Marketplace All-in-One

Grocery prices rose less than 2% in March, according to the latest consumer price index. The cost of some staples, including eggs, butter, and cheese, fell from spikes last spring. Certain produce prices moved in the opposite direction. In this episode, how the global economy affects your grocery bill. Plus: The war in Iran ripples through big banks’ earnings, fuel economy regulations soften the blow of high gas prices, and Kai visits Southern California’s Little Saigon ahead of a trip to Vietnam.

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The U.S. has threatened a blockade of Iranian ports set to go into effect this morning. That means the supply of oil will be even more restricted than it was before. We'll dig into what all this means for oil markets. Plus, the economic consequences of the war are reshaping businesses' hiring plans stateside, too. And, there's a parade of banks releasing results this week. Investors are paying close attention.

Grocery prices on average are up about 2% compared to this time last year. But split up the food groups, and we start to see some bigger numbers. Tomatoes, lettuce, and nonalcoholic beverages (especially coffee) led the way for price increases. Meanwhile, the cost of meat and dairy declined. Why? Also: a Straight of Hormuz blockade courtesy of the U.S., and a look at how Trump's tax and spending law could impact charitable giving.

Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes was shopping recently with her seven-year-old who was drawn to a “Relaxolotl,” a tea infuser shaped like an axolotl. And it had a label: “designed in Rhode Island, by people.”

Genuine Fred makes the relaxolotl. President Jason Amendolara told “Marketplace Tech” the company adopted the saying over a decade ago, before artificial intelligence was really in the conversation. It was meant to signal there were real humans behind the ideas. But now, the phrase has taken on new meaning. Genuine Fred does use AI as a tool, but Amendolara says people are still at the center of its design process.

That made us wonder: Could human involvement be highlighted more by brands in the future? Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes discussed that with New York Institute of Technology professor Colleen Kirk, who has studied how people respond to marketing messages created by AI.

Nearly 600 Marketplace fans gathered at the Aratani Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to watch Kai Ryssdal present Marketplace Live, in partnership with LAist.

Kai was joined onstage by economics author, educator, and content creator Kyla Scanlon to talk about AI, prediction markets, Federal Reserve independence, and the war in Iran. Later, former “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio joined Kai to discuss his experience rebuilding after the LA fire and his new job as Marketplace senior correspondent covering future effects.

Note: This show was recorded on March 29, and the situation in Iran has changed since then. Follow our latest coverage here.