On today's show, we're lifting the veil on a little-known profession in the legal field: private judges. These are judges that businesses or individuals resort to when traditional courts are too slow, too expensive, or too time-consuming. But first, AI is helping out with our holiday shopping. Adobe Analytics says traffic to retail websites that originated from AI tools like chatbots was up 805% compared to last year.
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A spendy, splurgy Black Friday
Despite wavering confidence, Adobe says consumer spending broke records on Black Friday, clocking in at more than $11 billion. Shoppers were enticed by bargains, buying up TVs, computers, clothes, furniture, and toys. And Salesforce expects Cyber Week sales to also hit an all-time high of $78 billion. Also: signs of a continuously struggling housing market and, from Marketplace's "How We Survive," a look at how solar power can aid agriculture.
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Factory output in China falls yet again
From the BBC World Service: Factories in China have long been an engine of economic growth, so it's worrying for leaders in Beijing that a new survey shows activity unexpectedly contracted in November. It's the eighth straight month that production has shrunk. What's it telling us about the world's second biggest economy? And later, Iran is experiencing an unprecedented drought, with rainfall at record lows and reservoirs nearly empty. Officials are pleading with citizens to conserve water.
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What it's like to be in a relationship where wearable AI records your conversations
Marketplace's Matt Levin visits a couple in suburban Sacramento who both use an AI-enabled pendant that acts as a personal assistant — and sometimes, a relationship therapist.
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'Tis the season for credit card debt
Holiday spending tends to drive up U.S. consumers’ credit card debt. In the past, most households were able to pay down that debt come the new year. But as wallets get squeezed, that may not be the case in 2026. Plus: Monopoly celebrates his 90th anniversary, a family moves from a farm to the city, and we visit a lab growing the chocolate of the future.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.
Marketplace® is the leading business news program in the nation. We bring you clear explorations of how economic news affects you, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. The Marketplace All-in-One podcast provides each episode of the public radio broadcast programs Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report®and Marketplace Tech® along with our podcasts Make Me Smart, Corner Office and The Uncertain Hour. Visit marketplace.org for more. From American Public Media.
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