Make Me Smart The Real Costs: Special Coverage from "Marketplace"
Aug 25, 2025
Explore the tumultuous economic landscape shaped by inflation and a weakening job market. Delve into how the Consumer Price Index impacts perceptions and personal experiences, from job satisfaction to rising prices. Uncover the intriguing link between a strong stock market and economic turmoil, as well as the role of economic literacy in navigating this shifting terrain. Real-life stories reveal the emotional toll of current conditions, emphasizing the challenges of agricultural planning and the critical need for reliable economic metrics amidst uncertainty.
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Headlines Hide Real Economic Costs
- The news headlines don't capture the real costs of economic changes like inflation and tariffs.
- Reliable measurement of the economy matters for understanding those hidden costs.
Process CPI Quickly And Methodically
- Check your CPI expectations before the BLS release and scan table one and two immediately when it posts.
- Digest core tables quickly and publish analysis within an hour for institutional clients.
Treat Preliminary Estimates With Caution
- Falling survey response rates reduce confidence in preliminary government estimates like payrolls.
- Large revisions mean treat early numbers with caution.