz/Getty Images

From e-commerce to brick and mortar

Oct 26, 2023
After years selling on Etsy, Mimi Striplin of The Tiny Tassel in South Carolina saw a "need to create a space for people that looked like me.”
The Aneris Collective

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
Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I
Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer