Feb 18, 2022

The state of the Presidents Day sale

A shopper walks out of a store inside a shopping mall in Bethesda, Maryland on February 17, 2022. Mandel Ngana/AFP via Getty Images

Today, we chat about the role companies play in inflation and dig through the numerous forms of corporate performance data.

Segments From this episode

The Weekly Wrap

“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal chats with Bloomberg’s Jordyn Holman and ADP’s Nela Richardson about the omicron’s effect on the economy and how corporate price hikes play into inflation.

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Do consumers expect discounts when inflation is running hot?

by Meghan McCarty Carino

Feb 18, 2022

President's Day weekend is usually marked by sales. But both supply chain shortages and inflation are complicating the hunt for a bargain.

Walmart reported strong earnings this week, as consumers try to find bargains at a bargain-scarce time.

Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

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Twitter CEO paternity leave draws range of reactions

by Samantha Fields

Feb 18, 2022

Less than a quarter of people in the U.S. work for companies that offer paid parental leave. Even fewer offer paid paternity leave.

Getty Images

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Kai Explains

What’s the best way to measure corporate performance?

by Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst

Feb 18, 2022

“There isn’t one,” said Patrick Badolato, a professor of accounting. But investors and analysts use “net income” and “EBITDA” in their attempts.

Obscure financial metrics "seem to tell a nice and neat and tidy story, and the reality is messy and nuanced,” said Patrick Badolato, an associate professor of accounting at the University of Texas.

George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images

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COVID-19

WHO plan will help ramp up COVID vaccine production in Africa

by Lily Jamali

Feb 18, 2022

Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will have access to mRNA vaccine technology. Is that enough?

$While global vaccination rates hover at around 60%, vaccine rates in Africa are just a fraction of that.$

Jonathan Nackstrand/ AFP Getty Images

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How the "Great Reassessment" brought this Dallas dancer to confront the gender gap in dance

by Richard Cunningham

Feb 18, 2022

Even though there are more female dancers than there are male, men dominate leadership positions.

“As a dancer, you know you’re going to retire from your performance career before retirement age, so you have to have in mind what the next steps are going to be," said Alexandra Farber.

Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Becoming a Tree Richard Houghten

My Dearest Friend Manatee Commune

Agrimony MF DOOM

Tidal Wave Butcher Brown

Habits (Stay High) Tove Lo

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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