Marketplace Less-than-great expectations for upcoming jobs data
Feb 9, 2026
Emily Pontecorvo, staff writer at Heatmap who covers climate and legal fights, discusses Michigan’s antitrust-style lawsuit against fossil fuel companies. She explains the legal strategy and alleged coordination. The conversation also touches on delayed jobs and inflation data, foreign demand for Treasurys, and Hollywood labor negotiations.
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Job Market Has Stalled
- The U.S. job market has largely stalled with average monthly gains near 50,000 over the past year.
- Benchmark revisions may show a net decline in jobs for 2025, signaling weaker labor demand than previously reported.
Why Employers Can't Find Workers
- Structural forces are reducing labor supply, including retirements and tight immigration policy.
- Firms also overhired post-pandemic and are cutting back while automation and AI boost productivity and reduce hiring needs.
Official Inflation Vs. Consumer Reality
- Official CPI may fall modestly, but consumers feel higher inflation driven by rent, food, and utilities.
- With wage growth roughly matching perceived inflation, many workers feel they aren't getting ahead.