The unemployment gap between Black and white workers has consistently been around 2 to 1 ever since the government started disaggregating the data more than five decades ago. While the Black unemployment rate is relatively low historically, the gap remains. We’ll discuss the institutional reasons why and how best to tackle the issue. Also on today’s program: the return of standardized testing and a preview of Senate hearings centered on Boeing’s manufacturing and safety practices.

Next month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will tell us how much of the income generated by workers’ toil actually went to them in Q1. That stat is called labor share of national income — and it’s shrinking. Plus, a government committee that scrutinizes deals between foreign companies and American firms may be getting more power. And 14 states are opting out of a summer EBT program that would help families buy groceries. Wanna learn more about labor share of income and see Marketplace...

From the BBC World Service: Thousands of victims of a huge investment scam believe police in London have nearly $4 billion worth of bitcoin that belongs to them and want the British government to give it back. Then, The European Central bank held interest rates steady but gave strong hints about future rate cuts. Plus, we hear about padel, one of the world’s fastest growing sports, and its Olympic ambitions

On Wednesday, Republicans, Democrats and college officials took to Capitol Hill to vent about the Education Department’s botched rollout of a newer, simplified FAFSA form. That’s the form high school students fill out and send to colleges to determine financial aid offers — and it’s affected millions of students. We’ll also discuss fresh wholesale inflation figures and get a sneak peak at the latest season of Marketplace’s “Million Bazillion” podcast, which tackles kids’ biggest money questions.

Meta’s latest answer to protecting kids on Instagram is automatically blurring images that may contain nudity. The company says it will test this on the platform’s direct messaging feature. We’ll parse the details. Plus, the FCC is requiring large internet providers to post “broadband nutrition labels” that provide a snapshot of charges and performance data. Will they impact consumers’ internet diet? And a recent survey finds that CEOs are feeling pretty optimistic.

From the BBC World Service: A Vietnamese court sentenced property developer Truong My Lan to death after she was convicted of taking $44 billion from one of Vietnam’s largest banks. Also, South Korea’s liberal opposition party won in a landslide majority in the country’s general election. And paralympian Stef Reid is asking sportswear companies who use amputee athletes in their marketing why it’s not possible to buy single shoes.

That’s the conclusion of many investors this morning, following the release of the consumer price index. Consumer inflation clocked in at 3.5% annually, while central bankers are looking for a figure closer to 2%. We’ll talk through the data. Plus, a European court ruled that two Russian oligarchs were wrongly sanctioned following Russia’a invasion of Ukraine. And the Congressional Budget Office found that immigration means gains for U.S. economy.

The value of a typical home has reached $1 million or more in 550 U.S. cities, according to Zillow. That’s a record high, and those not-so-affordable homes are proliferating well beyond the usual high-cost metro areas like New York, San Francisco and LA. Also on the program: what to expect from today’s consumer price index report and how a cocktail with roots in wartime propaganda manages to stay relevant.

From the BBC World Service: Rising food prices, strikes and paying for an aging population were familiar themes as South Koreans voted today. Then, Spain has become the latest country to scrap so-called “golden visas,” where foreign nationals are granted residency rights in exchange for investments. And later, we hear about the aviation industry’s race against time to produce enough sustainable aviation fuel to meet the industry’s growing demands.

Walmart has opted to settle a $45 million class-action lawsuit over allegedly inflating prices for certain products sold by weight, such as produce and meat products. That means if you purchased “weighted goods” from Walmart, you could be eligible for a payout of up to $500. Plus, investors are braced for the release of March’s consumer price index tomorrow, and we examine how funding from the CHIPS Act is being doled out.

“What we’re living through is a historic, tectonic change in how news is produced, consumed and paid for,” says Tim Franklin at Northwestern University’s Local News Initiative. And he’s feeling encouraged. Today, we’ll discuss some of the economic models that could help bolster the sustainability of local news. But first, Tesla recently settled a case challenging how the company marketed its driver-assistance technology. We’ll hear more.

From the BBC World Service: After U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned about cheap Chinese green imports, business leaders in Europe are sharing their concerns about Beijing’s impact on the sector. Then, the money-laundering of 27 people connected to the Panama Papers gets underway. And later: Politicians have long utilized social media to reach voters. But whether (semi-embarassing) short dance videos are in store, is utilizing TikTok the right move for politicians?

