Marketplace Morning Report

Starting next year, more people will be able to file their taxes directly and electronically with the IRS without a middleman. This past tax season, the IRS ran a small trial run in a few states and says it went well, so the agency’s making its free direct file program permanent. It’s expanding eligibility for the program too. Also: the Israeli economy and how it’s changed as a result of war.

From the BBC World Service: The U.S. needs to stop interfering in the affairs of Taiwan — that was the verdict of China’s defense minister, Admiral Dong Jun, who made the comments during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at a security conference in Singapore. Then, parts of India are experiencing an extreme heat wave, and Mexico’s citizens go to the polls on Sunday in a historic election.

Thursday marks the end of the 90-day period the FAA gave Boeing to come up with a plan to improve its safety and quality-control practices, something prompted by a fuselage panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Boeing has already announced a number of changes since then. What more do we expect to learn today? Also on the program: the number of wholesale goods sitting on shelves a dramatic decline in foreclosures.

In the months since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Palestine’s economy has been radically altered. Today, we hear about the conflict’s impact on the West Bank, Palestinian tax revenue and what recovery from such destruction and devastation in Gaza could potentially look like. Plus, the rise in artificial intelligence requires lots of data computing centers to power that AI. And all those data centers use lots of electricity.

From the BBC World Service: Iceland is once again witnessing the raw power of nature as a volcano erupts about 30 miles southwest of Reykjavik, impacting trade.Then, more than two years into the war with Russia, Ukraine is auctioning off the Hotel Ukraina. The proceeds will go toward the war effort. Also: a conversation with one of Latin America’s only female leaders, Laura Chinchilla, the president of Costa Rica.

When you buy a stock, your brokerage has to go out and buy it for you. It sometimes doesn’t happen immediately and can take up to two days. As part of a push to reduce risk in the stock market, a new Securities and Exchange Commission rule says it needs to happen faster. Plus, why consumers are feeling better than expected and how pricey child care is holding back women in the workforce.

Despite cooling inflation, many Americans still say higher prices make it difficult to make ends meet. That’s especially the case for parents. The cost of child care has far outpaced overall inflation for the past few decades, to the point that it’s affecting the labor force. We discuss. But first: Tensions between Exxon-Mobil and some of its shareholders may well boil over this morning when the company holds its annual shareholder meeting.

From the BBC World Service: Australian mining giant BHP wants to buy rival Anglo American, but it’s had two bids turned down and was recently denied an extension for takeover talks. Then, the union representing Samsung Electronics in South Korea has threatened to go on strike over demands for higher wages. And South Africa heads to the polls and the leading ANC party may lose its parliamentary majority.

Hurricane season officially begins this week, and forecasters are predicting a record number of storms to barrel through the Atlantic Ocean this year. While that means potential destruction to homes, businesses and infrastructure, one industry is particularly at risk: oil and natural gas. We’ll unpack. Plus, “there is no economic solution for a political problem”: Trinity College professor of economics Ibrahim Shikaki reflects on Gaza’s economy at time of war.

Beneath the tremendous human suffering wrought by war in Gaza is a harsh economic reality. Today, we’re examining the state of the Palestinian economy before, during and potentially after the war, and will hear more about the Palestinian territories’ entrenched dependency on Israel’s economy. But first: The White House is introducing a set of carbon credit standards to help figure out if carbon offsets are achieving what they purport to.

From the BBC World Service: Soccer superstar David Beckham has signed a deal to be a global ambassador for AliExpress, an online retail platform owned by Chinese technology giant Alibaba. The announcement comes as the Euros soccer tournament is due to kick off in Germany next month. Plus, billions of dollars are being poured into AI despite lack of uptake, and the FBI is investigating the sale of stolen British Museum goods.

Higher fares, crowded airports, cancellations and delays have done little to dampen the appetite for air travel going into the summer months. Airlines say they’ve done a lot to ramp up for the strong demand but are being hampered by a shortage of air traffic controllers. Plus, a pulse check on Houston’s clothing resale market and a new device in Australia to help farmers save livestock during drought.

