Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Sofia Terenzio
What the low-hire, low-fire economy looks like for a new grad
For young people in this low hire, low fire economy, finding a job has not been easy. The unemployment rate for those ages 20 to 24 hit 8% in September, nearly a full percentage point higher than it was a year ago and almost double the headline figure at 4.2%. That's what the data is telling us, but what are young people actually experiencing? Zoë Goffe graduated from Northeastern University in 2025.
The stock market isn’t the economy — except when maybe it is?
The stock market has been having a gangbusters year. This week, the S&P 500 hit another record high, despite higher interest rates, , and a continued war in Iran. Stocks are an increasing share of total household wealth. And the top players in the stock market right now — companies like Nvidia, Google, and Apple — are spending trillions on AI, which is boosting GDP. The common “Marketplace” refrain is that the stock market is not the economy. But right now, it’s possible that it is.
The Black-white employment gap is growing. What's that say about the economy?
At a glance, the September jobs report doesn’t look so bad. The unemployment rate ticked up only a tenth of one percent to 4.2%. Employment stayed more or less the same across industries. But dig a little deeper, and things don’t look quite as stable. The Black unemployment rate, for example, rose a full percentage point to 7%. In comparison, white unemployment went down a tenth of a percent to 3.6%.
An unsettling economic picture
The U.S. economy added 29,000 jobs in September, missing estimates. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%. And Thursday’s PCE report release found inflation held steady at 3.4%. Wages aren’t growing, and people are facing higher prices. Inflation and consumer behavior have built an unsettling economic picture heading into the Federal Open Market Committee meeting at the end of the month. Will the Fed hike rates?
Here, take my link! The rise of affiliate links
Oct 2, 2026 Once reserved for major influencers, new e-commerce platforms have brought affiliate links to the group chat. Affiliate links used to just be for major influencers. Now, everyone's posting them. Have you ever been scrolling through your social feeds or reading through a Substack post and come across a recommendation with a link to a product? There’s a good chance that link is an affiliate link. The person who posted it can make a small commission from every product sold through that link.
Why full employment is like filling a bathtub with water
This week is chock-full of labor market data: The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey came out on Tuesday, followed by ADP private sector data on Wednesday, jobless claims on Thursday, and the jobs report on Friday. The big number many are waiting on this week is the September unemployment rate, which will come out in that Friday jobs report.
TTYL? Trump-Xi talks end without much to show
Bond yields on the 10-year T-note soared past 5% this week, thanks in part to the Iran war and ballooning government debt. But high yields weren’t even the biggest economic news item this week as President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Washington, D.C. to discuss AI, trade, and more. After two days of diplomatic talks, however, it’s not looking like any real policy will come out of this summit — much like when the two leaders of the world’s largest economies met back in May.
Trump and Xi meet this week. What can we expect?
On Thursday, President Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping, the leaders of the world’s two largest economies, are set to discuss AI, trade, and more in Washington D.C., just four months after their last meeting in May. Ahead of that summit, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal joined Chad Bown, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics, to talk about what we might expect to come out of these discussions. To hear their conversation, click the audio player above.
Sorry brunch, but you're old news
Brunch first rose to prominence in 1890s New Orleans. And in the 100-plus years since the portmanteau was coined, the hybrid breakfast-lunch meal has become a staple of American weekend eating habits. But lately, younger generations are drinking less and focusing on “wellness” more. GLP-1s have shrunk the appetites of many Americans. And lo, carb-and-booze-heavy menus have receeded to the background.
The Fed makes a move
The much-anticipated Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday did not disappoint: The Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2023. The quarter-point increase is also the first rate hike with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at the helm, and it defied President Donald Trump’s clear desire to keep rates low. However, Trump appeared to give Warsh a pass and foisted blame instead onto the rate-setting committee, which voted unanimously for the raise.
For those without a degree, the job market looks pretty good
When we talk about the labor market, we often use big-picture data. Like, what’s the national unemployment rate? How many new jobs were added to the economy last month? But the labor market is not a monolith. Its made up of all different sorts of people, with varying occupations and levels of education. And it turns out, right now, those without a college degree are having a historically good year. Gad Levanon is the chief economist at The Burning Glass Institute.
