Justin Lahart
@jdlahart.bsky.social
Wall Street Journal economics reporter
Every year, hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers take on seasonal jobs during the holidays. This year those jobs look harder to come by.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
Job Seekers Stare Down a Gloomy Holiday Hiring Season
Large companies say they are likely to add far fewer seasonal workers than in other recent years.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Every year, hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers take on seasonal jobs during the holidays. This year those jobs look harder to come by.
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
The shutdown and the damage done www.wsj.com/economy/gove...
It’s Going to Be Really Hard to Work Out How Much the Shutdown Hurt the Economy
The effect will probably be mostly temporary, but will leave a data fog at an otherwise uncertain time for the economy.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The shutdown and the damage done www.wsj.com/economy/gove...
Man, the shutdown even came for beer o’clock
Every Friday night, as the markets close, a chill runs down my spine. Somewhere in D.C., a comms official is whispering, “Perfect time to announce it.”
November 7, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Man, the shutdown even came for beer o’clock
Forgot until just now that this is one of those years when the CPS reference week for November comes early. Is this week. www.bls.gov/cps/definiti...
Concepts and Definitions (CPS)
Concepts and Definitions (CPS)
www.bls.gov
November 7, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Forgot until just now that this is one of those years when the CPS reference week for November comes early. Is this week. www.bls.gov/cps/definiti...
Am I right that if the Social Security cap was $1 trillion, this year's shortfall could potentially get taken care of?
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Am I right that if the Social Security cap was $1 trillion, this year's shortfall could potentially get taken care of?
How much does it matter that the shutdown disruptions are happening during what is on an unadjusted basis usually the strongest quarter of the year for economy?
November 6, 2025 at 6:14 PM
How much does it matter that the shutdown disruptions are happening during what is on an unadjusted basis usually the strongest quarter of the year for economy?
great story www.wsj.com/us-news/what...
What Happened When Small-Town America Became Data Center, U.S.A.
Business is surging for contractors and bars. Out-of-town workers are flooding hotels and RV parks. Cash is flooding into government coffers. But the newfound prosperity comes with costs.
www.wsj.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM
great story www.wsj.com/us-news/what...
An AI tool that tells PR flacks pitching stories what I write about, since they obviously can't be bothered to figure that out for themselves
November 3, 2025 at 12:12 PM
An AI tool that tells PR flacks pitching stories what I write about, since they obviously can't be bothered to figure that out for themselves
One thing about alternative data: Its continued availability can turn on the whims of the data provider www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
Fed Lost Access to Private Jobs Data Ahead of Government Shutdown
Payroll processing firm ADP ended its data-sharing with the central bank after a speech highlighted the already-public collaboration.
www.wsj.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
One thing about alternative data: Its continued availability can turn on the whims of the data provider www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
October 22, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Justin Lahart
The number of unemployment claims filed by federal workers has grown sharply, reaching their highest level since a 34-day government shutdown that ended in January 2019.
Unemployment Claims Filed by Federal Workers Shoot Higher
Data from states show that initial unemployment claims filed by federal government workers have jumped up this month.
on.wsj.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The number of unemployment claims filed by federal workers has grown sharply, reaching their highest level since a 34-day government shutdown that ended in January 2019.
Reposted by Justin Lahart
REI’s New York store is a beloved spot to do your business—but not necessarily the revenue-generating kind. Its planned closure is being mourned by Manhattan bathroom aficionados.
New Yorkers Are Losing Their Favorite Bathroom: REI
The retailer’s Soho store is a beloved spot to do your business—but not necessarily the revenue-generating kind.
on.wsj.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:36 AM
REI’s New York store is a beloved spot to do your business—but not necessarily the revenue-generating kind. Its planned closure is being mourned by Manhattan bathroom aficionados.
Reposted by Justin Lahart
When Walmart enacted the biggest pay raise in history, it destroyed $21.5 billion in market value. Today, it credits the moves with its gains.
Walmart, Once a Byword for Low Pay, Becomes a Case Study in How to Treat Workers
The largest private employer in the U.S. increased wages in a bid to jump-start sales
on.wsj.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM
When Walmart enacted the biggest pay raise in history, it destroyed $21.5 billion in market value. Today, it credits the moves with its gains.
Question is, is this the leading edge, since people can take time to file. And how much is people coming off severance vs. recently fired?
October 16, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Question is, is this the leading edge, since people can take time to file. And how much is people coming off severance vs. recently fired?
Always learn stuff from Orley Ashenfelter's excellent podcast irs100.princeton.edu/podcasts
Podcasts | Princeton Industrial Relations Section Centennial
The Work Goes On: An Oral History of Industrial Relations and Labor Economics with Princeton’s Orley Ashenfelter
irs100.princeton.edu
October 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Always learn stuff from Orley Ashenfelter's excellent podcast irs100.princeton.edu/podcasts
Investment in artificial intelligence is helping the U.S. economy grow. But the tools themselves aren’t substantially boosting the productivity of American workers in the way AI enthusiasts hope they will—at least not yet. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-w...
AI Is Juicing the Economy. Is It Making American Workers More Productive?
