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The Indicator from Planet Money A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less.
The Indicator from Planet Money

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The Indicator from Planet Money

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A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less.

Most Recent Episodes

The Economics of Everyday Things: Pizza (Box) Time!
Freakonomics

The Economics of Everyday Things: Pizza (Box) Time!

Today, we're sharing an episode of a podcast that we've enjoyed, and think you will, too! It's called The Economics of Everyday Things. It's made by the Freakonomics Radio Network and on each of its episodes, host Zachary Crockett uncovers the hidden stories behind ordinary things! Stock photos, girl scout cookies, and cashmere sweaters, you name it.

The Economics of Everyday Things: Pizza (Box) Time!

Listen · 15:40
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Why the US economy is still the envy of the world

Workers on scaffolding lay blocks on one of the larger buildings at a development site where various residential units and commercial sites are under construction. Keith Srakocic/AP hide caption

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Keith Srakocic/AP

Why the US economy is still the envy of the world

The Economist's Simon Rabinovitch argues the U.S. economy has a set of structural advantages that have allowed it to perform remarkably well in the last couple of years compared to other developed countries. But could President-elect Donald Trump's second term in office put that edge at risk? Adrian Ma spoke with Rabinovitch for a recent episode of The Indicator. This episode is an extended cut of their conversation, previously released for Planet Money+ supporters.

Why the US economy is still the envy of the world

Listen · 17:11
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IRS information sharing, bonds bust, and a chorebot future

Robot assistant doing vacuuming a room. iLexx/Getty Images hide caption

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iLexx/Getty Images

IRS information sharing, bonds bust, and a chorebot future

Today on the show, we discuss why the IRS is sharing some taxpayer information, why bonds and stocks both fell, and how robots will replace you,or at least most of your chore wheel, in the near future.

IRS information sharing, bonds bust, and a chorebot future

Listen · 9:27
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What keeps a Fed president up at night

Austan Goolsbee speaks to journalists at the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing James T. Madore/Getty Images hide caption

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James T. Madore/Getty Images

What keeps a Fed president up at night

"There's no bad weather, only bad clothing." That's the motto of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, where Austan Goolsbee is president. As economic weather conditions stay unpredictable, Austan tells us how he's gearing up for tariffs, inflation, and more.

What keeps a Fed president up at night

Listen · 9:21
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What happens when an economist becomes prime minister?

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a news conference about the US tariffs on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 3, 2025. DAVE CHAN/Getty Images hide caption

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DAVE CHAN/Getty Images

What happens when an economist becomes prime minister?

Today on the show, we meet Canada's new Prime Minister, economist Mark Carney.

What happens when an economist becomes prime minister?

Listen · 9:29
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What's so bad about a trade deficit?
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

What's so bad about a trade deficit?

President Trump claims a main goal of his crippling tariffs is to address the U.S. trade deficit. So is the U.S. trade deficit a problem? On today's show, why we'll never have a trade surplus with every single country; what the benefits of a trade deficit are; and whether or not the trade deficit affects jobs.

What's so bad about a trade deficit?

Listen · 9:06
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Tariffied! We check in on businesses

Trump announces tariffs on "Liberation Day" Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

Tariffied! We check in on businesses

Trump's wave of tariffs is here. Just about everyone in the world of business is still processing exactly what this means. It's a massive, widespread increase in taxes. Today on the show, we hear from business people we've had on the show who tell us what they're doing in response to the latest, and largest, wave of tariffs.

Tariffied! We check in on businesses

Listen · 8:59
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How states are scooping up federal workers

Indicator hosts, from left, Darian Woods, Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong. (Julia Ritchey / NPR) Julia Ritchey/NPR hide caption

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Julia Ritchey/NPR

How states are scooping up federal workers

It's Jobs Friday and all eyes are on government workers. Will the Trump administration's layoffs finally show up in the latest jobs report? Today on the show, we look at the numbers for federal workers and who's trying to hire them.

How states are scooping up federal workers

Listen · 7:45
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Why the great vinyl shortage is over
Peter Nicholls/Getty Images

Why the great vinyl shortage is over

There have now been a few major vinyl booms. And unbeknownst to many, a small village in the Czech Republic has been responsible for manufacturing a large number of these albums. On today's show, how this dominant player became a problem for its competitors in the U.S.

Why the great vinyl shortage is over

Listen · 9:19
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What $10 billion in data centers actually gets you

Attendees view an AI data center at the SK networks stand during the MWC (Mobile World Congress), March 3, 2025. MANAURE QUINTERO/Getty Images hide caption

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MANAURE QUINTERO/Getty Images

What $10 billion in data centers actually gets you

Billions of tech dollars flowing into a community to build data centers should transform a local economy ... right? Well, maybe not.

What $10 billion in data centers actually gets you

Listen · 9:00
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