The Indicator from Planet Money · Thursday, August 13, 2026
Despite the overall positive state of the economy, Claudia Sahm perceives mounting pressure on consumers, businesses, and the labor market. She is concerned about the slowing workforce growth potentially leading to reduced job creation and fewer opportunities for younger workers.
“Now, Claudia Sahm says that too, but like a wise woman reading the tea leaves, she detects warning signs in the data.”
“The worker who's got a job likes their job. Their unemployment rate is very low, wage growth has been pretty solid. But for people trying to get into jobs into the labor market, it's not quite a recessionary labor market, but it's not that far from it.”
“The economy overall is in a relatively good place.”