NPR Topics: Economy

· 2mo ago

AI tokens could become the kilowatt-hour of the AI age https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/07/28/g-s1-135475/ai-tokens-could-become-the-kilowatt-hour-of-the-ai-age #AI #Economy #Technology

AI tokens could become the kilowatt-hour of the AI age

AI companies use tokens to track usage and bill customers. Now economists are using them to track the spread of AI through the economy.

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· 2mo ago

As many are priced out of buying, the renter-owner wealth gap is wider than ever https://www.npr.org/2026/07/28/nx-s1-5853585/as-many-are-priced-out-of-buying-the-renter-owner-wealth-gap-is-wider-than-ever #Economy #Housing #Wealth

As many are priced out of buying, the renter-owner wealth gap is wider than ever

Record high housing costs have pushed the wealth gap between renters and owners wider than ever. It's been a boon for owners even as many others are priced out.

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· 2mo ago

Tacos are getting more expensive in Texas as beef prices continue to rise https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5862130/tacos-are-getting-more-expensive-in-texas-as-beef-prices-continue-to-rise #Economy #Inflation #FoodPrices

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· 3mo ago

Tensions with Iran add fresh uncertainty to an already shaky global economy https://www.npr.org/2026/07/08/nx-s1-5885946/iran-trump-oil-stock-inflation-gas-federa-reserve #Economy #Global #Geopolitics

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· 2mo ago

Why Texas is betting 'Y'all Street' can take on Wall Street https://www.npr.org/2026/08/04/nx-s1-5697067/texas-banking-goldman-sachs-wall-street

Why Texas is betting 'Y'all Street' can take on Wall Street

Dallas' financial industry is growing amid a larger Texas business boom. But can it really steal New York's crown?

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· 3mo ago

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh isn't as focused on employment, part of the dual mandate https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5883797/new-fed-chair-kevin-warsh-isnt-as-focused-on-employment-part-of-the-dual-mandate #Economy #Finance #Policy

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh isn't as focused on employment, part of the dual mandate

The Federal Reserve has two main goals: price stability and maximum employment. But new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh seems to be leaning into price stability and away from full employment as equal goals.

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· 2mo ago

What a Monopoly importer learned when it tried to make things in the U.S.A. https://www.npr.org/2026/07/14/nx-s1-5887378-e1/what-a-monopoly-importer-learned-when-it-tried-to-make-things-in-the-u-s-a #Economy #Business #Manufacturing

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· 2mo ago

Inflation has been creeping up. How are Americans coping? https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5872428/inflation-has-been-creeping-up-how-are-americans-coping #Economy #Inflation #PersonalFinance

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· 2mo ago

Oil companies report sky-high profits thanks to wartime crude prices https://www.npr.org/2026/07/31/nx-s1-5910660/big-oil-earnings-q2-2026 #Economy #Energy #Business

Oil companies report sky-high profits thanks to wartime crude prices

Chevron reported its highest quarterly earnings ever. Shell had its second-biggest quarter, and ExxonMobil doubled its earnings compared with the same time last year.

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· 2mo ago

Federal Reserve expected to hold rates steady despite pressure to combat inflation https://www.npr.org/2026/07/29/nx-s1-5910558/federal-reserve-expected-to-hold-rates-steady-despite-pressure-to-combat-inflation #Economy #Finance #InterestRates

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· 1w ago

The poverty rate among older Americans is rising, survey shows https://www.npr.org/2026/09/28/nx-s1-5978908/the-poverty-rate-among-older-americans-is-rising-survey-shows #Economy #Poverty #Seniors

The poverty rate among older Americans is rising, survey shows

Bucking the national trend, poverty has been steadily rising among seniors and older adults. A new survey sheds light on how low-income people are struggling in the crucial years before retirement.

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· 1w ago

Mortgage rates break past 7% as bond yields surge, deepening U.S. housing gridlock https://www.npr.org/2026/09/26/nx-s1-5980302/mortgage-rates-break-past-7-as-bond-yields-surge-deepening-u-s-housing-gridlock #Economy #Finance #Housing

Mortgage rates break past 7% as bond yields surge, deepening U.S. housing gridlock

Bond yields rose this week pushing mortgage rates above 7 percent. That's another big challenge for the already limping US housing market.

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· 2mo ago

Even Taco Tuesday could be more expensive as beef prices continue to rise https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5862130/tacos-texas-beef-prices-barbacoa #Economy #FoodPrices #Beef

Even Taco Tuesday could be more expensive as beef prices continue to rise

Beef prices are continuing to rise due to drought, low herd sizes and concerns about the new world screwworm in the United States, but business owners in Texas say that raising prices could drive away customers.

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· 2mo ago

How did boosting manufacturing in the Amazon pay off for Brazil? https://www.npr.org/2026/07/31/nx-s1-5894899/how-did-boosting-manufacturing-in-the-amazon-pay-off-for-brazil #Economy #Brazil #Manufacturing

How did boosting manufacturing in the Amazon pay off for Brazil?

Many countries talk about wanting to boost manufacturing. Decades ago, Brazil did it. They lured international businesses to build a whole bunch of factories in the middle of the Amazon. So, with hindsight, was the plan a success? Planet Money goes to the Amazon to find out.

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· 3mo ago

Meet 'Project 2029' -- and its war on the annoyance economy https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2026/07/07/g-s1-131879/meet-project-2029-and-its-war-on-the-annoyance-economy #Economy #Business #Innovation

Meet 'Project 2029' — and its war on the annoyance economy

Remember Project 2025? Democrats are building their own governing blueprint, and one proposal takes aim at the "annoyance economy": robocalls, endless hold times, hidden fees and other everyday frustrations.

