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The Indicator from Planet Money
Podcast · Free

The Indicator from Planet Money

NPR

A quick, smart take on a single number or idea from the world of work, business, and economics. Ten minutes flat.

12 recent episodesFree to stream
Which jobs are future-proofed?
With AI disrupting the workplace, is your job going to exist in ten years? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has just the handbook for that. Today on the show, we flip through the Occupational Outlook Handbook and answer your questions about the future of work.This episode originall
7 Sept 20268:42
Are job hoppers better at their jobs?
People with jobs are not always eager to leave them … but there are exceptions. Call them job hoppers. While many employers look down on this sort of professional promiscuity, new research suggests there are benefits to switching jobs frequently.  Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Y
4 Sept 20269:28
Does Planet Money’s game pass the shelf test? We go undercover to find out
We go undercover at a big box store for an inside look at the secret shelf test the makers of Exploding Kittens use for their hit games.Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — Who decides what big box sells? Our GAME got us answersConnect with The Indicator — Sign up fo
3 Sept 20269:52
For a lot of Gen Z, gambling is investing
Why are more than half of Gen Zers using investment dollars for sports gambling? It’s been eight years since sports betting became widely legal. Today we look at its impact on a new generation of sports bettors and efforts to curb gambling’s more harmful effects. Fact checking by
2 Sept 20268:35
A Treasury showdown with the bond market
Why is the U.S. Treasury planning to buyback at least double the number of long-dated government bonds it usually does? And will Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s buyback plan pit him against both the bond markets and the Federal Reserve? Today we explain what the Treasury’s up
1 Sept 20269:29
How ICE arrests are creating 'economies of fear'
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 50,000 people in July, marking the biggest month for ICE arrests of President Trump’s second term. We talk to a researcher who thinks this increased ICE activity is creating an “economy of fear” in cities around the countr
31 Aug 20267:43
The teacher pay penalty, Meta's major settlement, and a footwear flop
This week’s indicators: The teacher pay penalty; Meta’s massive settlement; Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods are struggling.  Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that comparable college graduates in other professions make aro
28 Aug 20269:19
Coyote vs. Acme finally gets its big break
Coyote vs. Acme will finally get its theatrical release on Friday after a years-long saga involving supposed tax write-downs, negotiations and multibillion-dollar studio deals. It's a drama almost straight out of a Hollywood screenplay. Today we have the story from the inside. Th
27 Aug 20269:29
What Mark Cuban REALLY thinks of Medicare for All
Medicare for All could save the U.S. trillions… or maybe way less than that? In our second episode on Medicare for All, we look at the convoluted figures behind the hot political topic. We hear directly from billionaire and healthcare voice Mark Cuban on what works about Medicare
26 Aug 20269:16
Medicare for All is not Medicare for All
As midterms near, Medicare for All is back in the spotlight and Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has become the newest face for it. Today, we dig into what Medicare for All would actually do and hear directly from El-Sayed on why he thinks it’s critical to figure out
25 Aug 20269:10
Could politics put your city's funding at risk?
The Trump administration recently admitted to pulling grants over politics. This practice could become more common. How do cities use grant money, and how will they adapt?Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen — How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?Connect
24 Aug 20268:30
EV sales slow, US Treasury yields grow, 'Niu Lai' has impressive box office mojo
This week’s indicators: EV sales sputter in North America but flutter internationally; U.S. Treasury Yields … RISE!; a low-budget movie so terrible, it became a box office hit in China. Fact checking by Julia RitcheyYour Next Listen — The story of China and Hollywood's big-screen
21 Aug 20269:24