Feb 9, 2024

A modest wish for the Year of the Dragon

A vendor in Shanghai sells plush toys for the Year of the Dragon. Charles Zhang/Marketplace

Foreign investors are cooling on U.S. commercial real estate, and volunteers are repairing broken appliances at pop-up Fixit Clinics.

Segments From this episode

The Weekly Wrap

by Kai Ryssdal

“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal speaks with Linette Lopez at Business Insider and Kate Davidson at Bloomberg about the Fed’s forward guidance and turbulence on Wall Street for the Weekly Wrap.

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Foreign investors are cooling on U.S. commercial real estate

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Feb 9, 2024

Some of the drop is due to high interest rates and economic problems back home. Office buildings continue a slow burn, one expert says.

The height of foreign purchases of U.S. real estate was in 2017.

Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

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As the Year of the Dragon dawns, many Chinese wish for a better economy

by Jennifer Pak

Feb 9, 2024

Asking people in China about their Lunar New Year wishes, the talk inevitably shifts to the economy.

A vendor in Shanghai sells plush toys for the Year of the Dragon.

Charles Zhang/Marketplace

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Many Americans are snacking more, but looking for bargains in the snack aisle

by Kimberly Adams

Feb 9, 2024

Snacks account for more than a quarter of food and beverage spending. Returning to the office may be boosting sales.

Snacks account for more than a quarter of U.S. food and beverage spending, but PepsiCo is dealing with a bit of a sales crunch.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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In California and beyond, the right-to-repair movement picks up speed

by Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman

Feb 9, 2024

Fixit Clinics and other groups have formed communities devoted to reducing waste and costs by fixing broken devices.

A Fixit Clinic coach works on a tape player at a California library. Fixit Clinics' aim is to reduce costs for appliance owners and reduce waste for society.

Kathryn Styer Martínez/KQED

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Music from the episode

"Headlines" DJ Premier

"Natural Green" Blazo

"Glowing Light" Richard Houghten

"Falafel" Tom Misch

"Fail Safe" William Tyler

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Sofia Terenzio Assistant Producer

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

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