The proposed merger of Sprint and T-Mobile could mean big changes for Sprint’s home town

Jan 2, 2019
Employees at Sprint’s suburban campus say they’ve weathered many rounds of lay-offs over the last 20 years, so change is the norm.
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images (left) and JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images (right)

2019 looks to be a bumper year for tech IPOs

Dec 31, 2018
Consider the smartphone and its array of apps. Open yours, and you may see Uber or Lyft for summoning a car, Airbnb for booking a room and Pinterest or Slack to share your experience. Also, you may be able to own a piece of any of those companies as soon as next year. Click the […]

Independent bookstores are thriving, but a threat looms

Dec 31, 2018
This isn’t a bad time to be in the independent bookstore business. The American Booksellers Association says there’s been a nearly 31 percent increase in the number of indie bookstores since 2009. The indie renaissance coincides with the collapse of national book chains. One threat to bookstores’ future: rising rents and labor costs. Click the […]
Could the "indie renaissance" that has been helping independent bookstores thrive also cause their downfall?
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Broadway closes out a banner year

Dec 28, 2018
The holidays are a big time for the entertainment industry, and Broadway is no exception. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is by far the biggest week of the year for ticket sales. And already, the trade group The Broadway League says ticket sales over the last month are up 17 percent from the the same […]

Companies also suffer when the stock market goes crazy

Dec 28, 2018
Volatility impacts a company’s stock price, which has big consequences for the company itself, not just for the investors.  Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Customs officials struggle with the uptick in volume of goods shipped into the U.S.

Dec 28, 2018
A 2016 law that allows goods from abroad to enter the U.S. duty free as long as they are valued at $800 or less has opened up the door to more counterfeiters.
Customs officers in the DHL warehouse at JFK Airport.
Ashley Milne-Tyte for Marketplace

Holiday season discounts bring shoppers but not always profits

Dec 28, 2018
For many people, the end of the holiday season means dragging a Christmas tree out to the curb. For stores, it means throwing out advertisements for doorbusters and holiday deals — as well as dragging Christmas trees to the curb. The final two months of the year are retailers’ busiest, but all of those deals […]

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In the age of climate change, farmers weigh their options for the future

Dec 27, 2018
National climate change report says the business of farming could dramatically change if global warming isn’t addressed.
A pasture of pure blue stem prairie grass, never touched by a plow during the 150 years the Teske family has owned this piece of northeast Kansas.
Peggy Lowe for Marketplace
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Retailers offer online discounts because they want consumers to click to shop

Dec 25, 2018
And companies are getting more than just your money.
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