Fed chair, health care, and AI shoe repair

It’s Indicators of the Week. Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. <br /><br />On today’s episode: the drama behind the Fed Chair nominee’s wealth; the shoe company Allbirds is becoming an AI firm; and a drop in how many people are paying for their Affordable Care Act plans.<br /><br /><em>The Indicator is launching a newsletter! Be among the first and sign-up now: </em><a href="http://npr.org/indicatornewsletter" target="_blank"><em>npr.org/indicatornewsletter</em></a><br /><br /><em>Come see Planet Money live on stage! 12 cities. Details and tix here: </em><a href="https://www.planetmoneybook.com/#tour" target="_blank"><em>planetmoneybook.com/#tour</em></a><br /><br /><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/13/nx-s1-5675867/one-fed-battle-after-another" target="_blank">One Fed battle after another</a><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/17/nx-s1-5646628/the-ghosts-of-obamacare-past-present-and-future" target="_blank">The ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future<br /></a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/06/07/730695224/allbirds-tim-brown-joey-zwillinger" target="_blank">Allbirds: Tim Brown & Joey Zwillinger</a><br /><br /><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/" target="_blank"><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez" target="_blank"><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. </em><em>Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank"><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney" target="_blank"><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/" target="_blank"><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money" target="_blank"><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>.</em><br /><br /><br />See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>