Oct 29, 2021

Why the U.S. doesn’t have a carbon tax

Mark Wilson via Getty Images

But first: The Weekly Wrap; a check-in at a Maine candy shop; and Amazon tacks on a Whole Foods delivery fee.

Segments From this episode

The Weekly Wrap

Business Insider’s Linette Lopez and Politico’s Sudeep Reddy about consumer spending, inflation and more of this week’s economic news.

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Prices are rising. So are wages. And that worries some economists.

by Mitchell Hartman

Oct 29, 2021

Some of them are reminded of the bad ol' 1970s.

Though some economists are worrying about the potential for an inflation spiral, the biggest pay hikes are currently going to younger workers and service workers in low-wage professions — such as supermarket cashiers.

Jean Philippe-Ksiazek/AFP via Getty Images

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Rural Americans brace for more expensive propane

by Savannah Peters

Oct 29, 2021

Heading into winter, the price of residential propane is higher than it's been in 10 years.

Propane is at its highest price in a decade.

Go Nakamura via Getty Images

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Small retailers are caught between order backlogs and ramping demand

by Sean McHenry

Oct 29, 2021

Three independent retailers on how they're dealing with shortages, price increases and high demand.

The interior of one Dean's Sweets location in Portland, Maine. "If we sell more chocolate with a lower profit margin, we're still going to be OK," said co-owner Kristin Thalheimer Bingham.

Courtesy of Kristin Thalheimer Bingham

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Amazon has tacked on a Whole Foods delivery fee. Add to cart?

by Amanda Peacher

Oct 29, 2021

Even the giant online retailer is feeling the high cost and slim margin of the grocery business.

"Grocery, in the best of circumstances, is a very low-margin business," says Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst at Forrester.

Cindy Ord via Getty Images

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A Warmer World

If a carbon tax helps lower emissions, why doesn't the U.S. have one?

by Andy Uhler

Oct 29, 2021

The tax has been a contentious topic among Washington lawmakers, but the U.S. is behind industrialized nations in not having one in place.

A carbon tax would provide information on how much consumers and companies are willing to pay to pollute. Above, a coal-fired plant releasing carbon emissions in Maidsville, West Virginia, in 2018.

Spencer Platt via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Burn the Witch Radiohead

Midnight Khruangbin, Leon Bridges

Dans Le Noir Dark Rooms

Ghost in the Graveyard A Sunny Day In Glasgow

Dark Lady DJ Food

Giving Up The Ghost DJ Shadow

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer

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