Elizabeth Troval

Mitchell Hartman, a Marketplace reporter specializing in housing, discusses a promising rise in pending home sales and improving affordability as prices stabilize. He notes that mortgage rates need to dip below 6% for stronger demand. Elizabeth Troval, who covers energy markets, shares insights on the EIA's outlook for 2026, forecasting lower U.S. oil production amid global oversupply. The conversation also touches on minimum wage hikes across states and the emerging influence of AI travel influencers in marketing.

Carla Javier, a reporter who interviewed small businesses about decisions around the national shutdown, shares stories of owners balancing protest and payroll. Elizabeth Troval, an energy and investment reporter, explains why big oil profits make Venezuela investment risky. Catherine Rampell, an opinion columnist, lays out critiques of Fed policy and what Kevin Warsh's views signal for monetary and fiscal roles.

Kristen Schwab, a consumer and retail reporter, dives into 'surveillance pricing,' revealing how companies use data to manipulate prices. Stephanie Hughes sheds light on the grim job market for young people, with an unemployment rate of 8.2% for those aged 20-24. Mitchell Hartman discusses China's burgeoning trade surplus and its impact on U.S. businesses, while Elizabeth Troval explores how increased Venezuelan oil production could disrupt U.S.-Canada crude flows. Together, they unpack the intricate dance of economics in everyday life.

Elizabeth Troval, a marketplace reporter specializing in energy, explains the recent drop in gas prices and predicts they could remain lower through 2026. Meanwhile, Brianna Conley-Saxon, founder of Autophoto, shares insights about her unique business in Manhattan that restores vintage photo booths and serves as a museum. She discusses how the pandemic revived interest in these booths as a nostalgic way to capture memories. Together, they explore the dynamics of gas prices and the cultural significance of photo booths in today’s world.

Mitchell Hartman, a Marketplace reporter focused on business and economic trends, shares insights on the U.S. housing market's recent modest improvements, highlighting a 3% rise in pending home sales and better affordability as mortgage rates fall. Alongside him, Elizabeth Troval discusses the 2026 outlook for the oil market, forecasting a decline in U.S. oil production and prices. They also touch on state-level minimum wage increases and the intriguing rise of AI travel influencers in marketing.