NPR.

This is the indicator from Planet Money. I'm Wayland Wong.

And I am here with an OG indicator making a triumphant return to the program.

Stacy, Vannick, Smith. Hello, Stacy.

Hi, Wayland. How's it going? It's going great. We miss you.

Well, thank you. It's really, really nice to be back. And of course, I want you to know I did not come empty handed.

I would never do that. I come bearing indicator. And a free basket?

Uh, next time. Who can afford a free basket with this inflation?

In this economy. Uh, but no. In fact, the indicator that I brought, I think, is one of the biggest stories happening in our economy right now.

Not just an indicator, but the indicator, like the indicator of indicators.

Uh, which is the relationship between workers and employers. This has been playing out in a bunch of different ways all year.

There was the great resignation, the rise of unions, there was strike tober, the working from home standoff, quiet quitting, of course.

Wait a minute. Is your indicator of indicators quiet quitting?

No, it's not quiet quitting. I would not do that to you, Wayland.

Although, you know, it's not not quiet quitting. I will say that. So the indicator I'm thinking of is productivity.

So economists are obsessed with productivity. And recently, we have seen the biggest drop on record for US productivity.

And if that keeps going, it could really mean a world of hurt.

So today on the show, productivity, what it is, why it's so important and what will happen if it keeps going down.

The show is supported by NPR sponsor Burrow, the furniture company that's reinventing everything you thought you knew about furniture.

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Productivity. We should talk about what it is. Yes, let's jump in.

Productivity, I feel like it sounds like it means hard work, you know, like, Wayland, you're so productive.

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