The Indicator from Planet Money
Hosted by Adrian Ma, Darian Woods & Wailin Wong · 43 decoded episodes · newest Oct 7, 2026
A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make <em>Planet Money</em>, <em>The Indicator</em> helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less. <br>Sign up for our <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/indicator"target="_blank" >newsletter</a>.<br><br><em> Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes for Planet Money and sponsor-free listening for The Indicator.</em>
Episodes 43
- Oct 7, 2026 · 9 minData centers test the promise of innovation against local power costsAI infrastructure could make electricity more expensive in the near term, even if higher prices eventually encourage efficiency and new energy supplies.
- Oct 6, 2026 · 8 minNorway weighs the cost of ethical investing in wartimeNorway’s fund must decide how far ethical exclusions can reach without undermining its passive strategy, diversification, or political independence.
- Oct 5, 2026 · 9 minDigital payments make friendship debts harder to settleThe episode turns a minor social annoyance into a question of boundaries, respect, and the risks of informally lending money to friends.
- Oct 2, 2026 · 9 minEarlier Social Security could help workers—and deepen the funding gapThe proposal highlights a real retirement inequality while forcing a difficult choice between earlier benefits and Social Security’s already strained finances.
- Oct 1, 2026 · 8 minColleges redesign degrees around jobs and AIThe episode examines what higher education should prioritize as students, employers, and institutions weigh career preparation against the liberal arts.
- Sep 30, 2026 · 9 minCollege sports can boost applications—but not always valueAs colleges compete for fewer prospective students, athletic success may attract attention without delivering a reliable return on expensive sports investments.
- Sep 29, 2026 · 9 minMissing industry codes leave businesses invisible and mispricedThe classification system behind economic data can shape whether an industry is measured accurately, recognized by agencies, and charged appropriate insurance rates.
- Sep 28, 2026 · 9 minTax-loss strategies let wealthy investors turn gains into deductionsThe episode examines whether sophisticated tax engineering creates an unfair advantage and exposes less-wealthy investors to products they may not understand.
- Sep 25, 2026 · 9 minRising costs squeeze renters, insurers, and employersThe episode connects housing strain, ACA coverage losses, and GLP-1 costs as separate pressures converging on households and institutions.
- Sep 24, 2026 · 8 minTrump’s stock promotions test presidential conflict rulesThe episode examines whether presidential trading and public endorsements can influence markets while avoiding rules that constrain other officials.
- Sep 23, 2026 · 9 minUsed cars inherit a broken new-car marketThe episode shows why buying used no longer reliably means buying affordable, especially once financing and ownership costs enter the calculation.
- Sep 22, 2026 · 9 minAmerica’s oil reserve faces a costly refillThe reserve’s depleted and aging system may be less able to cushion Americans from future supply disruptions and higher prices.