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Job data's all over the place, but things are still pretty good for some workers

Jul 6, 2023
ADP and other labor market signals point to continuing interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve.
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The manufacturing sector is slowing. That could be a sign of a coming recession.

Jul 5, 2023
It's just over 10% of the U.S. economy but it has an outsized influence.
The Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Managers Index — a survey that measures manufacturing activity — fell again in June for an 8th straight month.
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What the Fed wants to see in the next jobs report

Jul 4, 2023
To not be so stubbornly good? "We still see the labor market running very hot,” one economist says.
Fed policymakers use data from household surveys, financial markets, professional forecasters and the labor market to set interest rates, says Rice University economist Zach Bethune.
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Economic indicators can't tell us the economy's whole story

Jun 23, 2023
The manufacturing sector is shrinking, according to a report. But that doesn’t account for people’s spending or the tight labor market.
"If you move beyond the vibes and look at the hard data, we’re creating jobs at a gangbusters pace, unemployment is at a 50-year low," says Justin Wolfers of the University of Michigan. "This ain’t a recession, man."
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Other countries are tipping into recession — and could drag the U.S. along

Jun 20, 2023
Among them are New Zealand, Germany and, probably, China.
Germany is among the nations around the world facing a recession linked to their battles with inflation. Above, a Christmas market in Heidelberg.
Daniel Roland/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. money supply is shrinking. Does that mean we’re all doomed?

Jun 13, 2023
Movements in money supply matter, but not as much as they used to.
The U.S. money supply is falling for the first time in the modern era.
Naser Jafari/Tasnim News/AFP via Getty Images

When a wedding, student loan payments and economic anxiety mean it's time for a second job

May 31, 2023
"I wanted to have something that I could easily add on to my current workload," says chemist April Oliver of Bozeman, Montana.
In addition to her full-time job, April Oliver is working as an adjunct faculty member at a nearby university leading chemistry labs.
Thibault Savary/AFP via Getty Images

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How companies commodify your recycled waste

May 3, 2023
We tour a materials recovery facility in California, where the stuff consumers toss into recycling bins is sorted.
Athens Services, a Southern California waste collection an recycling company, is just one part of a global system that recycles waste into new packaging and products.
Antoinette Brock/Marketplace

Fed raises key interest rate but hints it may pause amid bank turmoil

May 3, 2023
The Fed’s rate increases over the past 14 months, aimed at quelling inflation, have elevated the cost of loans and heightened the risk of a recession.
The Federal Reserve signaled that it may pause its series of rate hikes, which have made borrowing more expensive in a bid to quell inflation. Above, Fed Chair Jerome Powell in March.
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Why are Ikea and Costco expanding as other retailers close stores and lay off staff?

Apr 21, 2023
Opening new stores may be a way for some retailers to position themselves for both a downturn and a recovery.
Someone who once shopped at Crate & Barrel may now feel more comfortable on an Ikea budget, which could partially explain the retailer's expansion plan.
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