Investment in AI ignited a fire under the U.S. economy. But the technology hasn’t yet fulfilled the promise of making humans work more efficiently.
www.wsj.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Investment in artificial intelligence is helping the U.S. economy grow. But the tools themselves aren’t substantially boosting the productivity of American workers in the way AI enthusiasts hope they will—at least not yet. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-w...
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Exclusive: Prominent Trump supporters sold sponsorships to what appeared to be a U.S. Treasury event. It wasn’t.
Trump Allies Sold Sponsorships to What Appeared to Be a Treasury Event. It Wasn’t.
The Treasury said it didn’t approve a marketing pitch for a private Oct. 21 event about AI that is headlined by Scott Bessent.
on.wsj.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Exclusive: Prominent Trump supporters sold sponsorships to what appeared to be a U.S. Treasury event. It wasn’t.
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Stronger growth but a weaker jobs picture: Economists surveyed by @wsj.com see a bifurcated picture of the nation's economic prospects. Latest quarterly survey, with @HarrietTorry www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
Stronger Growth, Weaker Hiring: Forecasters See a Split-Screen Economy
In the latest Wall Street Journal survey, forecasters also predict that the Federal Reserve will become less independent.
www.wsj.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Stronger growth but a weaker jobs picture: Economists surveyed by @wsj.com see a bifurcated picture of the nation's economic prospects. Latest quarterly survey, with @HarrietTorry www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Bit of personal and professional news: I recently moved from DC to Los Angeles, where I'll be covering the California (and West Coast, and still U.S.) economy for @wsj.com.
My first story:
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
My first story:
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
California Wants to Make It Easier to Build Housing. Los Angeles Objects.
Gov. Newsom Friday signed a bill that will make it easier to build apartment buildings. Cities like Los Angeles fear a loss of control.
www.wsj.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Bit of personal and professional news: I recently moved from DC to Los Angeles, where I'll be covering the California (and West Coast, and still U.S.) economy for @wsj.com.
My first story:
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
My first story:
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
My guess is that this year will be the first time one of the winners is married to a previous nobel winner
2/2
Who should get the econ Nobel this year & why?
Who will get it this year and why?
What's the consequences of having an econ prize?
Is the econ Nobel prize (and scientific prizes more generally) doing more good or bad to the profession? To science at large? And to society?
Who should get the econ Nobel this year & why?
Who will get it this year and why?
What's the consequences of having an econ prize?
Is the econ Nobel prize (and scientific prizes more generally) doing more good or bad to the profession? To science at large? And to society?
October 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
My guess is that this year will be the first time one of the winners is married to a previous nobel winner
Reposted by Justin Lahart
1/2 I wish I could stay away from incoming econ Nobel frenzy, but you don't always get what you want, so help me
Here is @richardtol.bsky.social's forecast (richardtol.substack.com/p/2025-nobel...) Samuelson's 1969 reflection on how many laureates should receive it jointly, and questions for you:
Here is @richardtol.bsky.social's forecast (richardtol.substack.com/p/2025-nobel...) Samuelson's 1969 reflection on how many laureates should receive it jointly, and questions for you:
October 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
1/2 I wish I could stay away from incoming econ Nobel frenzy, but you don't always get what you want, so help me
Here is @richardtol.bsky.social's forecast (richardtol.substack.com/p/2025-nobel...) Samuelson's 1969 reflection on how many laureates should receive it jointly, and questions for you:
Here is @richardtol.bsky.social's forecast (richardtol.substack.com/p/2025-nobel...) Samuelson's 1969 reflection on how many laureates should receive it jointly, and questions for you:
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Shoppers are throwing tantrums in the coffee aisle. Cafe owners are getting dirty looks. The year that sent java lovers over the edge.
Hell Hath No Fury Like a Coffee Drinker in 2025
Lots of things are more expensive, but coffee is irreplaceable. So Americans are eating the price hikes—and reserving the right to rant.
on.wsj.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Shoppers are throwing tantrums in the coffee aisle. Cafe owners are getting dirty looks. The year that sent java lovers over the edge.
Economists, investors and policymakers usually spend the first Friday each month poring over the latest government jobs report. Not this one. www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
It’s Jobs Friday Without a Jobs Number: Here’s Where to Look for Alternatives
The monthly government jobs numbers won’t arrive on time. But private firms are helping fill the gap.
www.wsj.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Economists, investors and policymakers usually spend the first Friday each month poring over the latest government jobs report. Not this one. www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
The new Revelio report shows a gain of 60k jobs. In a note, Revelio reports that both its data and ADP's are fairly correlated (~0.7) with the BLS data, but not as correlated (0.5) with each other. So combining the two for a BLS estimate might make sense. Doing that puts job growth at 38k.
October 2, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The new Revelio report shows a gain of 60k jobs. In a note, Revelio reports that both its data and ADP's are fairly correlated (~0.7) with the BLS data, but not as correlated (0.5) with each other. So combining the two for a BLS estimate might make sense. Doing that puts job growth at 38k.
Thinking of writing a first-person essay on how many fine minds have fallen into the maw of first-person punditry
October 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Thinking of writing a first-person essay on how many fine minds have fallen into the maw of first-person punditry