The "little treat" economy

The latest retail sales data shows U.S. consumers are still spending it up, even in the face of higher tariff costs and a shaky labor market. Wealthier Americans are driving the trend, but a “culture of treats” might also play a role. Marketplace’s Kristin Schwab joins Kimberly to explain her theory. Plus, brands like Gap are pitching themselves to Gen Z by riffing on Y2K fashion. Are you onboard?Here’s everything we talked about today:"Retail sales up 0.6% in August from July even as tariffs hurt jobs and lead to price hikes" from AP News"Top 10% of Earners Drive a Growing Share of US Consumer Spending" from Bloomberg "For some consumers, luxury is not a treat — it's a lifestyle" from Marketplace "Why are millennial brands trying to ride the Y2K trend?" from Marketplace"Why Gap’s ‘Better In Denim’ Ad Struck The Right Chord" from ForbesWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Today’s news comes with a side of pawpaws. Kimberly is joined by Laura Blessing, senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, to break down the moves President Trump is making to exert more control over government spending. As Congress faces the possibility of another shutdown head on, it’s souring the mood. Plus, we’ll play a new game! Can you guess which headline is fake?Here’s everything we talked about today:"What is a pawpaw, and will I ever be able to buy it at the grocery store?" from Marketplace"‘Don't even bother dealing with them,’ Trump says of Democrats’ shutdown demands" from Politico"What to know about Trump’s ‘pocket rescission’" from The Hill "Paris Hilton mini-fridges recalled due to fire, burn hazards" from The Hill  "Musk got DOGE's mission "backward," Lutnick says" from Axios  "Trump announces crackdown on pharmaceutical advertising" from Politico We love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

In the wake of yesterday’s assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Regina Bateson, a political science professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, joins Kimberly to unpack the rise of targeted political violence in the United States and what it means for the health of our democracy. Then, one of our listeners shares how digitizing her great grandmother’s WWII diaries helped connect her with her family’s past.Here’s everything we talked about today:"A new dark normal of political violence still shocks the nation" Politico "Tracking Attitudes About Elections and Political Violence Over Time" from States United Democracy Center"How Americans Justify Political Violence" from The New York Times Magazine "Special Report: Key Political Violence and Resilience Trends From 2024" from the Bridging Divides Initiative Check out Beth’s digitized diary project Join us tomorrow for “Economics on Tap.” The YouTube livestream starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

On today’s show, host of APM Reports’ “Sold a Story” podcast Emily Hanford joins Kimberly to make us smarter about the science of reading movement. It’s gained a foothold over the past few years (thanks in part to “Sold a Story”). But the Trump administration’s cuts to the Department of Education could slow the momentum of reading research and the effort to share it with educators.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Episode 14: The Cuts" from “Sold a Story”"$900 Million in Institute of Education Sciences Contracts Axed" from Inside Higher Ed"How legislation on reading instruction is changing across the country" from APM Reports"What to Know About the Science of Reading" from The New York TimesLearn some Kimberly Adams trivia on Marketplace’s InstagramWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing an episode from the latest season of “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast. Host Amy Scott and the team have been digging into the rise and fall of environmental, social and governance-based investing, or ESG. In this episode, ESG comes back to life in new forms of climate-conscious investing.

Hey Smarties! Today we’re passing the mic to our friends over at “How We Survive,” Marketplace’s climate solutions podcast. Their latest season digs into the rise and fall of environmental, social and governance-based investing, or ESG. In this episode, host Amy Scott and the team dig into how one Texas law spurred a right-wing movement against ESG.

Hey Smarties! “Make Me Smart” will be back with new episodes Sept. 9. In the meantime, we’re sharing an episode from the latest season of “Million Bazillion.” Hosts Bridget and Ryan dive into why organic food tends to cost more than non-organic with the help of Marketplace reporter Stephanie Hughes. Whether you’re a kid or grown-up, if you’re curious about the prices we pay at the grocery store, there’s something in this episode for you.

These are tumultuous times in the economy. Inflation is still happening, the job market is weakening, and there's uncertainty over tariffs and other federal policies. But the headlines don’t capture the real costs of everything happening right now. Today, Kai Ryssdal is popping into your feed with special coverage and reporting from “Marketplace" to explore the way we measure this economy and what’s at stake if those statistics become suspect.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

On the show today, Kimberly joins us from the anime convention AnimeNYC to share more about the economic impact of the anime industry and what cosplayers and business owners are saying about the economy right now. Spoiler alert: Tariffs are top of mind! And, we’ll weigh in on corporate apologies and the spicy food craze during a round of Half Full/Half Empty! Plus, a big thank you to Reema as she wraps up her time on the show.Here’s everything we talked about today:"10 anime series that will teach you about economics" from Marketplace"Here's the corporate strategy behind switching from merit increases to flat raises" from Marketplace"The era of the public apology is ending" from Axios"Amazon now sells used Hertz rental cars" from The Verge"How spicy became the hottest flavor in town" from Marketplace"Money and Relationships" e-book from Marketplace“Make Me Smart” will be back Sept. 9. Until then, leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email [email protected].

COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, and the federal guidelines for who should get vaccinated are in flux. We’ll unpack how it could impact what insurers are willing to cover this fall. And, as President Trump’s federal takeover of Washington D.C. continues, why is the city so quiet? Kimberly shares her take as a local. Plus, The Onion is proving that print publications can still thrive in the digital age.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Why Washington Residents Aren’t Flooding the Streets to Protest Trump" from Politico  "Top White House officials turn to public appearances with troops as a tense Washington watches" from AP News"JD Vance booed during hamburger handout to national guard troops in DC" from The Guardian "Trump's police takeover of DC has a surprising casualty: restaurant reservations" from Fortune"Will I Be Able to Get the New 2025 COVID Vaccine This Fall?" from The Cut "For some, fall Covid shots may come with copays — or no coverage at all" from NBC News"The Onion Brought Back Its Print Edition. The Gamble Is Paying Off." from The Wall Street JournalDon’t miss Kimberly’s anime recommendations in this week’s Marketplace newsletter. Sign up at marketplace.org/subscribe.