Marketplace The other shoe
29 snips
May 11, 2026 
Gisele Regatau, reporter on Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha solar project and its island energy shift. Megan McCarty Carino, reporter on retail investor mania and the AI-driven chip boom. Sarah Ashe, Texas Standard reporter on adult education raising earnings. Sarah Kaplan, climate reporter on CO2 cutting crop nutrients. Mitchell Hartman, reporter on inflation and the April CPI outlook. They discuss solar transitions, AI chip markets, education economics, climate impacts on food, and inflation risks.
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Iran War Could Rekindle Broad Inflation
- Economists expect April headline CPI to jump to about 3.8% year-over-year driven by energy and gas after the Iran war disrupted supply.
- Analysts warn this shock also raises costs for aluminum, steel, fertilizer and transportation, feeding through to food and core prices later in the year.
Wage Gains Won't Keep Up With Near-Term Inflation
- Rising headline inflation may outpace average wage gains, meaning real wages could be flat or declining for many Americans.
- Even if the Iran war ended quickly, price increases already in the pipeline could keep inflation elevated through year-end.
Higher CO2 Lowers Nutrient Density In Staples
- Elevated atmospheric CO2 increases plant carbohydrate growth while diluting minerals like zinc and iron, reducing nutrient density in many staples.
- Meta-analysis shows declines across dozens of crops; chickpea zinc could drop ~40% by 2040 compared to 1980s levels.