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The Indicator from Planet Money 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

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The Indicator from Planet Money

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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

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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The most expensive banana in the world and other indicators

A journalist taking a picture of Maurizio Cattelan's duct-taped banana, which just sold for $6.2 million. Keta Betancur/Getty Images hide caption

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Keta Betancur/Getty Images

The most expensive banana in the world and other indicators

We are back with a pricey Indicators of the Week. Today, we're digging into why it's so hard to get price information from funeral providers, how much a single banana could possibly cost, and just how much richer Elon Musk has become since Donald Trump's election win.

The most expensive banana in the world and other indicators

Listen · 9:26
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Bond vigilantes. Who they are, what they want, and how you'll know they're coming
(Photo by Online USA)/Getty Images

Bond vigilantes. Who they are, what they want, and how you'll know they're coming

As Wall Street investors divine what a second Trump administration might mean for markets, there's talk of a new gang in town: the bond vigilantes. On today's show, where they came from, what they want, and how to tell when they're about to spring into action.

Bond vigilantes. Who they are, what they want, and how you'll know they're coming

Listen · 8:25
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How Magic Johnson's Starbucks created new neighborhood businesses

Myung J. Chun/Getty Images Myung J. Chun/Getty Images hide caption

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Myung J. Chun/Getty Images

How Magic Johnson's Starbucks created new neighborhood businesses

There's been a lot of research showing how third spaces — a place that isn't the home nor the workplace — have brought communities together, even catalyzed revolutions. New research shows that coffee shops in particular could be key to sparking new businesses, too.

Third space jam: How Magic Johnson and Starbucks boosted entrepreneurship

Listen · 9:23
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How to shop during a crisis
Getty Images

How to shop during a crisis

Events like the recent dock worker's strike and hurricanes sparked panic buying among American shoppers. Today, a logistics expert helps us craft a shopper's guide for how to navigate a supply chain crisis.

How to shop during a crisis

Listen · 9:29
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A fraught climate change conference, how are US home builders doing, and more
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

A fraught climate change conference, how are US home builders doing, and more

There is a LOT of economic news happening at the moment (it all happens, so very much of it, all the time), so we wanted to give you an idea of what we here at The Indicator are keeping tabs on.

A fraught climate change conference, how are US home builders doing, and more

Listen · 9:08
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23andMe's financial troubles, Paul vs. Tyson and Bitcoin to the moon
Getty Images

23andMe's financial troubles, Paul vs. Tyson and Bitcoin to the moon

On Indicators of the Week, we cover our favorite numbers in the news. On this week's edition we cover Netflix's foray into live sports, the possible psychology behind the post-election cryptocurrency rally, and a struggling DNA company's fight for survival.

23andMe's financial troubles, Paul vs. Tyson and Bitcoin to the moon

Listen · 9:19
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Who's powering nuclear energy's comeback?
Kairos Power

Who's powering nuclear energy's comeback?

Nuclear energy hasn't been a growing industry in decades. But now, it seems to be making a comeback. This week, the Biden administration announced a goal to triple nuclear energy capacity in the US by 2050. And over the past few months, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have all made deals to use nuclear energy to power their artificial intelligence appetites. Today on the show, could nuclear energy work differently this time?

Who's powering nuclear energy's comeback?

Listen · 9:24
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Why the government's flood insurance program is underwater

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Why the government's flood insurance program is underwater

Major flooding events are increasingly common across the U.S., but homeowners looking for flood insurance will find few choices. The main providers of flood insurance is the U.S. government through the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP. But even though the NFIP is one of the only flood insurance games in town, it's drowning in debt. On today's episode, the NFIP's struggle to stay afloat.

Why the government's flood insurance program is underwater

Listen · 9:15
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Why this former banking regulator is writing kids books
National Diversity Coalition

Why this former banking regulator is writing kids books

In a first-best world, we'd all save enough money and there'd be no scammers. In a second-best world, we'd all know how to protect ourselves.

Why this former banking regulator is writing kids books

Listen · 9:11
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