This year, the Dow and S&P have repeatedly hit record highs. But even as the value of the stock market grows, the number of firms traded on the market is shrinking, and has been since the mid-1990s. And when fewer companies are public, it limits our understanding of what’s happening in the economy. Plus, a preview of wholesale inflation and retail sales, and a closer look at the impact of RTO mandates. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

Following a big union win last month at a VW plant in Tennessee, the United Auto Workers face a new test in the South: Workers at a Mercedes-Benz assembly-and-battery complex in Alabama begin voting on whether to join the UAW this week. Can the labor organizing momentum be sustained? Also: why a cap on credit card late fees is getting delayed and how to go into debt without anyone noticing. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

From the BBC World Service: With global demand high for the most advanced tech chips, the South Korean government plans to boost its sector with more than $7 billion investment. We’ll discuss where the funding is likely to be funneled and paint a picture of the U.S.-China tensions over chips that it butts up against. Also, the Russian army is hiring Cuban nationals for its war efforts against Ukraine. The next $50,000 in donations to Marketplace will be matched, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Joe Rush of Florida. Give now and double your impact.

To get between Dallas and Houston, it’s an bogged down 240-mile roadtrip that can sometimes take five hours. Amtrak wants a bullet train to get the job done in 90 minutes and says it could be built within a decade — if federal funding comes through. Plus, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on who will pay to rebuild after the Baltimore bridge collapse and a preview of next week’s retail sales figures. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

If you save up your miles or credit card points for vacations, you may be treating them a bit like savings. But unlike money in your savings account, a company can change the value of those points. Today, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins Marketplace’s David Brancaccio to make the case for greater transparency in airline and credit card rewards programs. Also: the San Francisco Fed President on the future of interest rates. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

From the BBC World Service: Shares in major Chinese electric carmakers have fallen following reports that the U.S. is preparing to bring additional tariffs against Chinese companies, specifically aimed at EVs and other sectors. Then, rat remains have been found in sliced bread in Japan, triggering recalls. And the Eurovision Song Contest, watched by 200,000,000 people worldwide, has faced controversy over Israel’s inclusion in the show. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

A new class of weight loss drugs known as GLP-1s, like Wegovy and Zepbound, helped grow the weight loss industry to nearly $90 billion last year. Now, weight loss companies, apps and fitness companies are adapting their to programs include the drugs, as well. Also, allegations of serious fraud threaten a big U.S.-U.K. soccer deal, and China’s latest trade data showed a return to growth in April. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!

A recent TransUnion report shows borrowers aged 22 to 24 are carrying an average of roughly $2,800 in credit card debt — adjusted for inflation, that’s more than millennials in the same age range a decade ago. Then, an ad for Apple’s latest iPad has gone viral … for the wrong reasons. And what might America’s next economy look like? We discuss what achieving an economic framework that works for everyone might entail. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag or the fan favorite KaiPA pint glass!