Here's what kept GDP climbing last summer

January 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: Fast-paced news magazine podcast with host segments, expert interviews, reporter field pieces, and quick economic updates—think daily economic news hour.
The Key Players:
- Host Kai Risdall: Charismatic anchor guiding the show with wry commentary.
- Experts/Reporters: Economists like Nina Hacker (URI) and Laura Veldkamp (Columbia) on inflation; Stephanie Hughes, Kristen Schwab, Daniel Ackerman, and Elizabeth Troval delivering on-the-ground stories; guests like Patricia McCoy (Boston College prof) on banking history.
The Vibe: Educational and analytical with optimistic undertones on growth, but cautionary on risks like AI bubbles and labor shortages—lively, not stuffy.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:57) **PCE Inflation Data**
2 (04:06) **Q3 GDP Growth Revision**
3 (07:21) **"Too Big to Fail" Risks in AI**
4 (14:16) **Fashiontainment and Attention Economy**
5 (20:32) **Rising Packaging Costs**
6 (23:06) **Immigration Policy and Elder Care Labor Shortage**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Revised GDP data for this past summer shows the U.S. economy grew faster than we initially thought. A few key parts of the private services sector propelled that growth. In this episode, which parts of the economy are actually doing pretty well. Then: Gap leans in to “fashiontainment,” packaging costs weigh on food prices, and elderly care facilities stand to lose critical employees when TPS ends for Haitian immigrants.

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