All year, the jobs market, consumer sentiment, AI and inflation flashed warning signs about the economy — but 2025 managed to avoid a recession.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with Bloomberg’s Stacey Vanek Smith and Moody’s Analytics Mark Zandi to understand what this year’s wonky economy can tell us as we head into 2026 and what to watch for in the new year.

Read more: US Recession Risk Is Receding as We Move Into 2026

All year, the jobs market, consumer sentiment, AI and inflation flashed warning signs about the economy &mdash; but 2025 managed to avoid a recession.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s Stacey Vanek Smith and Moody&rsquo;s Analytics Mark Zandi to understand what this year&rsquo;s wonky economy can tell us as we head into 2026 and what to watch for in the new year.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-us-recession-risk/?srnd=undefined">US Recession Risk Is Receding as We Move Into 2026</a>

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

Wait, Weren’t We Supposed to Have a Recession in 2025?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/647dce89-8e16-49f3-ab9c-b3b4016ad18d/transcript

President Trump’s trade threw American businesses, which source everything from aircraft parts to baby strollers from China, into chaos. Over this year, some companies challenged the president’s tariffs in court — including Illinois-based toymaker Learning Resources, whose case is now before the Supreme Court. 

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha is joined by Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, and Bloomberg’s Lucille Liu, to talk about the impact of the trade war on US importers and Chinese manufacturers – and what it ultimately means for American consumers.

Read more: Chinese Toymaker Takes Drastic Action to Survive Trump’s Tariffs

President Trump&rsquo;s trade threw American businesses, which source everything from aircraft parts to baby strollers from China, into chaos. Over this year, some companies challenged the president&rsquo;s tariffs in court &mdash; including Illinois-based toymaker Learning Resources, whose case is now before the Supreme Court.&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha is joined by Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, and Bloomberg&rsquo;s Lucille Liu, to talk about the impact of the trade war on US importers and Chinese manufacturers &ndash; and what it ultimately means for American consumers.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-06-25/chinese-toymaker-takes-drastic-action-to-survive-trump-s-tariffs">Chinese Toymaker Takes Drastic Action to Survive Trump&rsquo;s Tariffs</a>

The American Toymaker Caught in Trump’s Trade War

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/babdc260-c3e2-45cf-a12b-b3bd01328e03/transcript

This month, the think-tank the Groundwork Collaborative, Consumer Reports and the news nonprofit More Perfect Union released a report finding that Instacart had been using an AI tool to run algorithmic price experiments on shoppers around the country. As a result, shoppers were being charged different prices for the exact same items from the exact same stores.

At a time when inflation has driven grocery costs higher, the revelation that Instacart was charging some consumers more for the same goods struck a chord.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder speaks with Bloomberg’s antitrust reporter Leah Nylen and the Groundwork Collaborative executive director Lindsay Owens about the report’s findings and impact — and Instacart’s decision to end their experiment.

Read more: Instacart to Pay $60 Million to Settle FTC Consumer Protection Case

Hosted by: Sarah Holder; Produced by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by: Leah Nylen; Edited by: Naomi Shavin and Aaron Edwards; Fact-checking by: Julia Press; Engineering by: Katie McMurran.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin. Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

This month, the think-tank the Groundwork Collaborative, Consumer Reports and the news nonprofit More Perfect Union released a report finding that Instacart had been using an AI tool to run algorithmic price experiments on shoppers around the country. As a result, shoppers were being charged different prices for the exact same items from the exact same stores.
At a time when inflation has driven grocery costs higher, the revelation that Instacart was charging some consumers more for the same goods struck a chord. 
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder speaks with Bloomberg&rsquo;s antitrust reporter Leah Nylen and the Groundwork Collaborative executive director Lindsay Owens about the report&rsquo;s findings and impact &mdash; and Instacart&rsquo;s decision to end their experiment.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-18/instacart-to-pay-60-million-in-ftc-consumer-protection-case?srnd=undefined">Instacart to Pay $60 Million to Settle FTC Consumer Protection Case</a>
Hosted by: Sarah Holder; Produced by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by: Leah Nylen; Edited by: Naomi Shavin and Aaron Edwards; Fact-checking by: Julia Press; Engineering by: Katie McMurran.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin. Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Why Instacart Backtracked on an AI-Pricing Experiment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e10c24f9-a0bb-46fd-95ec-b3bc017f5a0c/transcript

From OPEC powerhouses and US shale producers to countries like Guyana, global producers are drilling more oil and driving down prices. And with the potential for a ceasefire in Russia and pressure on Maduro in Venezuela, even more oil could flood the market in 2026.

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg oil trading reporter Alex Longley and Opinion columnist Javier Blas to discuss the forces driving the oil market right now, how they’re impacting different countries and why even lower prices could be on the way.

Read more: The World Is Awash With Oil and Prices Are Poised to Keep Falling

Hosted by: David Gura Produced by: Julia Press Reported by: Alex Longley and Javier Blas Edited by: Jeff Grocott Fact-checking by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky and David Fox Engineering by: Katie McMurran

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

From OPEC powerhouses and US shale producers to countries like Guyana, global producers are drilling more oil and driving down prices. And with the potential for a ceasefire in Russia and pressure on Maduro in Venezuela, even more oil could flood the market in 2026.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg oil trading reporter Alex Longley and Opinion columnist Javier Blas to discuss the forces driving the oil market right now, how they&rsquo;re impacting different countries and why even lower prices could be on the way.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-global-oil-supply-prices/?srnd=undefined">The World Is Awash With Oil and Prices Are Poised to Keep Falling</a>
Hosted by: David Gura Produced by: Julia Press Reported by: Alex Longley and Javier Blas Edited by: Jeff Grocott Fact-checking by: Rachael Lewis-Krisky and David Fox Engineering by: Katie McMurran
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer

Even a US Blockade of Venezuela Isn’t Spiking Oil Prices

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/233d6346-df23-47d1-a0d8-b3bb01517470/transcript

Wait, Weren’t We Supposed to Have a Recession in 2025?

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