The complicated history of New York's iconic Charging Bull statue
In the middle of Bowling Green, a park in Manhattan’s financial district, sits a 7-ton bull. Not a real bull, of course, but a bronze statue meant to symbolize American resilience in the face of financial crises. The “Charging Bull” is an iconic part of New York City’s landscape. But when Ben Fractenburg, a producer at The City Reporter, looked into its history for a recent piece, he found himself at a dead end: nobody knows who owns the Bull today.
To be closer to her aging mother, she built a tiny home in her backyard
There’s a lot of reasons why someone might downsize their home. Maybe it’s because mortgage rates are hitting record highs. Or kids have left the nest. For Drea Parker in Kernersville, North Carolina, she chose to downsize to be closer to her aging mother. After her mother went through a total knee replacement and needed help recovering, Parker realized she could no longer live in the farmhouse she was renting.
Last call for Fed rate predictions
Another day, another hot inflation report. The August consumer price index rose 3.4% year-over-year, well above the Fed’s target rate of 2%. Next week, members of the Federal Open Market Committee will meet to discuss interest rates. The topic on everyone’s mind will be whether inflation is strong enough to justify a rate hike. “Marketplace” host Sabri Ben-Achour spoke with Sudeep Reddy at MSNOW and Kate Davidson at Bloomberg about all this and more for the Weekly Wrap.
If AI helps speed up drug development, can the FDA keep up?
Sep 10, 2026 Anthropic says that its new tool can help scientists more quickly uncover and develop new drugs. But FDA approval still takes a long time. Anthropic says its tool can help speed up new drug development. But the bottleneck is still in how fast the FDA can approve those drugs. AI is entering the medical space without a doctorate degree. In June, Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, announced a new tool for scientific research called Claude Science.
This audio affects business is still waiting on tariff refunds
Sep 10, 2026 Heather Bickford, chief operating officer at Death By Audio, says she’s still waiting on nearly $100,000 in refunds. Still though, she’s staying positive about business. "I think I've just had to like really not focus on tariffs as much, which has really helped," said Bickford, about managing the daily stress of running a business.
This activewear brand says tariffs are still taking a toll
Nate Axvig and his wife Leslie own Aktiv, a Scandinavian activewear brand based in Denver, Colorado. Nate and Leslie Axvig. Last year, the company faced thousands of dollars’ worth of tariff fees. And though the International Emergency Economic Powers Act-enabled tariffs have been overturned, Axvig still hasn’t recieved the majority of the money he’s owed in refunds. That has taken a toll on the Aktiv’s finances.
Jobs are steady. Prices are high. What will the Fed do?
There are two sides to the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate: stable prices and maximum employment. And today, the maximum employment side seemed to be met. The August jobs report out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday morning showed that the economy added 162,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%. These are signs of a relatively healthy labor market.
A California hardware store reopens 19 months post-wildfire
Altadena Hardware stood in Altadena, California, for over 90 years, until the devastating Eaton Fire burned it down a year-and-a-half ago. Jimmy Orlandini, a third-generation small business owner and owner of Altadena Hardware since 2010, has spent the months following the fire recovering, like many other local businesses. After months of searching for a temporary location within budget, this summer, Orlandini finally found a space to move into — this one less temporary.
How a 21-foot-tall space cowboy has revitalized a strip of Route 66
This week, we've been bringing you stories from small businesses along Route 66 in honor of the historic highway's centennial. Travelers far and wide have been driving down the 2,500 miles of open road to see America from the rearview mirror — and maybe even stop for an attraction or two. Mary Beth Babcock owns Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios and two other retail shops in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mary Beth Babcock, at her Shop Buck Atoms Curios in Tusla, OK off Route 66.
