Apr 4, 2022

To tackle inflation, it helps to know what’s causing it

Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a luncheon at the 2022 NABE Economic Policy Conference at the Ritz-Carlton on March 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Plus: The U.S. maintains its global financial clout — for now — and stock buybacks make a comeback.

Segments From this episode

Why it's so hard to agree on the causes of inflation

by Amy Scott and Sean McHenry

Apr 4, 2022

As inflation hits 40-year highs on several key metrics, not all economists agree on the causes.

Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

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How "detention" is punishing truck drivers and supply chains

by Matt Levin

Apr 4, 2022

The key to unfurling domestic supply chains may not be more truck drivers on the road, but getting them in and out of warehouses faster.

Addressing trucker wait times at warehouses and ports could alleviate some supply chain kinks and improve driver satisfaction. Above, trucks lined up at the Port of Los Angeles in November 2021.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Could the U.S. have weakened its financial clout by using it to sanction Russia?

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Apr 4, 2022

Probably not, but Russia and China are likely to keep looking for ways to avoid U.S.-controlled financial infrastructure.

The U.S. has a lot of leverage in the global financial system — at least for now.

SSV-Photo/Getty Images

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Why companies repurchase their own shares

by Savannah Peters

Apr 4, 2022

Stock buybacks are typically meant to return value to shareholders. But critics say the cash could be used to create jobs or raise workers' pay.

Spencer Platt/ Getty Images

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The ski wax industry is working to leave PFAS behind

by Madelyn Beck

Apr 4, 2022

Laws and regulations are changing to kick this harmful “forever chemical” off the ski hill.

Eric Straubhar buffs the wax on a child's ski in his Idaho shop. Bans on PFAS waxes haven't provoked pushback, he said. If they apply to everyone, "the playing field is level."

Madelyn Beck/Mountain West News Bureau

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Music from the episode

20 Grand Palace RJD2

Kiss Me More (feat. SZA) Doja Cat, SZA

Which Way To Paradise Poolside

Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi Radiohead

Turnmills Maribou State

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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