In this election cycle, campaigns are looking to get your votes — and political contributions — any way they can. The Donald Trump campaign recently announced it will accept campaign contributions in cryptocurrencies, joining independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. But there are nuances and transparency issues that come with such donations. Also on the show: a preview of the economic data-heavy week ahead and an investment in hurricane forecasting.

From the BBC World Service: Paula Vennells was CEO of the government-owned Post Office business from 2012 to 2019, when forensic accountants looked into claims that sub-postmasters had been wrongly prosecuted for errors caused by software. We hear some takeaways from her testimony. Then, the leaders of China, South Korea and Japan have vowed to speed up negotiations to reach a free trade deal. Also: What would persuade more of us to take up electric vehicles?

The Justice Department is suing Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, saying that it violated antitrust law. Live Nation controls at least 80% of box office sales at major concert venues, and owns or controls more than 60% of large amphitheaters in the U.S. Yet we may not know the upshot of the lawsuit for consumers for quite some time. Also: a look inside the wide world of indie video games.

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The NCAA, the governing body for college sports, and the five biggest athletic conferences have agreed to a landmark $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action suit. If approved by a judge, it’ll means that schools would be allowed to share revenues with student athletes going forward. Then, we’ll have a conversation about capitalism and activism in college athletics. And later: Will you be “quiet vacationing” this holiday weekend?

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From the BBC World Service: Google is expanding its network infrastructure, with an aim of enhancing internet connectivity and competing in the cloud computing market. Then, days after President Biden imposed higher tariffs on EVs from China, Elon Musk says he doesn’t support them — contradicting a warning he made back in January that Chinese carmakers would “demolish” global competitors if there were no trade barriers.

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A recent poll conducted for the Guardian newspaper asked people how they felt about the economy. It finds nearly three in five Americans (wrongly) believe the U.S. is in a recession. About half think the stock market is down for the year. (It’s not.) What’s behind the disconnect? Plus, tariffs designed to create higher-paying jobs stateside may fail to do that. And we’ll hear the history behind the Ticketmaster antitrust lawsuit.

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Writer Andrew Lipstein embarked on a quest to freak himself out about passive investments: Things like buying index funds, for instance all the companies in the S&P 500, setting it and forgetting it. Lipstein spent time with a professional investor who argues index funds play a dangerous role in the market that may not end well. We hear that story. But first, chipmaker Nvidia reports a seven-fold increase in profits.

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From the BBC World Service: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Keir Starmer are on the campaign trail after Sunak called a surprise summer election. We set the backdrop for this upcoming election, including an interrogation of the freshest economic figures and a look at the economic mood among British consumers. Also on the show: What do changing music tastes mean for guitar companies?

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The high tech industry has been grappling with a downturn in recent years. But a new report shows that the picture for the tech sector in Texas is a bit sunnier than in other parts of the country. Why is that? Then, Lowe’s and Target feel the effects of a pinched consumer, and sugar production — once Cuba’s most important and profitable trade — is nearing collapse.

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Inflation may be cooling, but it certainly isn’t cold. Americans are still getting burned by rising prices. That’s one conclusion from a new Federal Reserve survey, which notes that parents in particular are struggling. Then, one report shows just how many homes are overvalued, especially in the South. Plus, we’ll hear how the Accion Digital Transformation Fund is trying to help people with no bank accounts get one.

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From the BBC World Service: Amid worsening inflation, a scarcity of basic goods and a decadeslong U.S. economic embargo, Cubans are enduring some of their bleakest economic times since the Cold War. We hear from the country’s sugar plantations, where production has hit an all-time low. Plus, a look at why a medical strike in Mozambique is having a deadly impact and how extreme heat is affecting India’s workers.

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On Wednesday, we get glimpses of two very different ends of the economy: Both retailer Target and AI chipmaker Nvidia report earnings. One lives in the world of consumers facing high interest rates, while the other occupies the sphere of cutting edge technology. What can we anticipate? Then, caregiving is a major factor behind the rise of multigenerational households in the U.S. We’ll hear from one family who came to live together.

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Houston residents are once again rebuilding after a severe windstorm delivered damage to cars, businesses and homes last week. Insurers are just beginning to assess the extent of the damage — at a time when insurance is getting pricier and harder to find. Then, the FDIC’s chair says he will step down once a successor is confirmed following investigations into toxic culture at the agency. Plus, can legislation save local news?

