US economy

President Joe Biden receiving updates on economic conditions in 2022.

Economy

How much do presidents ACTUALLY influence the economy?

6:44pm July 10, 2024

Voters have a bleak outlook on the economy right now, and many are pointing the finger at President Biden. At the same time, many voters have a rosy view of the economy when Donald Trump was president. But how much credit or blame should a president get for the economy? And how do partisan politics play into our perception of the economy's performance?

Related episodes:
Common economic myths, debunked (Apple / Spotify)
Not too hot, not too cold: A 'Goldilocks' jobs report (Apple / Spotify)

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Economy

How Red Lobster got cooked and other indicators

5:50pm May 24, 2024

Indicators of the Week is back! On today's episode, we discuss Red Lobster's bankruptcy, the rancid vibes of the U.S. economy, and a surprising shift in vices among Americans.

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A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on Aug. 5. The majority of America's top companies have reported strong earnings, but warning signs about the economy are also emerging from their corporate earnings.

Economy

3 warning signs about the economy coming out of America's top companies

7:29am August 12, 2022

by David Gura

Companies are bracing for potential trouble ahead by lowering their advertising budgets, cutting costs and adapting to their customers' changing spending habits.

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Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee at the headquarters of the Federal Reserve on Wednesday after he announced the Fed was raising interest rates by three-qu

Meet the Fed, the latest superpower to emerge from Washington's shadows

2:34pm July 31, 2022

by Ron Elving

Few voters may be thinking of Jerome Powell as they go to the polls in November, but all will be coping with economic conditions strongly influenced by Powell's Federal Reserve Board.

A sign asking patrons to wear a mask is seen at the entrance of a restaurant in New York City on Aug. 3. The spread of the delta variant led to sharply slower economic growth in the July-to-September quarter.

Economy

How the economy went from sizzle to fizzle, and why there's hope for a way back

5:10pm October 28, 2021

by Scott Horsley

The U.S. economy slowed sharply in the third quarter as the delta variant and persistent supply chain woes weighed on growth. The months ahead should be better.

Lamar Cornett has worked in restaurants for more than 20 years. During the pandemic, he began thinking about leaving that career behind.

Low Pay, No Benefits, Rude Customers: Restaurant Workers Quit At Record Rate

6:50pm July 20, 2021

by Alina Selyukh

Average wages for nonmanagers at restaurants and bars hit $15 an hour in May, but many say no amount of pay would get them to return. They are leaving at the highest rate in decades.

A sign noting a retail space is available for lease appears in San Francisco in December. A resurgence in the pandemic likely dealt a major blow to the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter.

Down But Not Out: Pandemic Likely Dealt Blow To Economy, But There's Room For Hope

6:04pm January 27, 2021

by Scott Horsley

The U.S. economy is likely to have slowed in the last three months of the year, ending 2020 smaller than it began. But for some companies, business is now back to pre-pandemic levels.

President-elect Joe Biden's pick to lead the Treasury Department, Janet Yellen, here in 2019, is urging greater federal spending to cope with the pandemic and to help boost the struggling economy.

Yellen Urges Congress To 'Act Big' To Prop Up Pandemic-Scarred Economy

5:57pm January 19, 2021

by Scott Horsley

At her confirmation hearing Tuesday, Treasury Secretary-designate Janet Yellen warned that without more federal help, the recession would last longer and be more painful than necessary.

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Then presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at a "Build Back Better" Clean Energy event on July 14, 2020. On Thursday, Biden unveiled an ambitious economic plan just days before he's set to be inaugurated as president.

$1,400 Checks And Help For The Jobless: What's In Biden's Plan To Rescue The Economy

8:00pm January 14, 2021

by Scott Horsley

President-elect Joe Biden is proposing a $1.9 trillion plan to address the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic crisis.

With coronavirus cases surging in December, restaurants, movie theaters and other businesses that rely on in-person traffic struggled, weighing on the U.S. job market.

Pandemic Pricetag: U.S. Employers Cut 140,000 Jobs In December

12:22pm January 08, 2021

by Scott Horsley

The runaway pandemic put more pressure on the U.S. job market last month. Employers shed 140,000 jobs as the unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%.

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