It’s Indicators of the Week!

On today’s episode: Retirees get a bump in benefits; credit card debt delinquency at a historically high level; and the dating app Bumble on a serious decline — Men first! IRL events! What will work! 

Fact checking by Cooper Katz McKim and Vito Emanuel.

Your Next Listen 
— Trying to fix the dating app backlash

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Which letter best describes how the U.S. economy is shaped: C or K? We examine the arguments for both and why there’s so much disagreement over who’s faring best in today’s economy. 

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— We resolve to watch these 2026 indicators  

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Rage. That’s what consumers are feeling right now. A new survey found consumer complaints hit a record high this year. Another from last year found a huge share of consumers felt ‘rage’ with a product or service problem. Just think about the modern consumer experience: hidden fees, ballooning customer support wait times (perpetually experiencing higher call volumes than usual) … shrinkflation! Argh!! What’s going on? 

On today’s show, unpacking consumer rage. And Heather Timmons, who covers consumer rights for The Guardian, talks about what we might do about it.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— Petty! Econ! Grievances!
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The total amount of investors using margin aka borrowing money to help pay for a trade  is at an all time high of over $1.5 trillion. Is this something we should worry about? We spoke to Jurrien Tinner at Fidelity Investments. 

Note: Jurrien Timmer's views are his own and not representative of Fidelity. 

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— How AI might mess with financial markets


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President Trump is no fan of wind farms. And his administration is putting taxpayer money where his mouth is, paying companies billions of dollars to NOT build them. 

On today’s show, Trump’s plan to squelch wind farms with the public purse. 

Fact checking by Tyler Jones. 

Your Next Listen 
— Wind boom, wind bust (Two Windicators)

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Dependable health insurance is keeping more people in their jobs. Rising health costs don't help. Today we look at the repercussions this kind of job lock has on the wider economy. 

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— The ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future 

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Taco Bell and Taylor Farms are taking hits to their reputation due to the cyclosporiasis outbreak across the country. They could learn a thing or two from Chipotle, which went through its own public relations battle during a similar outbreak about a decade ago.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— Big Lettuce meets Small Intestine

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What happens when roughly a million people working legally in the U.S. suddenly lose that right to stay here? We’re starting to find out in places like Miami, Florida, home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the country. There, we talk to people on what the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) means for their businesses and the wider economy.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— Your American Dream is pending review

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Shortages are in the news again! Here’s why the supply of blood, water and helium are at concerningly low levels.

Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

Your Next Listen 
— How Colorado towns are trying to get some water certainty

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Musicians from the Rolling Stones to up-and-coming pop star Bella Kay have one thing in common: Influencers are being paid to promote their songs. 

On today's show: Who is an industry plant and why does it matter?

Fact checking by Tyler Jones. 

Your Next Listen 
— Two Indicators: the influencer industry

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It’s Indicators of the Week! 

On today’s episode: The inner workings of Mamdani’s marts; how much Americans gamble; and Gen-Z aren’t the sober generation we’ve been led to believe! 

Fact checking by Corey Bridges. 

Your Next Listen 
— Is gambling the reason we have pro sports?

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Fact checking by Corey Bridges

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