Report: Job Cuts Surge in January; Highest January Total Since 2009
U.S.-based employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January, an increase of 118% from the 49,795 cuts announced in the same month last year. It is up 205% from the 35,553 job cuts announced in December, according to a report released Thursday from global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. January’s total is the highest for the month since 2009, when 241,749 job cuts were announced. It is the highest monthly total since October 2025, when 153,074 cuts were
Bedrock CEO Talks Talent Attraction, Tax Abatements
Bedrock CEO Jared Fleischer talks taxes during the Detroit Policy Conference at The Hudson in downtown Detroit. Jared Fleischer believes one of the key to finding economic success is acknowledging that “place matters.” Fleischer, the CEO of Bedrock, said one of the reasons Michigan is struggling to find a higher level of success is the state’s fall in terms of personal income. He pointed out that he learned at a recent conference that Michigan has fallen from the top 10 in personal income to somewhere
Lear in Southfield Posts $23.3B in 2025 Sales, Down 2% from 2024
Lear Corp. reported sales of $23.3 billion in 2025, a 2 percent decrease from the previous year. // Photo courtesy of Lear Lear Corp., the Southfield-based global supplier of automotive seating and e-systems, reported sales of $23.3 billion in 2025, a 2 percent decrease from the previous year. The decrease, according to the company, excludes the impact of commodities, foreign exchange, tariff recoveries, acquisitions and divestitures, but does reflects lower production on key Lear platforms and the
Report: Stable Year for New Vehicle Sales Predicted for 2026
JD Power in Troy predicts a total of 16.3 million new vehicle sales in 2026, matching numbers achieved in 2025. // Stock photo A new report from JD Power in Troy predicts a total of 16.3 million new vehicle sales in 2026. The report was presented today during the JD Power Auto Summit at the National Auto Dealers Association show in Las Vegas. “Coming off a strong, but highly volatile year in 2025, we anticipate supply-demand dynamics will once again become the dominant driver of the U.S. market,” says
Fed Declines to Cut Key Interest Rate
Despite continuing political pressure from President Donald Trump, the Federal Reserve this week decided against cutting its key interest rate after its first meeting of 2026. The decision leaves the rate at some 3.6% after lowering it three times last year. At a news conference announcing the decision, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the economy’s outlook “has clearly improved since the last meeting” in December, a development that should boost hiring over time. The central bank in a statement said there
Confidence in U.S. Economy Falls to Lowest Level Since 2014
It’s been a dozen years since Americans have felt this disillusioned about the U.S. economy. Consumer confidence declined in January, hitting its lowest level since 2014, according to figures released by The Conference Board, a global nonprofit think tank and business membership organization. The Conference Board said this week that its consumer confidence index fell 9.7 points to 84.5 in January, falling below even the lowest readings during the Covid pandemic, according to a report from The Associated
New Asian fusion restaurant coming to downtown Muskegon
MUSKEGON, MI - A new Asian fusion restaurant is coming to downtown Muskegon. The cocktail bar and tasting room will be located at 380 W. Western Ave. Suite 140, the former Subway location. It’s expected to open with a soft launch in March 2026 and a grand opening in April. It will be open Wednesday through Sunday. It will serve craft cocktails and Asian fusion small bites and is founded by Kavy Lenon, who owns the Zini vodka brand. “This is my backyard,” Lenon said. “I might as well build a nice
