Justin Lahart
@jdlahart.bsky.social
Wall Street Journal economics reporter
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Soft US #Retail sales in September
🟠Sales +0.2%
⛔️Inflation-adjusted -0.1%
⛔️Core sales -0.1%
⛔️Volumes -0.4%
⛽️Gas 2.0%
⚕️Health 1.1%
👩🍳Rest/bar 0.7%
🛋️Furn 0.6%
🛒Groc 0.2%
🏠Build mat 0.2%
🏬Merch 0.1%
🚗Auto -0.3%
🎮Elec -0.5%
💻Online -0.7%
👗Cloth -0.7%
⚽️Sports -2.5%
🟠Sales +0.2%
⛔️Inflation-adjusted -0.1%
⛔️Core sales -0.1%
⛔️Volumes -0.4%
⛽️Gas 2.0%
⚕️Health 1.1%
👩🍳Rest/bar 0.7%
🛋️Furn 0.6%
🛒Groc 0.2%
🏠Build mat 0.2%
🏬Merch 0.1%
🚗Auto -0.3%
🎮Elec -0.5%
💻Online -0.7%
👗Cloth -0.7%
⚽️Sports -2.5%
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Soft US #Retail sales in September
🟠Sales +0.2%
⛔️Inflation-adjusted -0.1%
⛔️Core sales -0.1%
⛔️Volumes -0.4%
⛽️Gas 2.0%
⚕️Health 1.1%
👩🍳Rest/bar 0.7%
🛋️Furn 0.6%
🛒Groc 0.2%
🏠Build mat 0.2%
🏬Merch 0.1%
🚗Auto -0.3%
🎮Elec -0.5%
💻Online -0.7%
👗Cloth -0.7%
⚽️Sports -2.5%
🟠Sales +0.2%
⛔️Inflation-adjusted -0.1%
⛔️Core sales -0.1%
⛔️Volumes -0.4%
⛽️Gas 2.0%
⚕️Health 1.1%
👩🍳Rest/bar 0.7%
🛋️Furn 0.6%
🛒Groc 0.2%
🏠Build mat 0.2%
🏬Merch 0.1%
🚗Auto -0.3%
🎮Elec -0.5%
💻Online -0.7%
👗Cloth -0.7%
⚽️Sports -2.5%
“There is no world where this makes any sense,” said David Autor, one of the MIT professors who had previously championed his student’s research. www.wsj.com/economy/aida...
An MIT Student Awed Top Economists With His AI Study—Then It All Fell Apart
Aidan Toner-Rodgers shot to academic fame in a field hungry for new insights and revelatory research. But a computer scientist thought something seemed off.
www.wsj.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:03 AM
“There is no world where this makes any sense,” said David Autor, one of the MIT professors who had previously championed his student’s research. www.wsj.com/economy/aida...
"We monitor many frequencies. We listen always. Came a voice, out of the babel of tongues, speaking to us. It played us a mighty dub."
At least 10 songs made with music-generating technology have charted recently
Inside the World of AI Song-Making: Big Hits and a 7-Figure Deal
At least 10 songs made with music-generating technology have charted recently.
on.wsj.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:09 AM
"We monitor many frequencies. We listen always. Came a voice, out of the babel of tongues, speaking to us. It played us a mighty dub."
Just imagining what this might do to December interest-rate futures, which are based on average monthly levels - especially for what is very much a live meeting
November 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Just imagining what this might do to December interest-rate futures, which are based on average monthly levels - especially for what is very much a live meeting
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Strong signal about December FOMC meeting from NY Fed President John Williams. Rate cut likely.
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Strong signal about December FOMC meeting from NY Fed President John Williams. Rate cut likely.
Reposted by Justin Lahart
November 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Reposted by Justin Lahart
After nearly five years of high prices, many middle-class earners are weary. Wasn’t life supposed to be more affordable by now?
The Middle Class Is Buckling Under Almost Five Years of Persistent Inflation
Workers are growing tired of an economy in which everything seems to get more expensive.
on.wsj.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:20 AM
After nearly five years of high prices, many middle-class earners are weary. Wasn’t life supposed to be more affordable by now?
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Breaking: Larry Summers is taking a leave from teaching at Harvard after criticism over his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
Larry Summers Taking Leave From Teaching at Harvard
The university is reviewing information about the acclaimed economist’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
on.wsj.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Breaking: Larry Summers is taking a leave from teaching at Harvard after criticism over his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
Reposted by Justin Lahart
November 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Justin Lahart
President Trump is making a last-ditch push to dissuade House Republicans from supporting a measure this week to release files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump Plays Hardball With GOP Lawmakers as Epstein Vote Approaches
Marjorie Taylor Greene says president is publicly targeting her to discourage other Republicans from supporting the measure.
on.wsj.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
President Trump is making a last-ditch push to dissuade House Republicans from supporting a measure this week to release files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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?