Marketplace All-in-One Finding work as a young person? In this economy?
Jan 14, 2026
Mitchell Hartman, a Marketplace reporter covering global trade, joins Kristen Schwab, who delves into surveillance pricing, and Stephanie Hughes, who explores the struggles of Gen Z entering the workforce. They discuss young adults facing an 8.2% unemployment rate, up from last year, and the challenges posed by timid hiring practices. Hartman explains China's 20% trade surplus growth, while Schwab unravels how retailers utilize data for personalized pricing, revealing its pitfalls for consumers. It's a deep dive into economics affecting today's youth.
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China's Trade Surge Shifts Global Balance
- China's 2024 trade surplus surged 20% to $1.2 trillion, despite U.S. tariffs.
- That dominance pressures global prices and challenges U.S. manufacturers and farmers.
Data Lets Retailers Tailor Prices In Real Time
- Retailers collect detailed browsing and purchase data to tailor prices and discounts.
- That data-driven pricing blurs fairness and makes it hard for consumers to know the best deal.
Personal Fare Test Shows Price Differences
- Kristen Schwab and her husband tested Uber fares and saw different prices for the same trip.
- Uber denied personalizing fares and attributed differences to supply and demand factors.
