This series is designed to bring together a variety of shorter, readily available podcasts to introduce a topic from recent headlines and inspire discussion.

Last November, we released a Podcasts in the Classroom on inflation when inflation spiked to a 30-year high. Inflation, coupled with staff shortages and the great resignation, has affected not only the cost of goods but the cost of services.

Here are some 2-4 minute Marketplace podcasts discussing these headlines.

• 2/22 Marketplace Inflation’s already increasing the cost of goods. The cost of services could be next.
• 2/18 Marketplace Do consumers expect discounts when inflation is running hot?
• 2/15 Marketplace How the high quit rate stokes inflation

Here are some relevant Marketplace Minute podcasts.

• 3/7 Morning Briefing Oil tops $140/barrel and gasoline tops $4/gallon.
• 3/4 Closing Bell Jobs increased 678,000 and unemployment at 3.8%
• 3/4 Morning Briefing Oil prices and other commodity prices rise as war in Ukraine intensifies.
• 2/25 Closing Bell  Consumer prices rise but so does consumer spending.

Assignment:

Determine how much time you want to devote to this activity, and select podcasts to provide students with background information. 

Have students then tackle these discussion questions. This can be done individually, in groups, or as a class. 

1. Have you noticed cost increases for things you typically buy? Are you seeing fewer promotions in stores?
2. Have you noticed prices go up in the restaurants and coffee shops you go to?  Do you think increased food prices or increased staffing costs are more to blame for the increase? 
3. Inflation is felt in very different ways across countries, regions, and even individual families.  Examine the increase in the price of a commodity, for example, oil and gas, and discuss how this may impact your family differently than a friend or family member who lives somewhere else or has a different work/living situation.  
4. As supply chain issues resolve over time, do you think the rate of inflation will return to where it was before the pandemic?  What do you think may prevent that from happening? (You can draw on some supply and demand examples to explain this.)

If you use this assignment in your class, please let us know how it went!

About the Authors

Ren Makino

Ren started interning at NGPF in 2014, and worked part-time through high school and college. With his knowledge growing alongside NGPF, he joined the team to work full-time after graduating from college in 2020. He is also the producer of the NGPF podcast. During his free time, he likes to try out coffees from different roasters across the world.

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.