Dec 12, 2022

The race to control inflation is a marathon, not a sprint

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Though inflation seems to be cooling, it may take years to reach the Fed's 2% target. Plus, wildfires strain government budgets and hurricanes challenge scientific predictions.

Segments From this episode

Inflation's "last mile" is the trickiest

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Dec 12, 2022

Fighting inflation starts like a sprint, but it's a marathon. And the last few miles are hardest.

Online prices and freight rates are down, pointing toward cooling inflation. But getting the rate back down to 2% will require a cooler labor market, says economist Sarah House.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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How Congress' latest bid to help Americans save for retirement falls short

by Meghan McCarty Carino

Dec 12, 2022

Economists say bills like the Secure Act 2.0 mostly benefit those who already have some retirement savings.

One in four Americans aren't saving for retirement, many of them because they can't afford to.

DNY59/Getty Images

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COVID-19

For many Chinese workers, the country's zero-COVID policy has tested family bonds

by Jennifer Pak

Dec 12, 2022

Most workers who leave small towns for higher pay in big cities can't bring their families with them. For nearly three years, travel restrictions have kept them apart.

A masked factory worker works on a machine line.

Barcroft Media via Getty Images

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Storm (prediction) chasers

The climate crisis, along with a boom in coastal development, means hurricanes can cause more death and destruction. Marketplace’s Amy Scott reports on the folks who are trying to predict such disasters.

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Urgent care industry grows as need, business opportunity meet

by Kristin Schwab

Dec 12, 2022

The pandemic shone a light on urgent care's role in the health system. Private equity has taken notice.

A CityMD urgent care clinic in New York City. The chain is among several in the industry that are expanding aided by investment from private equity.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

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A Warmer World

Wildfires are more frequent, getting worse — and straining government budgets

by Samantha Fields

Dec 12, 2022

Federal spending by the two main agencies that manage wildfires has doubled in the last decade, Pew found. States are spending more too.

A fire burns east of Eugene, Oregon, in September 2020. Pew researcher Colin Foard pointed out that the state of Washington's average annual spending on wildfires more than tripled during the 2010s.

Tyee Burwell/AFP via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Pink + White Frank Ocean

Perfect Circle Nujabes

All the Stars Kendrick Lamar feat SZA

Comic Sans Cory Wong feat Tom Misch

Drew Barrymore SZA

Nightrider Tom Misch + Yussef Dayes feat Freddie Gibbs

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

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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