A drought is causing a slowdown in shipping traffic at the Panama Canal. It's introducing new problems for the global supply chain.

There is only one public bank in the United States, and a group in Rochester, N.Y., is trying to change that. The Indicator from Planet Money explores the challenges of public banking in the U.S.

The average mortgage rate in the U.S. is now over 7%, its highest level in more than 20 years. That has some homeowners feeling locked in, tethered to their low interest rates and unable to move.

Meta's new social media platform Threads had a rocket-like start when it launched a month ago as a challenger to X, formerly known as Twitter. But it's hard to tell which platform will dominate.

With more than 200 careers under her pink belt, Barbie has always been a hard worker. What can the types of professions Barbie's done tell us about women in the U.S. labor force? A lot, actually.

Many adults in Mexico don't have any kind of bank account, and a lot of those people are young and tech savvy. Financial tech startups see this as a big opportunity for online-only banks.

Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Beware the Woman, Dungeons and Drag Queens, and the DVD menu of The Social Network.

Billions of dollars have flowed from traditional banks to money market funds in search of higher returns. These funds are supposed to be safe. But lately, things have been looking a little shaky.

New technologies often benefit highly paid, college-educated professionals — while putting others out of work. Research indicates generative AI could benefit middle-skill workers in surprising ways.

The U.S. debt has led to plenty of partisan fights and ... charitable gifts. For decades, a government program has been collecting donations from Americans who want to help pay off the national debt.

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: The Soundtrack Show, Reservation Dogs, Janelle Monáe and more.

Who has more power in the labor market, workers or employers? One economist has come up with a new economic indicator to try to measure it.

Unsung hero of the financial system or enabler of troubled banks? The Federal Home Loan Bank system was created to support homeownership, but also loaned billions to failing banks like First Republic.

Paid posts, affiliate links, subscriptions — all ways social media influencers can make money. But how many influencers are actually making a living off their content creation? Not many.

When it comes to making art, what's the difference between inspiration and theft? That's the question at the heart of one of the biggest musical copyright trials in years that began this week.

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Romantic Comedy, Grace Needs Space, and more.

Lithium-ion batteries - used in everything from electric cars to smartphones - are catching fire on land and at sea. Why is it happening and what's being done to solve the problem?

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Studio Ghibli Fest, Succession, and more.

High-profile bank failures in the last several weeks are putting the spotlight on bank examiners: the government employees who perform regular check-ups of the country's financial institutions.

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Spellbound, Cheat Codes, This Is Pop and more.