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From the BBC World Service: Artificial intelligence has been argued to be the tech of our time, and lawmakers have been grappling with how to regulate it. Today, the European Union approved what it says is the first AI law of its kind in the world. Plus, we hear how Japanese authorities are clamping down on tiresome tourists. And why has the U.S. takeover of a Premier League soccer club run into overtime?

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The popular Red Lobster restaurant seafood chain has officially filed for bankruptcy protection. The eatery has struggled with high labor costs, expensive leases and a popular promotion that ate into profits. Today, we’ll trace back Red Lobster’s struggles. Then, the final results of major New York auction house sales show the art world is struggling to overcome a recession. And later: What’s it like living in a multigenerational residential community?

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The Chinese government is putting sanctions on three U.S. defense companies. The move came as Taiwan swore in its new president, who called on China to stop trying to intimidate the country, and includes the latest economic restrictions between the U.S. and China as both countries move to protect domestic industries. Plus, health care providers continue to reel from a February cyberattack, and analysts worry about the adverse effects of Google’s AI-powered search results.

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From the BBC World Service: Taiwan’s new leader, William Lai, has called for China to stop threatening the island, with tensions between the two keenly watched from abroad. But the economy remains a major issue for Taiwan residents. We’ll hear more. Also on the program: Brazil counts the costs of major, devastating flooding activity. Then, people in the Italian city of Latina talk about the impact of inflation and immigration.

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This week, media giants have been gathering in New York City for the upfronts, where networks and streaming platforms try to court ad buyers by previewing shows for the seasons ahead. We’ll take the pulse of ad spending as streaming continues to outshine traditional broadcast television. And we’ll also hear about China’s property sector prop-up and priorities for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau now that its future is no longer in jeopardy.

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Pro-Palestinian protests have disrupted campus life at colleges and universities in the United States in response to Israel’s intense bombardments on Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Similar demonstrations have taken place in Europe too, where protesters are demanding their schools divest from Israeli-linked companies. Plus, Americans are going into debt to pay for groceries, and results from an United Auto Workers’ union vote at an Alabama plant are expected today.

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From the BBC World Service: The Chinese government says it will buy up millions of unsold homes across the country in a major intervention in the property market. The move come as the sector’s continuing slump threatens the whole economy. Also on today’s program: Students across Europe are demanding their universities cut financial and institutional ties with Israel, and Sir Paul McCartney becomes the first billionaire British musician.

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Since the Paris Climate Agreement, banks together have funneled trillion into fossil fuel companies, according to the 15th Banking on Climate Chaos report. Last year, JPMorgan Chase was the No. 1 fossil fuel financier in the world. Some of the other top investors? Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America. We’ll discuss. Then, the Federal Trade Commission is trying to crack down on fabricated reviews. Problem is, fake reviews are a global industry.

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Stock traders on Wall Street were feeling bullish on Wednesday. All three major stock indexes in the U.S. rose to record highs on the back of yesterday’s inflation report. The consumer price index report, which showed inflation cooling, made traders optimistic about the prospect of an interest rate cut. Then, we’ll delve into the staggering costs of inequities in mental health care and hear how Americans are feeling about tariffs on Chinese goods.

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From the BBC World Service: China’s leader Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin. With both countries facing trading restrictions, more business is being done between the two. We’ll discuss. Also on the program: Can you really trust online consumer reviews? Regulators want to bring in new rules to tackle fakes.

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The consumer price index is up 3.4% in a year, and — setting aside volatile food and fuels costs — the CPI increase over 12 months was the lowest in three years. For people fervently hoping interest rates will go down sooner rather than later, this is good news. But can there be too much slowing? We dig in. Plus, we’ll hear how the economy of Necoclí, Colombia, has shifted to serve migrants stopping there.

