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The Indicator from Planet Money

The Indicator from Planet Money

By: NPR
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 A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator 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.Copyright 2015-2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only Economics
Episodes
  • The US loses tech hires, sayonora to Sora, and Afroman's win

    The US loses tech hires, sayonora to Sora, and Afroman's win
    Mar 27 2026
    It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!). It’s our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.

    On today’s episode: The US ain’t doing too hot in attracting European tech workers; OpenAI takes its video generator Sora behind the barn; and a rapper, pound cake, and the police.

    Related episodes:
    OpenAI's deals are looking a little frothy
    We're about to lose a lot of foreign STEM workers
    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Julia Ritchey and Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

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    9 mins
  • Tracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA

    Tracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA
    Mar 26 2026
    Every time you buy a ticket that leaves a U.S. airport, you pay a fee that’s supposed to help fund the TSA. So why have TSA workers been working without pay? Today on the show, we explore the history behind an earmarked tax and its very personal impacts.

    Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

    Related episodes:
    Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why
    How flying got so bad (or did it?)

    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.


    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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    8 mins
  • Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why

    Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why
    Mar 25 2026
    Why are flight tickets so expensive right now? Increased oil prices seems like it’d be the obvious answer. That’s mostly right. Airlines used to do some financial magic to help keep airfare down as oil prices increased, a strategy called “fuel hedging.” But they stopped. And now fliers are on the hook for a lot of the difference.

    On today’s show, the lost art of fuel hedging. How it worked, plus why airlines stopped doing it.

    Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour.

    Related episodes:
    A lot of gas trapped, oil reserves tapped, and Live Nation gets a (tiny) cap
    Will Trump’s shipping insurance plan work?

    Listener Questions: Airline tickets, grocery pricing and the Fed
    For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.

    To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
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