Aug 13, 2024

Taking the temperature of small business

Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Small-business optimism increased last month — but not much. Plus, "Debt Trek" and deferred home renovations.

Segments From this episode

Small businesses are just as grumpy about the economy as consumers

by Kristin Schwab

Aug 13, 2024

Optimism has increased, but it's still below a 50-year average, a National Federation of Independent Business survey shows.

For a lot of business owners, this high inflation is stressful to navigate, says Holly Wade of the NFIB.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Labor costs fell in July. That may be what the Fed's been looking for.

by Caleigh Wells

Aug 13, 2024

The decline helped bring the annual rate of inflation at the wholesale level down to 2.2%.

The decline in labor costs means a decline in jobs, or wages, or both. That's bad news for workers, but will it encourage the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates? Above, Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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National Debt

U.S. debt just hit $35 trillion. Is it putting the global economy at risk?

by Stacey Vanek Smith

Aug 13, 2024

If you add up government debt around the world, it totals $91 trillion. More than a third of it comes from one country: The U.S.

The national debt has ballooned to cosmic proportions.

NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI via Getty Images

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How the snack industry is responding to Ozempic

by Matt Levin

Aug 13, 2024

Food and beverage developers are working overtime on new products that appeal to the changing tastes of obesity drug users.

People taking appetite-suppressing treatments like Ozempic are more likely to eat small servings of high-protein foods rather than large portions of salty snacks and baked goods.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Home Depot CEO cites "macroeconomic uncertainty" in earnings report

by Stephanie Hughes

Aug 13, 2024

The company says customers are deferring big renovation projects because of high interest rates and economic worries.

When consumers spend less because they’re concerned the economy might not do so well, that can cause the economy to not do so well.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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Why Canada has become a critical supplier of crude oil to the U.S.

by Elizabeth Trovall

Aug 13, 2024

It's an international love story of sorts, featuring "thick, heavy, goopy crude oil."

"We're now in this position where we have these very high-tech refineries that can process the really heavy crude,” says Ryan Kellogg with the University of Chicago.

Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

"Ride With You" Poolside, Ben Browning

"2 The Music" KAYTRANADA

"A Tune for Jack" Lemon Jelly

"Heat Waves" Glass Animals

"Everything Now" Arcade Fire

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 Assistant Producer

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

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