Dozens of people wait in line at the U.S. consulate in Shanghai in hopes of scoring a visa. One worry on their minds? Whether the outcome of the U.S. presidential election will ease tensions between the two nations or heat them up. Plus, why builders are breaking ground on more single-family homes and fewer apartment complexes, and how mobile homes became an integral part of the American housing stock.

Recent surveys have found that uncertainty surrounding the presidential election is impacting consumer’s outlook on the economy. Why are people feeling this way despite strong spending numbers and the recent interest rate cut? Also in this episode: Asheville businesses cope with water scarcity, oil markets are in “backwardation,” and clothing resale platforms struggle to turn a profit.

An estimated 13 million older adults are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Fewer than 4 million are registered. SNAP benefits can be a lifeline for food-insecure Americans, but they’ve got to apply. Plus, mortgage rates are up, and the European Central Bank is expected to cut rates again.

Walgreens plans to close about 14% of its national footprint in the next three years, making it the third major drugstore chain in the past year to signal it’s struggling. In this episode: Why have drugstores become a tricky business model, and what happens when communities lose a pharmacy? Plus: Electric vehicle adoption grows but Americans are still cautious, an inventory data point helps indicate where the economy’s headed, and some family foster agencies are scrambling after their biggest insurer in California pulls out of the market.

JPMorgan Chase and other major banks are setting aside extra cash in anticipation of an uptick in bad loans. Lending always comes with some risk, but right now, banks are worried about a few specific types of debt. Also in this episode: Some discouraged job seekers aren’t included in the official unemployment tally, OPEC downgrades its demand forecast — again, and Russian bots take over online poker games.

As Election Day grows closer, economic-minded voters wanna know: How much do Harris and Trump plan on adding to the national debt? The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reviewed the campaign promises of both candidates and predicted a spending range for each. In this episode, will Trump or Harris dig a deeper debt hole — and why should voters care? Plus, thousands in North Carolina are still without power, and why a mining company is paying billions for a lithium firm when the metal’s prices are down.

Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, counts himself as a data dog. It’s a name for economic policymakers who take the long view and are usually game to wait for more numbers. Goolsbee spoke with “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal about his voracious appetite for information and what he calls “the hardest thing that a central bank has to do.” Plus: Sports ticket prices are up 10% in the last year, and California requires retailers to help fund textile recycling.

As the Southeast assesses Hurricane Helene’s damage, Milton barrels toward Florida’s west coast. The proximity of the storms will make it harder for homeowners and insurers to estimate each one’s impact — and likely drive up recovery costs. Also in this episode: Corporate bonds shine after the Fed’s rate cut, the mortgage rate honeymoon is over and Nebraska’s elections attract major campaign spending — along with some odd yard signs.

Natural disaster recovery is often expensive, but this season is shaping up to be particularly costly and painful. The Southeast is reeling from Hurricane Helene, and Hurricane Milton is expected to inflict more damage starting tomorrow night. Disaster preparedness can reduce the economic burden of recovery, but not all localities can afford to be prepared. Also in this episode: The Fed’s interest rate cut raised business owners’ optimism and China invites more young Americans to visit.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, firms have taken some unprecedented measures to balance out the effects of lockdown, inflation and supply chain backups, leaving some economic predictors sorta … off. How can forecasters do their jobs when so many economic patterns have changed? Also in this episode: The Author’s Guild announces an anti-AI marketing strategy, consumer credit climbs, and for some agents, the National Association of Realtors settlement was the last straw.