Episodes

  • A rebate runaround, a car rental rip-off and … roaches?!

    A rebate runaround, a car rental rip-off and … roaches?!
    Oct 14 2026
    A labyrinthine rebate process. Shrinking cereal boxes. Mystery rental car charges. Cockroaches?! We share listener tales of Consumer Rage and unpack the economic forces driving that ANGER.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    –Consumers are mad as hell and aren't gonna take it anymore–Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App

    Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money
    –The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks.
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    9 mins
  • The gamble of trying to inflate away debt

    The gamble of trying to inflate away debt
    Oct 20 2026
    The United States national debt is running at more than $40 trillion dollars. It’s a potential crisis in the making, but President Donald Trump suggested it can all be solved just by inflating the debt away. Today, we dig into the nitty gritty on how and when inflating the national debt could work.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    –Is the federal debt REALLY that bad?
    –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App

    Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money
    –The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks.
    –Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
    –Find the Planet Money book
    –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch, and other merch at the NPR Shop!

    Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins
  • What does every business need but not every industry has?

    What does every business need but not every industry has?
    Sep 29 2026
    What rhymes with "snakes" and helps the government classify economic activity? NAICS — or the North American Industry Classification System. These codes categorize every industry from artificial turf installation to zucchini farming. But they’re not exactly easy to get. Today we look at one business’ quest for a NAICS code and what makes them so valuable.

    Fact checking by Leyla Doss.

    Your Next Listen
    — How to take the temperature of the US consumer

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter!
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+

    Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins
  • How the rich make money by losing money

    How the rich make money by losing money
    Sep 28 2026
    Decades ago, rich Americans used to pay taxes as high as 40% on their investments. Nowadays, an obscure investment strategy is helping them slash that figure toward … 0%. Today on the show, Bloomberg reporter Loukia Gyftopoulou, tells us about this generation’s “great American tax dodge,” and the “mad genius” behind it.

    A Tax Strategy for the Rich Built the World’s Largest Hedge Fund - Bloomberg

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — What’s a revenge tax?

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter!
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+

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    9 mins
  • Is investing in sports worth it for universities?

    Is investing in sports worth it for universities?
    Sep 30 2026
    Universities spend millions of dollars every year on their athletics programs. But does that investment pay off? Today, we interrogate the “Doug Flutie Effect.”

    Fact checking by Cooper Katz McKim.

    Your Next Listen
    — How college sports juiced Olympic development

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter!
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    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
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    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins
  • How did political campaigns get so expensive?

    How did political campaigns get so expensive?
    Oct 15 2026
    The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching, and it’s gearing up to be the most expensive election in American history. So how did we get here, where every election feels more expensive than the last?

    Today on the show, we’re exploring what’s causing the flood of money into our politics.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    –Bad economics, smart politics
    –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App

    Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money
    –The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks.
    –Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
    –Find the Planet Money book
    –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch, and other merch at the NPR Shop!

    Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    8 mins
  • One economist's answer to data center anxiety

    One economist's answer to data center anxiety
    Oct 7 2026
    Rising electricity prices are one of the primary reasons why data centers are a public enemy this election cycle. But is it realistic to expect energy prices to stay high forever?

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    No AI data centers in my backyard!
    Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App

    Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money
    The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks.
    Instagram, TikTok and YouTube
    Find the Planet Money book
    Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch, and other merch at the NPR Shop!

    Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • New college degrees designed to job-proof graduates

    New college degrees designed to job-proof graduates
    Oct 1 2026
    What do influencing, AI and health sciences have in common? They’re all degree programs colleges have launched in the last few years to attract students looking for a new career path. On today's show, how colleges are rethinking degrees for a changing job market.

    Fact checking by Leyla Doss.

    Your Next Listen
    — Community colleges are kind of underrated

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter!
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+

    Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    8 mins