Kevin Warsh signals forward guidance at Jackson Hole symposium
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a sleepy fly-fishing town outside Grand Teton National Park, is swarming with central bankers, top economists, and financial leaders this week for the annual Economic Policy Symposium held by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. On Friday morning in a highly anticipated speech, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh made it clear he believed policy was not restrictive enough to fight inflation.
For three generations, this family has kept up business along Route 66
To celebrate 100 years of the Mother Road, we’re taking a trip down Route 66 to see how the small businesses along the way are faring this summer. Josh Waldmire is the owner of the Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield, Illinois. For three generations, his family has kept the business afloat. This year, Waldmire is experiencing record traffic as travelers from across the globe visit his corndog shop.
For specialty food importer, tariffs are still front and center
Scottish Gourmet USA has been in business for over 20 years. 2026 has been particularly challenging as her margins shrink. In February, the Supreme Court ruled that the President’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs was unlawful. As a result, the government was ordered to pay back businesses for the import charges they incurred. Now, some six months later, many businesses are still waiting to receive their full refund. Anne Robinson is one of those owners.
The Gila River Indian Community "walks the walk" on water conservation
The Colorado River system provides water to over 40 million people across U.S. states, tribal nations, and Mexico. And it’s been in drought conditions since the year 2000. This year, Lake Mead is at record low levels. In an effort to stave off a water disaster, the Department of the Interior has announced new operating guidelines for the Colorado River system, which include a roughly 20% cut to California, Arizona, and Nevada’s water over the next two years.
Historic motel off Route 66 celebrates the highway's centennial
Route 66, the highway that runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, turns 100 this year. In celebration of the centennial, we’re checking in with a few small businesses along the Mother Road. Dawn Federico is the owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Six years ago, her and her husband bought the Blue Swallow and never looked back. They’re live-in owner-operators. “We do sometimes feel as if we might be living in a fishbowl, “ joked Federico.
Microdramas get the "Hollywood treatment" at this new studio
At an iconic lot in Hollywood, there’s a new studio in town that wants to change the way you watch everything. Chris Crema and Matthew Ko are the guys behind Knockout Shorts, a short form, vertical video studio in Los Angeles. “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal visited Sunset Las Palmas Studio, where the pair recently opened new standing-set stages in collaboration with Sunset, to hear about their vision for the future of entertainment.
Sellers leave Etsy as AI slop takes over
Etsy became a household name as a platform for sellers to market their handmade goods — anything from paintings to prints to ceramics. But in recent years, many sellers have noticed steep declines in revenue. Ej Dickson, senior culture writer at Wired, reports that many of them point to an increase of mass-produced products and AI-generated listings as the culprit.
Inflation dipped slightly in July, but remains above Fed's target
This week’s inflation data all but guaranteed the Fed won’t be raising rates at their next meeting. Inflation to 3.4%, down a tenth of a percent from June. That said, inflation is still well above the Fed’s 2% target, and the hardest part of taming inflation often comes at the end. “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal spoke with Courtenay Brown at Axios and Stacey Vanek Smith at Bloomberg about that, the narrowing K-shaped economy, and more for the weekly wrap.
China is shaping the technology of the future. Where does that leave the U.S.?
In the race for high-tech supremacy, the United States looks to be losing the lead. Over the last few decades, China has invested heavily in new research, development, and strategic planning, leading to something of a golden age for new tech innovation. The U.S, on the other hand, has fallen short. China produces more than 60% of all electric vehicles. They’ve surpassed the U.S. in clinical trials for new drug development. China adds more renewable energy to the grid than any other country.
The economy lost 23,000 jobs in July. Should the Fed be worried?
The labor market has been pretty resilient these last few months despite inflation. Last month’s data, however, proves that even the job market has a breaking point. We found out Friday morning that the economy lost 23,000 jobs in July. Previous data on the labor market also wasn’t as great as we thought — May and June data were revised down by some 100,000 jobs. On the road to fighting inflation, will these cracks in the labor market spell trouble for the Fed?