You may want to shield your eyes. No, we’re not talking about the solar eclipse — though please do wear the appropriate glasses. Today, we’re talking about eye-popping college costs. One such example? At Vanderbilt University, some students could see a sticker price of nearly $100,000 for the upcoming school year. Also on the show: President Joe Biden’s latest student loan forgiveness plan and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s “difficult conversations” in China.

According to a Deloitte study, employed women pay $15 billion more each year for out-of-pocket health care than men do. We’ll unpack the reasons why and the toll these extravagant costs can take. In other health news, federal officials are taking a closer look at the role of private equity in health care. Also, two lawmakers on Capitol Hill have proposed national standards on data privacy. We’ll discuss.

From the BBC World Service: A Supreme Court judge in Brazil has launched an investigation into Elon Musk after he said he’ll defy a court order to block certain accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter. Also on the program: A chip giant looks to build a factory in Arizona, we take a closer look at seller fees on eBay, and small business owners react to TikTok’s uncertain future in the U.S.

A survey of corporate executives in the U.S. and elsewhere finds that nearly half expect to employ fewer people because of new artificial intelligence tools — and they expect that change to happen in the next five years. We’ll hear more. Plus, hiring was stronger than expected last month, continuing the Fed’s predicament. And later on the show, an immigrant family in Waterloo, Iowa, reflects on multigenerational living.

More than a week after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the crews of eight large cargo ships are stuck in Baltimore’s port indefinitely. Today, we tag along with a port chaplain who’s helping care for the crew members, offering a lifeline of comfort and connection. We’ll also preview March’s jobs numbers and hear about “green bank” government grants to aid the clean energy transition.

From the BBC World Service: McDonald’s is buying back all its stores in Israel following global boycotts over the Israel-Hamas War. We discuss the franchisee business model and what customers could make of the move. Then, Argentina is expected to face its worse-ever dengue season yet, and there’s a shortage of insect repellent. Plus, Saudi Arabia has struck a lucrative deal to host the Women’s Tennis Association Finals for three years.

Sometimes, annual corporate shareholder meetings are mundane. That was not the case this year at Disney, where there was an unusually bitter and public battle for say in how the company is run. We’ll take a closer examination of the proxy battle and its outcome. Also on the program: expectations of March job gains, the Fed’s no-win situation, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s trip to China and airline responses to Boeing’s production delays.

Thursday marks 56 years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. On today’s program, we hear how Dr. King’s family is fighting to maintain access to the civiil rights leader’s words, continuing to safeguard his intellectual property, and promoting a legacy of nonviolent social change and racial unity. We’ll also learn more about a decline in the number of women in c-suite positions last year.

From the BBC World Service: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is to meet officials in China for the second time in less than a year. What exactly can we expect from visit with government officials and business leaders? Then, Kenya’s health care system is in chaos as 4,000 public sector doctors and workers have gone on strike. Also: how is AI changing the next generation of prosthetics for people with disabilities?

The Chinese-based platform Temu is transforming e-commerce, and it’s recently surged in popularity in the U.S. Described as being “like Amazon on steroids,” Temu’s products are often cheap and unbranded — but those low prices could be coming at high costs. Also on the program: few visible cracks in the labor market, a lack of remote work training, and an obituary for General Electric as a corporate conglomerate.

Multigenerational living arrangements began to decline in the 1950s, thanks to the growth of suburbs, new job opportunities for those willing to move and the rise of senior housing. Yet from 1971 to 2021, the number of people living in multigenerational family households quadrupled. Why? Housing affordability plays a big role. But first: How might Taiwan’s major earthquake impact the global supply chain for semiconductor chips?

From the BBC World Service: A joint report from the United Nations and the World Bank suggests it would cost $18 billion to reconstruct infrastructure and buildings in Gaza. We consider where that money might come from. Plus, Taiwan has experienced its most powerful earthquake in 25 years. Then, we take a look at the Chinese-owned online retail platform, Temu. How does it manage to list products so cheaply?

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes ticked up sharply to 4.4% this morning, and the thought of extended higher interest rates has stock investors in a cautious mood. We’ll discuss. Then, Google is promising to delete mountains of data following a class-action lawsuit. And it was last call for one of the oldest casinos on the Las Vegas strip this morning. We’ll took a look back at the history of the Tropicana.