Marketplace Morning Report

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is accusing Walmart and the fintech firm Branch Messenger of cheating some Walmart gig workers — the drivers who take packages the “last mile” from Walmart stores to customers’ homes. The CFPB sued the two companies yesterday. Also on today’s show: We’ll hear the latest updates on an elite college antitrust suit and what it reveals about the advantage of wealth.

Should Japanese firm Nippon Steel be allowed to acquire U.S Steel? Is that a national security risk? Those are the questions a government review board was supposed to answer but did not — it deadlocked. So the decision now rests with President Joe Biden. We’ll hear more. Plus, Nordstrom is set to go private. And the GOP will likely use the budget reconciliation process to pass legislative priorities. We’ll provide a refresher on what that means.

From the BBC World Service: Brazilian authorities have halted the construction of a factory for Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD, saying workers lived in conditions comparable to “slavery.” BYD said it had cut ties with the firm involved. Then, El Salvador overturned a ban on the mining of gold and other metals. And we visit Finnish Lapland, a tourist destination known as the official home of Santa Claus.

Retail sales went up 3.7% in the year through November, suggesting shopping is running strong this holiday season. But a Gallup survey finds that middle-class families are spending less. We’ll take the pulse of shopping for this year’s holiday season. Also, we’ll hear a brief bio of Stephen Miran, Trump’s pick for chair of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, and head to Zagreb, Croatia to learn about one doozy of an Advent celebration.

When health insurer Anthem decided to limit the length of anesthesia during surgery that it would cover, it became a scandal at a time when resentment toward health insurers was already particularly visible. Anthem quickly canceled that policy. But behind all this is an ongoing conflict between insurers and doctors. Also: a look how debt is impacting holiday spending and what risks come with leaving our home-viewing choices to streamers.

From the BBC World Service: The incoming U.S. president claimed his country is paying excessive fees to use the waterway, which has been under Panama’s control for decades, and said that he wouldn’t let it fall into the “wrong hands.” Then, Japanese carmakers Honda and Nissan have confirmed that they’re discussing a merger; they’re including another Japanese company, Mitsubishi, in those talks. And we’ll also hear about Croatia’s multi-award-winning Christmas markets.

New research shows that not only are back-to-the-office mandates unpopular with employees, they lead to more turnover and chase away the employees with the most skills. We’ll delve into the findings. Plus: when a job is quite literally a balancing act. As part of our ongoing “What’s That Like?” series exploring odd jobs, we hear from a Cirque du Soleil high wire performer.

Here in the United States, a partial government shutdown looms after the House of Representatives voted down a Trump-backed temporary spending package. We’ll parse some of the practical implications. Then, we’ll hear about some of the economic headwinds Germany is facing after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence and the German government collapsed. Also on the show: A strike at a number of Amazon locations is entering day two.

From the BBC World Service: An investigation has exposed how Vietnamese migrants in the United Kingdom are working illegally in nail bars to avoid detection. The U.K. government says it’s ramped up raids since July, with fines for employers reaching $75,000 for repeat offenses. But that’s not stopping everyone. Plus, nearly 80 million Christmas trees are sold each year in Europe. We’ll take a look at what goes in to growing them all.

Stock and bond markets took unnerving tumbles yesterday when the Federal Reserve Chair suggested there won’t be as many interest rate cuts next year. The S&P fell 3% and the Dow fell more than 1,100 points. We could also get a partial federal government shutdown by the end of the week. We’ll discuss the latest economic headlines. Plus, some Amazon workers go on strike today, and we’ll hear more about the merch economy.

From the BBC World Service: A new report from the European Central Bank and the European Union’s insurance regulator calls for a big shake-up in Europe’s climate insurance system. It’s planning for a new EU-wide insurance plan that would help protect businesses and homeowners from extreme weather and uses reinsurance, which pools risks, to make sure people are actually covered. Also: Concert merch, once a reliable profit source for performers, is becoming squeezed.

A deal to keep the government funded through the holidays and into the new administration has run into opposition. President-elect Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk are urging Republicans in Congress to vote down a government funding extension. We’ll hear more. Plus, stock futures are pointing to a small rebound after stock prices dropped sharply on warnings that higher interest rates could linger. And later: What’s it like to work at the circus?

Something a tad nontraditional on the wishlist of more children this year? Skin care products. This $180 billion industry has caught the attention of young people born 2010 onward (even if they already have a naturally youthful look). Now, dermatologists are warning families that some of these products can cause long-term damage if used too young. But first, a droopy stock index is getting attention this morning.

Even though inflation has come down from its pandemic highs, some of it is still sticking. Yet average pay has been keeping up with — and even outpacing — rising prices. Turns out, low- and middle-income workers have been making up some ground. We dig in. Plus: a closer look at AI’s growing role in processing health insurance claims and talks of a potentially tectonic shift in the global auto industry.

From the BBC World Service: A potential merger of two of Japan’s largest carmakers could be in the cards; Nissan and Honda have said they’re “exploring various possibilities for future collaboration.” Also on the show: The global skincare market is worth billions of dollars, but it’s not just adults who are spending big — kids are also making more purchases than ever, and dermatologists are warning unsuitable products could damage their skin.

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed at a news conference on Monday that he is “looking at” the idea of privatizing the U.S. Postal Service. That comes as the USPS ended its last fiscal year with a net loss of $9.5 billion. On this morning’s program, we’ll unpack the finances of the postal service. Also: the fine print of November retail sales and the resurgence of the supper club.

Most people like their health insurance. That may come as a surprise after jokes and vitriol over the American health care system flooded social media in the wake of the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing. But those who don’t like their insurance are often the ones forced to use it most. We’ll dig into what the research says. Plus, the Senate is expected to take up the Social Security Fairness Act this week.

From the BBC World Service: The rebels running Syria are assuring the country’s business community that they will embrace a free market economy and push to reconnect with global markets. A judge in Brazil has ordered Adele’s record labels to stop distributing the song “Million Years Ago” because of similarities to a Brazilian song by Martinho da Vila. And, we hear how Valencia, Spain is starting to rebuild after October’s disastrous floods.

A fresh poll of academic economists finds more think interest rates will stay higher for longer, given the resilient job market and some of the policies promised by president-elect Donald Trump. Economist Julia Coronado’s team at Macropolicy Perspectives has also been asking experts similar questions. We’re joined by Coronado to discuss what she’s been hearing. We also hear about the challenges of decarbonizing Sweden’s economy.

New data from the real estate firm CBRE shows that the average monthly mortgage payment for those buying a home today is about 75% higher than in 2019. Nationally, new monthly mortgage payments are now about 35% more than renting. We’ll hear more. But first: A clash is shaping up over whether California can set strict vehicle emissions and efficiency standards. Plus, who’s ahead in the AI arms race — Microsoft? Google? Meta?