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The consumer price index comes out later this morning. It’s designed to measure inflation but ignores one of the biggest categories of price increases hitting consumers: the cost of borrowing money. We’ll unpack why that’s the case. Also, a bipartisan group of Senators wants the federal government to spend $30 billion to address artificial intelligence development. Then, school districts face tough choices as pandemic funding ends

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From the BBC World Service: Roughly 500,000 migrants traveled through dense jungles on the Colombia-Panama border last year, according to the United Nations. We’ll hear how businesses in a beach town have shifted their focus to cater to the new arrivals. Plus, China vowed to retaliate against President Biden’s significant tariffs on some Chinese imports. Meanwhile, Russia’s President Putin spoke of his country’s close ties to China ahead of a visit to Beijing.

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Shares of video game retailer GameStop skyrocketed nearly 75% yesterday and are poised to shoot even higher today. That comes after the trader who championed the last run-up in GameStop’s share value posted on social media for the first time since 2021. We’ll hear the latest. Also on the program: regulator concerns over election bets and a dip in medical student residency applications in states with abortion bans.

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At Rochester Regional Health in New York, aggressive collection activities on medical debts are barred. Patients are not sued, their wages are not garnished, and unpaid bills won’t sink their credit scores. We’ll hear about the health system’s shift to the uncommon model and learn more about its impact. But first, the Biden administration is announcing increased tariffs on imports from China. And later, how can the WNBA sustain its surging popularity?

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From the BBC World Service: Today, we examine the controversial law proposed by the Eastern European nation of Georgia, where organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from overseas would be classified as ‘”foreign agents.” This is seen as a fork in the road for the country: Does its future lie with Europe or Russia? Then, rapid growth in the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru has put pressure on crucial water resources.

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This year, the Dow and S&P have repeatedly hit record highs. But even as the value of the stock market grows, the number of firms traded on the market is shrinking, and has been since the mid-1990s. And when fewer companies are public, it limits our understanding of what’s happening in the economy. Plus, a preview of wholesale inflation and retail sales, and a closer look at the impact of RTO mandates.

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Following a big union win last month at a VW plant in Tennessee, the United Auto Workers face a new test in the South: Workers at a Mercedes-Benz assembly-and-battery complex in Alabama begin voting on whether to join the UAW this week. Can the labor organizing momentum be sustained? Also: why a cap on credit card late fees is getting delayed and how to go into debt without anyone noticing.

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From the BBC World Service: With global demand high for the most advanced tech chips, the South Korean government plans to boost its sector with more than $7 billion investment. We’ll discuss where the funding is likely to be funneled and paint a picture of the U.S.-China tensions over chips that it butts up against. Also, the Russian army is hiring Cuban nationals for its war efforts against Ukraine.

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To get between Dallas and Houston, it’s an bogged down 240-mile roadtrip that can sometimes take five hours. Amtrak wants a bullet train to get the job done in 90 minutes and says it could be built within a decade — if federal funding comes through. Plus, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on who will pay to rebuild after the Baltimore bridge collapse and a preview of next week’s retail sales figures.

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If you save up your miles or credit card points for vacations, you may be treating them a bit like savings. But unlike money in your savings account, a company can change the value of those points. Today, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins Marketplace’s David Brancaccio to make the case for greater transparency in airline and credit card rewards programs. Also: the San Francisco Fed President on the future of interest rates.

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From the BBC World Service: Shares in major Chinese electric carmakers have fallen following reports that the U.S. is preparing to bring additional tariffs against Chinese companies, specifically aimed at EVs and other sectors. Then, rat remains have been found in sliced bread in Japan, triggering recalls. And the Eurovision Song Contest, watched by 200,000,000 people worldwide, has faced controversy over Israel’s inclusion in the show.

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A new class of weight loss drugs known as GLP-1s, like Wegovy and Zepbound, helped grow the weight loss industry to nearly $90 billion last year. Now, weight loss companies, apps and fitness companies are adapting their to programs include the drugs, as well. Also, allegations of serious fraud threaten a big U.S.-U.K. soccer deal, and China’s latest trade data showed a return to growth in April.

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A recent TransUnion report shows borrowers aged 22 to 24 are carrying an average of roughly $2,800 in credit card debt — adjusted for inflation, that’s more than millennials in the same age range a decade ago. Then, an ad for Apple’s latest iPad has gone viral … for the wrong reasons. And what might America’s next economy look like? We discuss what achieving an economic framework that works for everyone might entail.

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