This week on Imperfect Paradise, inside the first five days of LA's destructive wildfires.

We sit down with host of Airtalk, Larry Mantle.

Through Moving Collins and Larry's insight, we piece together one of the scariest weeks in L.A. history.

There's nothing else like what we've gone through with these twin fires.

On Imperfect Paradise, wherever you get your podcasts.

On the program today, the week that was, of course, and the four years to come in this

economy, from American public media, this is MECD. was, of course, and the four years to come in this economy.

From American Public Media, this is Marketplace.

In Los Angeles, I'm Colin Rizzdall.

It is Friday. Today, this one is the 17th of January. It is always to have you along, everybody. We will get to the next four years in this economy in a minute or two. But before we do, there is this week's business to attend to. Catherine Rampel is at the Washington Post. Jordan Holman is at the New York Times. Hey, you too.

Hey, Kai. Jordan, let me start with you and retail sales. The American consumer keeps on buying.

Here's what I want to know from you. In your conversations with the people who are running retail in this economy, how do they keep us hooked? How do they keep us spending? Because, I mean, we've been

saying this for years now. The consumers driving this economy. And how long can it last? And oh, look,

it still does. Okay. I talked to several retail executives this week. And some of them said

they were even surprised by how much people were spent in November and December.

But I think it's a few things.

It is actually becoming harder to sell people on necklaces or something higher, you know,

priced.

But they're using a lot of personalized data or like at very specific ads.

They're figuring out ways how to entice people.

And also the other thing you think of a Walmart or a Costco, this kind of one-stop shop

retailer, they're the ones who are really gaining market share.

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