Justin Lahart
@jdlahart.bsky.social
Wall Street Journal economics reporter
Real curious what holiday-season retail sales are looking like in Detroit vs. Windsor areas this year.
December 5, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Real curious what holiday-season retail sales are looking like in Detroit vs. Windsor areas this year.
Goldman on claims: "In previous Thanksgiving weeks with a similar calendar configuration to this year’s, non-seasonally-adjusted (NSA) initial claims have fallen by about 45k. This year, initial claims fell by 49k on a NSA basis, but the seasonal factor only expected a 22k decline."
December 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Goldman on claims: "In previous Thanksgiving weeks with a similar calendar configuration to this year’s, non-seasonally-adjusted (NSA) initial claims have fallen by about 45k. This year, initial claims fell by 49k on a NSA basis, but the seasonal factor only expected a 22k decline."
I can only assume Meta is going to rename itself Generative
December 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I can only assume Meta is going to rename itself Generative
For context, employment in "semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing" was 368 thousand in September, according to BLS.
*LUTNICK: US CAN RESHORE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING WITH ROBOTICS
*LUTNICK: WE HAVE TO TRAIN 5 MILLION AMERICANS FOR CHIPS JOBS
*LUTNICK: WE HAVE TO TRAIN 5 MILLION AMERICANS FOR CHIPS JOBS
December 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
For context, employment in "semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing" was 368 thousand in September, according to BLS.
The average price Harvard paid couldn’t be learned but if the school still holds some or all of the 4.9 million shares it bought last quarter, the best-case scenario would be a 14% loss on those holdings. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Harvard’s Big Wager on Bitcoin Came Right Before the Bust
The school reported nearly a half-billion in crypto holdings in its last quarterly report.
www.wsj.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:18 AM
The average price Harvard paid couldn’t be learned but if the school still holds some or all of the 4.9 million shares it bought last quarter, the best-case scenario would be a 14% loss on those holdings. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Reposted by Justin Lahart
Lawrence Summers has been banned for life by the American Economics Association, in a further blow to the former Treasury Secretary and Harvard University president stemming from recent revelations about his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Top Economics Group Bans Larry Summers for Life
The American Economics Association rebuked the former Treasury secretary amid scrutiny over his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
on.wsj.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Lawrence Summers has been banned for life by the American Economics Association, in a further blow to the former Treasury Secretary and Harvard University president stemming from recent revelations about his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
wow
The AEA has imposed a lifetime ban on Lawrence H. Summers’ membership and participation in AEA activities. See the full statement here. www.aeaweb.org/news/aea-sta...
Statement from the American Economic Association
www.aeaweb.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:19 PM
wow
I've got a lotta problems with you people!
BEA: New date for GDP Dec 23rd:
Gross Domestic Product, 3rd Quarter 2025 (Initial Estimate) and Corporate Profits (Preliminary)
Gross Domestic Product, 3rd Quarter 2025 (Initial Estimate) and Corporate Profits (Preliminary)
December 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I've got a lotta problems with you people!
Dec SOFR futures are based on average compounded rate over the month, so pushing the meeting back could mess with markets
Should they cut or should they hold? Or should they push the damn meeting back a bit to have a few more drops of precious data?! Some noodling on the Fed's Dec meeting:
econjared.substack.com/p/should-the...
econjared.substack.com/p/should-the...
Should They Cut or Should They Hold?
"If they cut there will be trouble. If they hold it will be double." So, what the Fed should really do is push the meeting back a few days.
econjared.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Dec SOFR futures are based on average compounded rate over the month, so pushing the meeting back could mess with markets
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?