Marketplace Minute

Marketplace

The economy is changing so fast. It’s hard to keep up. Get the latest on what’s happening in the economy right now with two-times-a day briefings from Marketplace. More than just the numbers, we bring you the highlights from the most important stories about money, business and the economy. Subscribe to the Marketplace Minute® wherever you get your podcasts or add it to your Alexa flash briefing.

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Our Editor's Take

Lucy Wow is bursting with skills. She's the main character in the children's podcast Lucy Wow: STEM Stories for Kids Who Love Inventing. But more than that, Lucy's an inventor, builder, and dreamer. She's a driven 11-year-old with an obsession for asking, "What if?" Above all, Lucy continually persists. Her incessant perseverance makes this show great for kids excited about inventing.

Children may not be able to stop saying “wow” about each Lucy Wow: STEM Stories for Kids Who Love Inventing episode. Joining Lucy is Kapow, a mechanical pygmy goat. This fun little character helps Lucy with her epic projects. Oh, and music comes out of Kapow's butt!

Podcast listeners get to experience the many inventing journeys the duo undertakes. This feels even more lifelike thanks to the clever sound effects and music. The language is fun, too. How will Lucy deal with the flarshmarfler? What will happen in floozeville? Kids may find themselves giggling as much as they find themselves learning.

A talented team produces Lucy Wow: STEM Stories for Kids Who Love Inventing to life. GoKidGo also creates hit children's podcast shows like Bobby Wonder. Patrick Carman writes and directs the show. He is also a New York Times bestselling children's author. The podcast stars various incredible voices. Those include Michaela Dietz, Ian James Corlett, and Daniel Cohen. The group uses their collective skills for an entertaining, enjoyable kid's show.

Kids aged six and above can enjoy Lucy Wow: STEM Stories for Kids Who Love Inventing. The show has both STEM lessons and life lessons. Lucy and Kapow encounter obstacles but work to overcome them at the episode's end. There is always an inspirational message hidden among the fun, quirky narrative.

Lucy and Kapow (and sometimes Lucy's friends) are somewhere new each time. Will they build a molder under the sea? Can they finish the giant mechanical mole? Educational and entertaining, this show is for kids who love trying new things. New episodes of Lucy Wow: STEM Stories for Kids Who Love Inventing drop each week.

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NewsNews

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Inflation picks up in March

Inflation picks up in March

Stocks close higher; services prices drive 12-month increases; consumer spending up in March; consumer sentiment flat so far this year.

Episodes

Inflation picks up in March

Inflation picks up in March

Stocks close higher; services prices drive 12-month increases; consumer spending up in March; consumer sentiment flat so far this year.

Inflation accelerated in March

Inflation accelerated in March

The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge advanced 2.7% on an annual basis; Fed policymakers expected to leave interest rates unchanged next week; Global oil giants report lower profits; Capital One profits jump thanks to more interest income.

Economy slows while inflation persists

Economy slows while inflation persists

Stocks fall; consumer spending slows from prior quarter; inflation nearly doubles fourth quarter pace; pending home sales rise.

U.S. economic growth slowed in the first three months of 2023

U.S. economic growth slowed in the first three months of 2023

GDP grew by a lower than expected 1.6%; Initial jobless claims fell to 207,000 last week; Pending home sales rose 3.4% in March; Meta spending on AI triggers selloff in shares.

Boeing revenue falls

Boeing revenue falls

Stocks close mixed; Boeing slows production of 737 MAX planes; mortgage rates at highest level since November; durable goods orders rise.

TikTok divest-or-ban requirement is nearly law

TikTok divest-or-ban requirement is nearly law

Congress passed the measure, and Biden has vowed to sign it; Tesla profit falls in Q1; Boeing reports $355 million quarterly loss; Norfolk Southern report meager profit after train derailment settlement; Visa revenues beat forecasts as consumers spent; Labor Department increases overtime eligibility.

FTC bans noncompete clauses

FTC bans noncompete clauses

Stocks rise; FTC says noncompete clauses suppress wages and innovation; business activity expands at a slower pace; new home sales rise.

A lot of Americans may have had their health data stolen

A lot of Americans may have had their health data stolen

UnitedHealth Group is reporting a potentially major hack; GM Q1 revenues rise 7.6%; PepsiCo sales rise 2% amid more price hikes; Tesla investors await details on future plans.

Business leaders say profit margins rise

Business leaders say profit margins rise

Stocks rise; input cost pressure eases, boosting profits; Verizon revenue ticks up; major tech companies report earnings this week.

Biden administration distributes $7 billion for solar power access

Biden administration distributes $7 billion for solar power access

The money is aimed at low-income and disadvantaged communities, the White House said; Senate to take up Ukraine, Israel aid bill; Boeing, PepsiCo, General Motors and other big names to release quarterly earnings this week; UBS predicts slowing earnings growth at Big Tech companies.

Fed leaders echo calls for caution

Fed leaders echo calls for caution

Stocks close mixed; Chicago Fed president says inflation progress has stalled; American Express profits rise; Netflix to stop reporting quarterly membership numbers.

EPA designates forever chemicals as hazardous

EPA designates forever chemicals as hazardous

The designation applies to chemicals long used in consumer goods; Israel’s credit rating gets a downgrade from S&P; France requires shrinkflation warnings; American Express profits jump on more consumer spending.

Existing home sales decline in March

Existing home sales decline in March

Stocks close mixed; housing inventory rises; leading economic indicators index falls; initial jobless claims unchanged.

Biggest U.S. homebuilder is doing brisk business

Biggest U.S. homebuilder is doing brisk business

D.R. Horton increased quarterly profit by 27%; TSMC forecasts sales increase of up to 30% on A.I. chip demand; initial jobless claims remain at a low of 212,000; U.S. investigating China’s shipbuilding industry over potential unfair subsidies.

Fed survey finds modest economic expansion

Fed survey finds modest economic expansion

Stocks close down; employment rises modestly; price increases in line with previous surveys; car insurance jumps over the last year.

Biden wants to triple tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum

Biden wants to triple tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum

White House says China is flooding U.S. with artificially cheap steel, aluminum; United Airlines Q1 losses less than feared; Tesla wants shareholders to reinstate Musk’s $56 billion pay package; Transportation Department to partner with states to investigate airline passenger complaints.

Powell says recent data reduces confidence in inflation progress

Powell says recent data reduces confidence in inflation progress

Stocks close mixed; Powell says it’ll take longer than expected to be confident that inflation is moving down; housing starts fall; industrial production rises.

A strong U.S. economy expected to pull up the rest of the globe

A strong U.S. economy expected to pull up the rest of the globe

IMF improves global economic growth forecast to 3.2%; new housing construction plummets in March; UnitedHealth beats earnings forecasts despite ransomware attack; Bank of America’s profit falls amid high interest rates.

Retail sales rise in March

Retail sales rise in March

Stocks close down; retail sales rise 0.7% from February; homebuilder confidence flat in April; investment banking revenue pushes up Goldman Sachs earnings.

Americans keep spending, despite higher prices

Americans keep spending, despite higher prices

Retail sales increased 0.7% in March, Commerce Department says; FBI boards cargo ship that crashed into Baltimore bridge; Goldman Sachs quarterly profits soar amid more deal making; global smartphone sales rise nearly 8%.