Marketplace Morning Report

The U.S. economy actually lost jobs last month. The number of people on U.S. payrolls fell by 92,000 in February, with big swings in education and health care. How might the Federal Reserve respond to this new data? Plus, the idea of having a robot to do all your household chores has long been a staple of science fiction. Today, we hear from a company designing robots trying to make that a reality.

War in the Middle East has caused oil prices to spike, and — right on cue — gasoline prices have risen quickly. They’re up 34 cents in a week, according to AAA. That's the fastest price increase at the pump since 2022. And diesel prices just topped $4 a gallon this week, which will likely push up the cost of anything shipped by truck or train. Also on the program: a look at what's driving Texas supermarket construction.

In pretty much every jobs report of 2025 — and on into early 2026 — health care was the most reliable job-creating sector. Some 436,000 health care jobs were added last year. It's a bright spot in the labor market, at a time when other sectors face sluggish job growth and disruption from AI. Plus, since the U.S. and Israel launched their war with Iran, the value of the U.S. dollar has been rising. We'll discuss.

Parts of the Great Lakes region have seen their coldest winter in more than a decade, and maple syrup farmers are rejoicing. The cold snap has been perfect for making maple syrup. Today, we'll head to a syrup farm in Middlefield, Ohio, to learn about the process — and economics — behind the pancake breakfast staple. But first, the Labor Department has proposed a new rule on whether workers are classified as gig workers or employees.

The Department of Justice and dozens of states are accusing Live Nation — the owner of Ticketmaster — of being a monopoly, shutting out competition, and driving up ticket prices. This massive antitrust case was originally brought under the Biden administration, but there are competing currents over antitrust enforcement in the second Trump administration. Also on this morning's show: a fresh glimpse into the job market and an examination of company spending on equipment versus labor.

Mortgage rates dipped below 6% last week. Now, they're back up. Sudden conflict and uncertainty almost always cause volatility in the mortgage market. This time, fears of inflation and higher oil prices are to blame. Also, a look at how the U.S. might protect and insure vessels traveling through the Persian Gulf, and how the Republican tax and spending law signed last summer might help big corporations like Amazon, Meta, and Tesla avoid paying taxes.

When the world gets scary, investors are usually very hungry for bonds because they're safer bets than the stock market. But with the war in Iran, bond yields are going up, yet investors aren't as hungry for them. The reason? Inflation. And later in the program, the Environmental Protection Agency scrapped its “endangerment finding.” We'll discuss what that means for the auto industry and emissions standards.

The war with Iran continues to disrupt oil production and shipping channels in the Middle East. Today, we're unpacking the ripple effects of the conflict, including concerns about inflation, airline disruptions, and increased prices at the pump. Then, the owner of a Virginia tea shop reflects on the impact of Trump's new blanket tariff, and the tariff on imported goods under $800 is still in effect following the recent Supreme Court ruling.

Oil prices are jumping around this morning, but you can bet they're up — around 6-7%. Gold, a safehaven for investors, is up about 2%. "We're in a world where markets and investors are increasingly uncertain about where their money is safe," said Julia Coronado of MarcoPolicy Perspectives in a discussion of today’s market movements. Also: why we pay such close attention to the monthly jobs report and how sites like Moltbook can disrupt the AI industry.

The U.S. and Israel's war with Iran means a disruption of global oil markets. Iran has closed navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving hundreds of ships sitting idle. While a slowdown of production and exports could hit China particularly hard, this conflict could also impact what U.S. consumers pay at the pump. This morning, we'll learn more, and then we'll hear how air carriers are being affected by the attack.