Families are crashing honeymoon hot spots
If your summer travel plans include kids, you’re not alone. In an October survey from the Family Travel Association and New York University’s Tisch Center of Hospitality, 92% of parents are likely or very likely to travel with their children in the next year. And more of those families are ending up at resorts — ones typically reserved by couples. High-end hotels and luxury resorts are now scrambling to accommodate this new customer base without displeasing their tried-and-true honeymooners.
In the digital era, what media do we still own?
Earlier this month, Sony announced it would be ditching physical discs for its PlayStation gaming console. As of January 2028, Sony said it will no longer be producing games in physical formats. It’s one example of the digitization of everything. With the slow but steady transition from physical games, books, movies, and other media to digitized copies, do we really own anything anymore? Scharon Harding is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica.
Inflation is softening. Can it last with war and tariffs?
Jul 17, 2026 A look at promising inflation data, new tariffs, and the rest of the week’s economic news for the Weekly Wrap. Consumer sentiment ticked upwards, but a fresh round of tariffs could provide fresh headwinds. It’s been a big week for economic data. We got the consumer and producer price indexes, retail sales, and consumer sentiment in the five days gone by. And while inflation looks to be softening from these reports, can that last as the war continues?
As airfares skyrocket, summer travelers take the bus
It’s the thick of the summer travel season, but if you’re looking for a last minute getaway, good luck finding a cheap plane ticket. According to the latest consumer price index report, airline fares are 26% higher than they were in May of last year. And with the collapse of Spirit Airlines, fewer options exist at all for budget fares. So, what's a cost-conscious traveler to do? Try taking the bus.
Baby boomers are un-tying the knot — and it's complicating inheritances
While overall divorce rate has been falling in the U.S., older couples are splitting up at higher rates than they used to. The divorce rate for people over 50 has doubled since 1990. For those over 65, it's tripled, said Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Business Insider. What makes these separations even more complicated is that older generations have a lot more to split up. “These people have really kind of built a lifetime together, right?” said Stewart.
What it takes to transform a 600-year-old fixer-upper into a forever home
Millions of Americans live abroad. While the census doesn’t track them, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas estimates that 5.5 million Americans live outside the country. How they got there is its own story. "Buying a house in a foreign country seemed like very much a far off dream for me," said Kiki Leigh, an American who bought a house in Sicily. For Kiki Leigh, it was fate. One day, scrolling on TikTok, Leigh came across a video of a historic home in a medieval town in Sicily.
Trump calls off Iran ceasefire, a move that "obviously will push oil prices up"
After President Trump declared the ceasfire with Iran “over” on Wednesday morning, oil prices spiked and stocks slipped. Markets evened out somewhat over the course of the day, but with the U.S. also ordering a new round of strikes, what does this all mean for oil markets beyond a single day of wild fluctuations? “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal sat down with Robin Brooks, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, for insight.
What's lost when we swap family doctors for on-demand telehealth
Gone — or nearly gone — are the days of traditional family doctors, who knew patients and their health problems inside and out. In are the days of “drive-thru healthcare,” as Dylan Scott wrote for Vox. Thanks to the telehealth revolution, getting a prescription online can feel more like ordering a Big Mac at the drive-thru window than going to a local restaurant where the owner knows your name.
Beekeeper turned business owner is growing into newer, bigger spaces
Adam Hickman first became interested in keeping bees when he stumbled on his great-grandfather’s equipment. “I got some interest in how it works, and decided, ‘Let me just try this out,’” said Hickman. What started as a hobby turned into a business. In 2020, he quit his job to start running Foxhound Bee Company full-time. Over the last five years, the business has grown. In the fall of 2025, Hickman moved into a newly constructed 5,000-square-foot building in Irondale, Alabama.
Growing interest in green burials has helped this coffin weaver take on the work full-time
As the effects of climate change seep into our everyday lives, more Americans are starting to think twice about the carbon footprint they’re leaving behind. Mary Lauren Fraser is a business owner whose work fits into the green burial movement. She weaves coffins made primarily of willow and pine that are completely biodegradable. As the green burial movement has grown, she’s been able to take her business full-time, weaving 12 to 15 coffins every year.
