505 episodes

A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening today. It's a quick hit of insight into work, business, the economy, and everything else. Listen weekday afternoons.Try Planet Money+! a new way to support the show you love, get a sponsor-free feed of the podcast, *and* get access to bonus content. You'll also get access to The Indicator and Planet Money Summer School, both without interruptions. sign up at plus.npr.org/planetmoney

The Indicator from Planet Money Planet Money

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 8.9K Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening today. It's a quick hit of insight into work, business, the economy, and everything else. Listen weekday afternoons.Try Planet Money+! a new way to support the show you love, get a sponsor-free feed of the podcast, *and* get access to bonus content. You'll also get access to The Indicator and Planet Money Summer School, both without interruptions. sign up at plus.npr.org/planetmoney

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Not too hot, not too cold: a 'Goldilocks' jobs report

    Not too hot, not too cold: a 'Goldilocks' jobs report

    It's Jobs Friday and the jobs report is in! There's more jobs! ... but not as many as expected. And there's a teensy bit more unemployment and slower wage growth. But there's an upside ... Plus, healthcare is growing like gangbusters and how immigrants affect American-born workers.

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    • 9 min
    Protesters want schools to divest from Israel. How would that work?

    Protesters want schools to divest from Israel. How would that work?

    College campuses nationwide are erupting with protests against Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza. A consistent theme among these actions: a call for university endowment "divestment."

    Today, we unpack what that means and how divestment would work. Plus, we hear from an expert who explains why divestment might not have the effect that many believe.

    Related episodes:Why Israel uses diaspora bonds (Apple / Spotify) How much of your tax dollars are going to Israel and Ukraine (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    • 9 min
    What a cabinet maker can teach us about interest rates

    What a cabinet maker can teach us about interest rates

    The Beigie Awards are back to recognize the regional Federal Reserve Bank with the best Beige Book entry. This time, we shine a spotlight on one entry that explains how some businesses are feeling the impacts of higher for longer interest rates.

    Related episodes:The interest-ing world of interest rates (Apple / Spotify) The Beigie Awards: Why banks are going on a "loan diet" (Apple / Spotify) Where are interest rates going?

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    • 9 min
    Is the federal debt REALLY that bad?

    Is the federal debt REALLY that bad?

    Sandwiched between a burger joint and an oyster bar in New York City hangs a daunting image: The National Debt Clock. And that debt number? It just keeps ticking up. How deep in the hole are we? Nearly a hundred percent of gross domestic product. And counting. Today on the show, the federal debt. Is it time to freak out? Or is there nothing to see here?

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    • 9 min
    Taxing the final frontier

    Taxing the final frontier

    Launches by commercial space companies are becoming more frequent. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration licensed 117, an all-time high. But these spaceflight companies aren't paying for all of the FAA's services that they use.

    Today, we explore why the government is looking to change that and dig into the larger debate over whether human activity in space is a public or private project.

    Related episodes:Economics in space Planet Money goes to space Space economics

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    • 8 min
    Video Game Industry Week: The Final Level

    Video Game Industry Week: The Final Level

    We wrap up our series on the economics of the video game industry with a triple roundup. Today, how the new ban on noncompete contracts could affect the gaming industry, whether young men are slacking off work to play games and the ever-controversial world of loot boxes.

    Related episodes: Forever games: the economics of the live service model (Apple / Spotify) Designing for disability: how video games become more accessible (Apple / Spotify) The boom and bust of esports (Apple / Spotify) Work. Crunch. Repeat: Why gaming demands so much of its employees (Apple / Spotify)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

    Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy

    • 9 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
8.9K Ratings

8.9K Ratings

Unbias, valuable show ,

Unbiased

what I really like about planet money, specifically the indicator is they focus on the hot issues affecting the economy and provide valuable insight with opinions from both sides. The Rhino Horn story really exemplifies this, they had both people who thought synthetic rhino horns would be a really great thing, and others including from both economists and environmentalists who argued that it would harm wild rhinos. Fantastic reporting, fantastic show!

All the haters should actually try listening to an episode; the best part is they are usually super short! Some of these reviews are wild!

mwpman ,

So disappointing

I’ll give 2stars for at least bringing up the issue of our public debt. The simple (balanced appearing) story features a debt “hawk” and a debt “dove” discussing whether the public debt is really a bad thing or not. In this somewhat academic discussion, nobody considers how this debt will ever be paid! A pretty important detail just ignored. That sure makes debt seem better. As I said, so disappointing. I hope for, and expect more, from NPR.

realitystrikesback ,

You literally steal our tax dollars for the leftist propaganda

Defund NPR immediately

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