This Marketplace podcast is supported by principal financial group.

Let's face the facts.

Everyone wants to feel valued, especially your employees.

In fact, a 2023 study found 78% of business owners say benefits and retirement plans improve employee retention.

Employees want to feel secure in their jobs and their finances.

At Principal, they help you invest in your people,

because investing in your people is investing in your business.

Learn more at principal.com slash benefits, products and services offered by member companies of the principal financial group Des Moines, Iowa.

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This is the Marketplace Minute. I'm Justin Powell.

Stocks closed up on Tuesday. The Dow gained 410%, the S&P rose to 30%, and the NASDAQ added half a percent.

The cost of labor rose in the most recent quarter, up 1.1% from the quarter before, and 4.3% from the same time last year, that's according to the Labor Department.

Labor costs are still rising faster than what the Fed might want, but they're slowly moving in the right direction.

Consumers were less confident in the economy last month than the month before, that's according to the conference board.

People were more downbeat about business conditions, but fewer people said that jobs are hard to get.

Another sign that the labor market is moving in the right direction.

And Caterpillar says profits rose last quarter, thanks to higher prices and higher sales volumes, that was driven by sales of construction and energy equipment.

I'm Justin Powell with the Marketplace Minute.