Nov 26, 2024

The housing sector droops under a labor shortage and price hikes

Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

New home sales were down nearly 10% year over year in October. Plus, real-time shopping data and what Trump's tariff plans could do to trade agreements.

Segments From this episode

In an uncertain housing market, home builders face a range of challenges

by Justin Ho

Nov 26, 2024

A shortage of skilled labor, high labor costs, and uncertainty about the effect of tariffs on lumber prices weigh on some homebuilders.

Inflated costs and low labor pools are making home building challenging.

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

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Trump wants to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada. What does that mean for free trade agreements?

by Amy Scott and Sofia Terenzio

“Marketplace” host Amy Scott talks with Ana Swanson of The New York Times about what Trump’s proposed policy might mean for U.S. trade agreements and inflation.

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Real-time data finds consumers feeling fragile

by Caleigh Wells

Nov 26, 2024

Data like credit card swipes and parking lot satellite photos show trends long before many measures of consumer sentiment.

Satellite images of store parking lots are used to measure "footfall," where people are physically shopping.

Emil T. Lippe/The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Laptop sales are surging at Best Buy. Why now?

by Stephanie Hughes

Nov 26, 2024

Otherwise, the electronics retailer had a meh quarter. We’re four years out from the pandemic sales spike, equating to common upgrade cycles.

Laptops with artificial intelligence features could entice owners to replace their devices.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Baltimore warehouse CEO is finding a new normal after bridge collapse

by Amy Scott and Sarah Leeson

Nov 26, 2024

Sue Monaghan's business is recovering while she navigates obstacles like another possible port strike and proposed tariffs.

Business has "definitely picked up in November, but it still was pretty spotty through August and September," says Sue Monaghan, CEO of Baltimore International Warehousing and Transportation.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

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20 years of Yelp: do we still trust online reviews?

by Meghan McCarty Carino and Elissa Castles

Nov 26, 2024

Online ratings have become ubiquitous. But they've never been noisier to interpret.

About 10% of online reviews are fake, according to research by USC's Dina Mayzlin.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

When I Look Back Lev Snowe

Call The Foreign Exchange

Can I Kick It? A Tribe Called Quest

Risin' to the Top Keni Burke

All That We Perceive Thievery Corporation

Carousel Skylar Spence

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

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