A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money , The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less. Sign up for our newsletter . Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes for Planet Money and sponsor-free listening for The Indicator.
The podcast explores the world of options whales, large traders who make significant bets using options contracts. It highlights the recent surge in options trading, driven by the availability of weekly and daily options. While institutions use options to protect investments, some whales engage in speculative activitie...
AI-driven job interviews offer potential to reduce visual bias against blind candidates by focusing on voice-only interactions, though a lack of research remains regarding how algorithmic training might negatively judge vocal characteristics or non-native accents. In the realm of monetary policy, the M2 money supply—wh...
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling striking down a significant portion of the Trump administration's tariffs marks a major shift in federal trade authority. The decision centers on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which the court ruled does not grant the executive branch unilateral power to impose t...
Retirement wealth is heavily dictated by the "blind luck" of market timing, as individuals retiring in 2000 amassed nearly three times the wealth of those retiring during the 2009 Great Recession despite identical saving patterns. This volatility highlights the role of Social Security as a necessary social insurance ag...
The Trump administration is aggressively expanding the U.S. immigration detention infrastructure, aiming for a record capacity of 93,000 detainees through a $38 billion funding allocation. This expansion primarily targets small, economically depressed towns like Folkston, Georgia, where the GEO Group has expanded a for...
The Department of Homeland Security’s rapid expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has doubled the agency's ranks through aggressive recruitment, yet this growth faces intense scrutiny over training quality and operational conduct. While DHS maintains that training standards remain consistent, new recru...
Iran’s recent countrywide protests, though sparked by a 50% inflation rate and a collapsing currency, stem from decades of economic mismanagement and environmental crises. Small business owners in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, historically a pillar of the regime, initiated the demonstrations by closing shops to protest the so...
The U.S. labor market shows signs of stabilization as January data reveals 130,000 new jobs and a slight dip in the unemployment rate to 4.3%. While healthcare drove over half of this growth, massive downward revisions to 2024 data—slashing initial estimates by 70%—underscore recent volatility. Beyond raw numbers, incr...
The podcast explores the exorbitant costs associated with becoming an Olympic figure skater, estimating it can reach $1 million. It highlights how, unlike many countries, the U.S. doesn't provide federal funding for youth athletics, placing the financial burden on families. The conversation emphasizes that expenses exp...
The recent volatility in gold and silver prices reflects shifting global geopolitical tensions and a fundamental re-evaluation of the U.S. dollar's dominance. Gold serves as a unique financial asset because its value is decoupled from industrial demand, whereas silver remains tied to economic cycles due to its use in t...
Hamburger Helper's recent sales surge is attributed to its status as an inferior good during economic anxiety. Sales shot up as food prices increased, pushing consumers to cheaper at-home options. While beef prices are high, ground beef remains economical compared to other cuts, making Hamburger Helper, designed around...
The global economic order is entering a "doom loop" where economic conditions, domestic politics, and international geopolitics create a self-reinforcing cycle of instability. Cornell University professor Eswar Prasad argues that forces once intended to foster prosperity—globalization, international institutions, and t...
The U.S. labor market is undergoing a structural shift where traditional benchmarks for "good" job growth no longer apply due to a shrinking working-age population. This "break-even" jobs number—the monthly gain required to keep unemployment steady—has plummeted from roughly 200,000 to potentially the low tens of thous...
The United States Olympic development system faces a funding crisis as its unconventional reliance on college football revenue reaches a breaking point. Unlike most nations that provide direct government subsidies, the U.S. established a private, free-enterprise model during the Cold War to contrast with Soviet state-s...
The expiration of federal clean energy tax credits on December 31, 2025, marks a significant shift for American homeowners and the renewable energy industry. These Biden-era incentives previously allowed taxpayers to write off 30% of costs—up to $2,000—for energy-efficient upgrades like heat pumps and insulation. While...
The rapid expansion of data centers driven by AI creates a high-stakes forecasting challenge for utility companies and regulators, who must bet on future electricity demand. If utilities overbuild infrastructure, residents face higher bills to cover idle capital costs, though regulators in states like Ohio are mitigati...
President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve marks a pivotal transition for U.S. monetary policy during a period of heightened political pressure and economic volatility. Maintaining central bank independence is the primary challenge, as market signals like rising long-term interest rates sug...
This episode of The Indicator presents "Indicators of the Week," covering three distinct topics. First, the hosts discuss the recently signed trade deal between the European Union and India, noting it encompasses 25% of global GDP. They address caveats, including the deal's 20-year development period and the need for r...
The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book reveals a paradoxical economic landscape in Hawaii, where a record-low unemployment rate of 2.2% exists alongside a struggling tourism sector and severe agricultural labor shortages. While businesses face desperate needs for workers in construction and hospitality, wage growth re...
Corporate America is navigating a disruptive second term for President Trump characterized by blurred lines between business and government. While profits and stock markets remain high, the administration is exerting unprecedented pressure on private firms, including demanding stakes in tech companies, capping interest...
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