The price of imported goods, sans energy, was up 4.5% year-over-year in July. Data center buildout is driving that jump — imported computer prices were up 17%. In this episode, we explain why import price inflation is distinct from regular inflation and what that leap means for Fed rate-setting. Plus: U.S. oil firms ink deals with Venezuelan producers, the Treasury excecutes on major bond buybacks, and Kai meets a duo trying to turn Hollywood upside-down — or, at least, vertical. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future. Read the stories in today’s episode: What happens when import prices skyrocket? More inflation, of course U.S. oil companies ink production deals with Venezuela Microdramas get the &quot;Hollywood treatment&quot; at this new studio

Let's import some inflation

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[SPEAKER_A] This podcast is supported by Raymond James, a financial firm offering wealth management, banking, and capital markets services that are inspired by people. Before Raymond James financial advisors build plans, they build relationships so they can craft individual strategies designed to achieve priorities and pursue what's possible. That's the power of personal. Disclosures at raymondjames.com. Raymond James Associates, Inc., member NYSE, SIPC.

[SPEAKER_B] It's bonds again today, gang. We didn't want to, but we kind of got to. From American Public Media, this is Marketplace. In Los Angeles, I'm Kai Ryssdal. It is Wednesday today, the 19th of August. Good as it always is, Nice to have you along, everybody. So, true story, we were gonna take a day off from the bond market today. Can't go to that well too many times, you know. But then the Treasury Department changed our minds when it decided this morning, you know what? Those yields on the 30-year bond are a little too high for our liking. So we've brought Robin Brooks back again. He's a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Hi, Robin.

[SPEAKER_C] Great to be with you, Kai.

[SPEAKER_B] Okay. Layman's terms, please. What did Treasury do this morning?

[SPEAKER_C] So Treasury buyback is basically announcing that you're going to buy literally long-term Treasury bonds back. And remember, Kai, that yields, which is basically the interest rate on bonds, moves inversely with prices. So when you buy something back, the price goes up. The yield goes down. So this is something the Treasury announced because basically the pain threshold for yields going up was crossed.

[SPEAKER_B] Do you think that Secretary Bessant has solved the underlying problem that you and I discussed yesterday?

Let's import some inflation

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Let's import some inflation

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.