Consumer sentiment has an income divide
Aug 16, 2022

Consumer sentiment has an income divide

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A tale of two sales reports. Plus, delivery drivers want heat safety measures, and how pandemic-era transplants changed a small town.

Segments From this episode

What Walmart and Home Depot's rising sales say about consumer sentiment

Aug 16, 2022
Walmart customers are thinking about rising prices. Home Depot customers are thinking about rising interest rates.
A look at Home Depot's sales indicates that people are opting to improve their existing homes rather than buy a new place.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

What might new leadership at ERCOT mean for the troubled Texas power grid?

Aug 16, 2022
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas' new CEO has experience working under a different power pricing model — a capacity market.
Texas operates an energy-only electricity market, which means energy producers only get paid when they generate, and there’s usually not a lot of electricity on standby.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Heat waves perilous for delivery truck drivers

Aug 16, 2022
The workday of a package delivery driver is never easy. High temperatures and humidity make them worse.
UPS drivers, represented by the Teamsters, have been calling for better heat safety measures, including air conditioning in trucks.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Remote workers have stayed in Truckee, California, but not the local workforce

Aug 16, 2022
Skyrocketing housing costs are driving out the local labor force, leaving all kinds of businesses in the small town short-staffed.
Truckee, California, became a haven for remote workers early in the pandemic.
Matt Gush/Getty Images

At some universities, tenure may become a thing of the past. That could have an economic impact.

Aug 16, 2022
Academics want it. Critics want to restrict it. The issue could affect a state's ability to recruit educators.
A Pegasus statue at the University of Central Florida, one of the schools affected by a state law constraining professors' tenure.
Stephanie Hughes/Marketplace

Ice cream trucks struggle despite the heat

Aug 16, 2022
Ice cream trucks are raising prices to keep up with increasing costs. That's putting a chill in sales, Christina Morales of The New York Times reports.
As inflation heats up, ice cream truck drivers are being forced to raise prices.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Music from the episode

Privacy Quasimoto, Madlib
Blow Beyonce
Summer Nights Raaginder, Wisechild
Tarova Snarky Puppy
Honey Jack D Smoke

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer
Maria Hollenhorst Producer II
Andie Corban Producer I
Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II
Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I
Dylan Miettinen Associate Digital Producer