Marketplace All-in-One

Inflation's heating up and is well above the Federal Reserve's goal. The central bank's preferred reading on inflation came out this morning for April. Prices are up 3.8% from a year ago; it was 3.5% in March. What does that mean for the future of interest rates and the inflation consumers expect going forward? Then, we'll discuss how the war in Iran has added new pressure to an already strained farm economy.

Before war in the Middle East, roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer shipped by sea moved through the Strait of Hormuz. In the last three months, fertilizer prices have climbed between 30% and 50%, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. It's yet another growing expense for farmers, and it comes at a time when more farms in the U.S. are closing or going bankrupt. But first: A new study finds racial bias in AI hiring tools.

Like the name suggests, plug-in solar panels can be plugged into an electrical outlet just like you would your toaster. But instead of using electricity, they send power back to be used elsewhere in the home.

In most of the country, plug-in solar is neither illegal nor legal. But energy policy consultant Bentham Polis, who's also a senior researcher with the Clean Energy States Alliance, says a growing number of states are passing laws to help spell out the rules around the technology.

Discussed in this episode:

Instagram video from The Garbage Queen

“How do plug-in solar panels work and how are they installed?” from The Independent

“What States Need to Know About Plug-In Solar” from Clean Energy States Alliance

We’ve talked a lot about how money works and why countries have their own currencies here on “Million Bazillion.” But listener Alessio wants to know: Why DOESN’T the whole world use the same money? And could the world’s nations all decide to just use one shared currency? In this bonus mini-episode, we’ll get some answers!

Today, we’re featuring an episode of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute.” Reema Khrais joins host Brittany Luse and Wailin Wong, host of NPR’s “The Indicator,” to talk about the hidden ways money shows up in dating and marriage.

And we’ve got a new “This Is Uncomfortable” project to share! You’ve heard Reema Khrais ask rapid-fire “uncomfortable money questions” on the show, where she asks guests to share details of their financial lives. Now we want to hear how you would answer! Send us a voice memo, and we may feature it on the show. This week, we kick things off off with listener Thistle from California.

Learn more here: https://www.marketplace.org/uncomfortablequestions

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If you liked this episode of NPR's “It’s Been A Minute,” you can follow their podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Four days a week you will get for more episodes like this, featuring deep dives into how culture impacts what you think, feel, and believe.