#658: First Friday: When the Gov’t is Closed, Where Do We Find The Numbers?

An unusual First Friday episode because we don’t have a jobs report.

However, we do know that in October, U.S. companies announced more job cuts in a single month than they have over any single month of the last 20 years. In other words, October was peak job cut month.

By contrast, private payrolls, as reported by ADP, rose by 42,000 in October, so we have a little bit of conflicting data. Some pessimistic, some optimistic. We’re going to take a deeper look at that in today’s episode.

Timestamps:
Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising segments. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.

(00:00) Conflicting Job Market Data
(03:40) Youth Unemployment and AI’s Impact
(10:16) Fed Rate Cuts and Housing Market
(20:23) New Job Postings Lowest in 4 Years
(20:54) Consumer Sentiment
(22:04) Social Security Payments Increase in 2026
(23:33) Rising Car Costs and Repossessions
(24:46) Good News for Prescription Drug Prices
(31:50) Government Shutdown Impacts

Thanks to our sponsors!

Policy Genius
Secure your family’s future with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com to compare life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save.

Quince
Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good, look polished, and last— from Quince. Go to Quince.com/Paula for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Indeed
If you’re looking for amazing talent to bolster your team, you need Indeed. Go to indeed.com/paula and start hiring with a seventy-five dollar sponsored job credit.

Shopify
Sign up for your one month, one dollar per month trial period and start selling today at shopify.com/paula