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· 2mo ago

Trump is hellbent on tariffs. Here are 5 implications https://www.npr.org/2026/07/25/nx-s1-5905692/trump-tariffs-economy-inflation #Economy #Trade #Policy

Trump is hellbent on tariffs. Here are 5 implications

Trump's determination to find new legal justifications for his tariffs threatens to prolong the uncertainty facing the U.S. and global economies.

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· 2mo ago

More Americans are going bankrupt. What does that mean? https://www.npr.org/2026/07/29/nx-s1-5896065/personal-bankruptcy-rates-rising #Economy #Finance #Business

More Americans are going bankrupt. What does that mean?

The bankruptcy rate has risen about 48% between 2022 and 2025, although it's still below pre-pandemic levels.

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· 3w ago

CBO says Iran war diving up inflation, puts price tag at $38 billion https://www.npr.org/2026/09/15/nx-s1-5969793/cbo-says-iran-war-diving-up-inflation-puts-price-tag-at-38-billion #Economy #Inflation #War

CBO says Iran war diving up inflation, puts price tag at $38 billion

Two new, independent reports show detailed looks at the costs of the war in Iran. It's led to shortages in U.S. weapons, supply chain bottlenecks, and a price tag in the tens of billions of dollars.

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· 2mo ago

Economist talks about Trump's speech on the economy and affordability https://www.npr.org/2026/07/23/nx-s1-5903073/economist-talks-about-trumps-speech-on-the-economy-and-affordability #Economy #Politics #Analysis

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· 2mo ago

Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady despite high inflation https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/nx-s1-5912203/federal-reserve-holds-interest-rates-steady-despite-high-inflation #Economy #Finance #InterestRates

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· 2mo ago

Are you choosing to stay single? We want to hear from you https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/g-s1-136079/single-adult-solo-choice #Society #Lifestyle #Relationships

Are you choosing to stay single? We want to hear from you

Solo living, solo travel, and solo dining are all being embraced as more adults are choosing to remain single. Many Americans aren't interested in dating, and being single is a symbol of autonomy.

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· 2mo ago

Expert shares how Trump's new round of tariffs could affect Americans https://www.npr.org/2026/07/24/nx-s1-5905322/expert-shares-how-trumps-new-round-of-tariffs-could-affect-americans #Economy #Tariffs #TradePolicy

Expert shares how Trump's new round of tariffs could affect Americans

NPR's A Martinez speaks to Alan Wolff, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, about President Trump's new round of tariffs.

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· 3w ago

Fed raises interest rates for first time in more than three years https://www.npr.org/2026/09/16/nx-s1-5971122/fed-raises-interest-rates-for-first-time-in-more-than-three-years #Economy #Finance #InterestRates

Fed raises interest rates for first time in more than three years

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates today Wednesday the first time in more than three years. The central bank is trying to curb stubborn inflation, which was rekindled by the war with Iran.

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· 2mo ago

Trump administration's decision to let USMCA lapse threatens Texas economy https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/nx-s1-5901987/trump-administrations-decision-to-let-usmca-lapse-threatens-texas-economy #Economy #Trade #Politics

Trump administration's decision to let USMCA lapse threatens Texas economy

In President Trump's first term, he negotiated the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The decision by the White House to let it lapse now threatens the Texas economy.

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· 2mo ago

Trump administration imposes double-digit tariffs on dozens of countries https://www.npr.org/2026/07/24/nx-s1-5904610/trump-administration-imposes-double-digit-tariffs-on-dozens-of-countries #Economy #Tariffs #Trade

Trump administration imposes double-digit tariffs on dozens of countries

The Trump administration has replaced expiring tariffs with new ones as it pursues its aggressive trade agenda.

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· 2mo ago

Mortgage rates hit their highest level in a year, driven by war and inflation concerns https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/nx-s1-5913851/mortgage-rates-one-year-high-july-2026 #Economy #Finance #Housing

Mortgage rates hit their highest level in a year, driven by war and inflation concerns

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached 6.66% on average Thursday.

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· 2mo ago

The renter-owner wealth gap is wider than ever, as many are priced out of buying https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/nx-s1-5910711/renter-owner-wealth-gap #Economy #Housing #Finance

The renter-owner wealth gap is wider than ever, as many are priced out of buying

Housing has long been the largest source of wealth for middle income families. But many renters cannot afford to buy as housing prices soar, which could fuel a generational divide.

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· 2mo ago

Following your aquarium fish back to its home in the Amazon https://www.npr.org/2026/07/17/nx-s1-5872424/following-your-aquarium-fish-back-to-its-home-in-the-amazon #Aquarium #Fish #Amazon

Following your aquarium fish back to its home in the Amazon

We trace the origins of the popular aquarium fish the cardinal tetra back to the Amazon to see how even the most remote corners of the world are transformed by the global economy.

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· 3mo ago

If wars are so costly, why do we keep fighting them? https://www.npr.org/2026/07/01/nx-s1-5875160/if-wars-are-so-costly-why-do-we-keep-fighting-them #Economy #War #Analysis

If wars are so costly, why do we keep fighting them?

We dig into current conflicts to understand the incentives that lead countries into violence, and what keeps them stretching on and on.

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· 2mo ago

How much has the Iran war cost U.S. households? https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5887393/how-much-has-the-iran-war-cost-u-s-households #Economy #War #Finance