Business

Apple last week unveiled new features aimed at combating child sex abuse. The changes are being celebrated by families of sexual abuse survivors. But privacy advocates are fighting to stop it.

Survivors Laud Apple's New Tool To Spot Child Sex Abuse But The Backlash Is Growing

4:08pm August 13, 2021

by Bobby Allyn

Apple's new feature to fight child sexual abuse is encouraging to families of survivors. But privacy advocates are trying to convince Apple to drop its plans, fearing they could lead to surveillance.

A woman looks at her phone outside the The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 6. The Indicator from Planet Money spoke to an economist for advice on how to cut back on digital dependency.

Health & Safety

Feel Like You're Addicted To Your Phone? You're Not Alone

2:01pm August 13, 2021

by Tori Dominguez

As Americans spend more time on their phones, behavioral economists are studying the line between a habit and an addiction.

Greensboro Leaders See Successes In Program To Boost Minority Businesses

6:00am August 13, 2021

by Taron Lilly, WFDD

The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce started the Scale to Excel initiative in 2020, a program aimed at spurring economic growth and improving inclusivity.

What It Was Like For One Former Correspondent To Report On Trump For Irish Readers

5:19pm August 12, 2021

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Suzanne Lynch, former Washington Correspondent for The Irish Times, about covering everything from the Trump administration to the Black Lives Matter protests.

'The Indicator': The Time The U.S. Paid Off All Its Debt

4:28pm August 12, 2021

The Senate is set to go on break without raising the debt ceiling, prompting grievances among Washington lawmakers. But the only time in history the debt was paid down, it didn't go quite as planned.

Latoya Beatty, owner of Little Pandas Learn-N-Play in Martinsburg, W.Va., has had trouble hiring day care teachers. She recently raised her starting wage from $10 an hour to $12.

Daycare Is Costly In The U.S. — So Is Biden's Plan To Fix It

4:09pm August 12, 2021

by Andrea Hsu

In the pandemic, child care has gotten the attention of policymakers like never before, and billions of dollars in emergency funds have stabilized the industry. Biden wants more.

Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century, by Tim Higgins

Tale Of Tesla, Elon Musk Is Inherently Dramatic And Compellingly Told In 'Power Play'

9:24am August 12, 2021

by Camila Domonoske

Perhaps most interesting in Tim Higgins' book are the hints at what might have been: Tesla could have built a plug-in hybrid, or sold itself to Google, or become a battery supplier.

Big Banks Will Open Their Checkbooks To Lure Young Talent

6:27am August 12, 2021

by David Gura

The biggest banks have decided to pay entry-level analysts more money. Now, someone right out of college can expect to make more than $100,000. But it is unclear if the pay boost will be a panacea.

A server delivers food to customers dining at a restaurant in Los Angeles on Aug. 7. Restaurants are boosting pay to attract workers, and that could have an impact on already-high inflation.

Economy

Wages Are Going Up — And So Is Inflation. Consumer Prices Have Hit A 13-Year High

8:59pm August 11, 2021

by Scott Horsley

Consumer prices rose 5.4% in July, compared to a year ago. Here's one thing to watch going forward: How rising wages impacts inflation.

Queue Listen Now

Wages Are Increasing, But So Are The Costs Of Essentials Like Rent, Food And Gas

5:27pm August 11, 2021

by Scott Horsley

Consumer prices rose 5.4% in the 12 months ending in July, matching the highest rate of inflation in nearly 13 years. The cost of rent, food and gasoline continues to climb.