I've Always Wondered ...

If you’re like us, you’ve got a lot of questions about the small, simple, ubiquitous things in the world of business. Let's find the answers.

What have you always wondered about the economy?

Are too many commercials bad for a company?

I've Always Wondered ...

Why aren’t all gas tanks on the same side of the car?

I've Always Wondered ...

Who does the U.S. owe $31.4 trillion?

I've Always Wondered ...

Why are bananas so cheap?

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I've Always Wondered ...

Will we ever run out of Social Security numbers?

by Janet Nguyen

Mar 10, 2023

With 1 billion possible combinations, we still have decades before they’re used up.

Your Social Security number is yours even after 'til death do you part.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

What the monthly jobs report can — and can’t — tell us about the labor market

by Janet Nguyen

Mar 3, 2023

There are ways to figure out the quality of jobs that are being added to the economy.

We can glean how well paid some jobs are by looking at industry data in the monthly jobs report.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Does the autoplay feature on streaming services cost you money?

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 24, 2023

The consumer isn’t likely to see higher costs, but telecom companies say that Big Tech should pay its fair share.

Beware the spoiler: autoplay on streaming platforms. The autoplay feature on streaming services can lead to panic.

Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

What do elite colleges do with all that endowment money?

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 17, 2023

Harvard University alone has a $51 billion endowment.

Some lawmakers and advocates have questioned whether Ivy Leagues like Harvard (pictured above) should spend more of their endowment funds.

Joe Raedle/Getty Image

I've Always Wondered ...

How much money does “God” have?

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 10, 2023

The Catholic Church has at least $73 billion based on media reports and financial statements, but it likely has billions more.

Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Why does the U.S. still use calories on nutrition labels instead of kilojoules?

by Janet Nguyen

Feb 3, 2023

The calorie, a ubiquitous measurement unit, dates back more than a century.

The U.S. has a long relationship with the calorie, dating back more than a century, which is why we aren't in a rush to change it anytime soon.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Is it actually illegal to sell an item labeled, “Not for retail sale”?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 27, 2023

Aiming to keep consumers safe, the Food and Drug Administration has rules for the information placed on packaging.

If the wrapper your granola bar came in says you can't sell it, there are FDA rules behind that warning.

4kodiak/Getty Images

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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do we allow investors to deduct stock market losses from their taxes?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 20, 2023

It’s based on the principle of fairness — within limits.

A trader at the New York Stock Exchange reacts to the closing bell on Dec. 30, the final day of trading in 2022. Investors racked up substantial losses during the year.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Why do companies flush with cash still carry debt?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 13, 2023

Google, for instance, has more than $116 billion in the bank, but isn’t rushing to pay off its borrowings.

Unlike many of us, Google isn't prioritizing paying off its debt — but there are some good reasons for that.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

I've Always Wondered ...

Who are "the markets"?

by Janet Nguyen

Jan 6, 2023

Financial experts love to toss-around this catch-all term. What does it actually mean?

Traders working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

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