What would happen if you used AI to sell your home?
Artificial intelligence is everywhere, and more Americans are getting comfortable using it in their everyday lives. According to Pew Research, about a third of Americans say they interact with AI at least several times a day. People use AI for tasks big and small, but Stuart Thompson, a reporter with the New York Times, used a chatbot to sell his biggest asset: his family’s home. Instead of hiring a real estate agent, Thompson entrusted AI to help him sell his home.
Can the market bear 3 giant IPOs?
It’s going to be a big summer for initial public offerings. SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company, goes public Friday, June 12. OpenAI and Anthropic, both artificial intelligence companies, are expected to debut in the coming months. All three companies are valued at around the trillion-dollar mark — SpaceX is expected to be the largest IPO on record, targeting a valuation of $1.77 trillion. They’ve already garnered a ton of attention.
Immigration to the U.S. has steeply declined. The economic impact will last decades
According to U.S. Census data, the amount of net migration the U.S. saw in 2025 — about 1.3 million people — more than halved from the previous year. And while that sharp decrease is going to have a whole host of consequences, intended and otherwise, the economic hit in particular could be substantial.
Former foreign service officer has second act rehabbing movie theaters
Jordan Stancil has always been in the movie theater business. “My great grandfather founded The Rialto Theater in Grayling, Michigan, in 1915,“ said Stancil. “So, I grew up working in that theater.” As an adult, Stancil worked as a foreign service officer in the State Department. After his service and several years as a professor, he came back to revitalize The Rialto. After successfully reopening the family business, he bought another independent theater. Then another.
More wedding vendors are offering special services for grooms
Grooms want a say in their big day, too. Vendors in the wedding industry have started offering more services specifically for men — from groom cakes to groom concierges. “You cannot upstage the bride, but grooms are really challenging that a little bit more lately,” said Ellen Gamerman. She’s a reporter at the Wall Street Journal who has covered this cultural swing toward grooms’ involvement in wedding planning, and pampering on the big day.
We might be running out of protein powder
Protein powder seems to be in everything nowadays, not just shakes. There are now protein chips, lattes, and even Pop-Tarts. According to research firm Grand View Research, the protein-packed foods and drinks market will be worth $100 billion by 2030. But, the protein craze might be consuming the powder faster than it’s getting made.
Why "dad books" - serious nonfiction titles - are declining
Dad books — you know, “serious” nonfiction titles about politics, current affairs, and the economy — are in a rough spot. Sales of nonfiction print titles are down nearly 8% this year, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. Partly to blame for the decline is a changing media diet, according to Pamela Paul, writer at large at the Wall Street Journal. “In the olden days … you got a James McPherson book about the Civil War. You've got David McCullough's biography of Truman,” said Paul.
In Hollywood, AI gig work could be the "new waiting tables"
The newest job on the gig economy market? Working as an artificial intelligence trainer. Ruth Fowler, a screenwriter and single mom living in Los Angeles, tried her hand at working as an AI trainer when she needed money to pay the bills. She wrote about her experience in a piece for WIRED titled, “I Work in Hollywood. Everyone Who Used to Make TV Is Now Secretly Training AI.” She spoke with “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal about her experience. Click the audio player above to hear their conversation.
From high tech to amp tech: How a layoff led to a new business
Despite recent rallies in tech stocks thanks to the AI boom, tech jobs haven’t kept up with the hype. Employment in information — a close stand in for tech — fell by 11% since its most recent peak in 2022. With layoffs abundant in the industry, some tech workers have found other avenues for employment. After 27 years working in tech, Joe Moore lost his job in a round of layoffs in 2024.
Trump meets with President Xi: What to expect
Airforce One touched down in Beijing on Wednesday for two days of highly anticipated talks between President Donald Trump and China’ s President Xi Jinping. The pair are expected to discuss trade, the Iran war and Chinese direct investment in the United States, among other topics. Adam Posen is president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He spoke with “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal about what to expect from the meetings. Below is an edited transcript of that conversation.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Sofia
Contact Sofia, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack