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Matt Levin

Senior Reporter

SHORT BIO

Matt covers AI for Marketplace, where he tries to be as polite as he can to every chatbot he meets … because, well, he’s seen sci-fi movies. Matt also covers some crypto and housing, with a taste for stories that make you say: "huh, that's kinda weird.”

Before joining Marketplace Matt was a data and housing reporter for CalMatters, focused on California politics and policy. Before that he was a statistics jockey for a think tank, focused on poverty and inequality. And long before that Matt was a really terrible teenage cashier for Toys R Us.

Matt’s previous honors include awards from the Online News Association and regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and SPJ awards.

Latest Stories (301)

Banks in Turmoil

When short sellers bet against banks

by Matt Levin
Apr 28, 2023
Short sellers have made more than a billion dollars betting that First Republic would tank. Is that good for financial stability?
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What might happen to all that retail space Bed Bath & Beyond may soon abandon?

by Matt Levin
Apr 24, 2023
There may be more demand for the suburban real estate than there was for sheets and towels.
Bed Bath & Beyond is slated to begin shuttering nearly 360 storefronts across the country, and some landlords may use the opportunity to raise storefront rents.
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Reddit to start charging AI companies for data

by Matt Levin
Apr 19, 2023
Reddit threads are a big part of the diet of large language models like ChatGPT.
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Higher interest rates should mean more money for savers — but switching banks can be a hassle

by Matt Levin
Apr 18, 2023
The average yield for a savings account is under 1%. Depositors, however, don't always take the opportunity to get more.
Apple is offering a savings account, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, that pays more than 4% interest — way higher than the national average.
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Career prospects suffer after bouts of mental illness, research shows

by Matt Levin
Apr 12, 2023
For younger workers, an episode of depression is linked to 24% lower earnings more than a decade later.
More companies are taking mental health seriously, and not just because it's the right thing to do. "There is always a business part of it, for attraction, retention, absenteeism, presenteeism," said Tina Thornton of Nationwide Insurance.
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Why streaming networks love a good background show

by Matt Levin
Apr 11, 2023
The ambient streaming library is meant to keep you from unsubscribing when the prestige dramas end, says Charles Schreger of NYU.
Ambient streaming: TV shows you tune out, but somehow make our caveman brains feel connected to others.
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Is the 'blunt tool' of monetary policy actually just a dull tool?

by Matt Levin
Apr 7, 2023
Fed rate hikes are kinda starting to slow down the labor market, but unemployment is still very low, and the economy isn't reacting as experts expected.
The unemployment rate is historically low at 3.5%. Increase in travel, boomer retirements and long COVID have kept labor demand high and supply scarce.
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"Due diligence" is part of the vernacular. But what does it really mean?

by Matt Levin
Apr 5, 2023
Recent scandals involving FTX and Frank leave some wondering if enough research was done on the startups, and who was supposed to do it.
JPMorgan recently bought the financial planning startup Frank for about $175 million but says its owner lied about its number of users.
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Banks in Turmoil

So how are consumers feeling about the economy post-SVB?

by Matt Levin
Mar 30, 2023
It may be hard to tell from some data out Friday, which is for February. But we may still get a read on whether consumer sentiment is changing.
February consumer spending numbers will show whether January's spending numbers were an anamoly.
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Banks in Turmoil

Could commercial real estate be the next shoe to drop at regional banks?

by Matt Levin
Mar 27, 2023
Analysts say there's no reason to panic, but the sinking values of commercial properties could make those banks' balance sheets look pretty bad.
"The banks have $270 billion of commercial real estate loans coming due this year," said Matt Anderson, a managing director at Trepp Inc.
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