![\"Loading](\"https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/6g4gfm8wk7b6\/1rkgY1H9piSuu8e2uiYMSm\/71e2452dc0795f4aff54d4ae0596722a\/teal-spinner.svg\")
EconomyThe Job Market’s “Just Trust Me” Energy<\/p>\nEconomyThe Job Market’s “Just Trust Me” Energy<\/p>\n
What’s going on: The economy has entered its \u201csources say\u201d era \u2014 plenty of numbers, not much clarity. Yesterday\u2019s delayed jobs report<\/a> offered the latest example. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the US added 130,000 jobs in January \u2014 55,000 more than what economists expected. But there\u2019s an asterisk: These reports often get revised, and usually downward. That\u2019s exactly what happened at the end of 2025<\/a>. The mixed signals don\u2019t stop there. Consumer spending and economic growth looked solid in the third quarter, even during a record-long government shutdown. But (and this is a big one) the country only added 181,000 jobs in 2025, far below the 1.46 million added in 2024. <\/p>\n What it means: Many economists still see a labor market that looks sturdy at a glance but fragile up close. Yes, growth exists, but certain sectors are carrying us all. The majority of recent job gains come from one place: health care<\/a>, which accounted for 97% of new roles in the private sector last year. As for spending, families earning more than this amount<\/a> account for 45% of it and are part of the reason costs keep going up. To top it all off, companies are pouring billions into artificial intelligence, leading to layoffs across industries. While Wall Street is eating up this tech boom, the risks could reverberate across the economy if things go sideways. As many struggle to see the job gains reflected in the report, there\u2019s a small bright spot: One expert told USA Today that hiring could pick up later this year after companies finalize their budgets and get clearer signals on interest rates.<\/p>\n Related: Bernie Sanders on the Economy: \u201cGod Help Us\u201d<\/a> (The Hill)<\/p>\n The News in 5<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before a House committee on the Epstein files and, in a heated exchange<\/a>, refused to apologize to the victims over her actions in the case. <\/p>\n \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f The White House scrubbed a controversial post from Vice President JD Vance<\/a> and then blamed it on a staff error. Again.<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f As Dems gear up for the 2026 midterms, they\u2019re keeping one person far, far away<\/a> from their campaigns. Just like cropping out your ex.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f One reporter tried the RFK-approved diet for you<\/a>. Day three broke her.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Kraft Heinz\u2019s latest move<\/a> is giving big breakup-to-makeup energy. Maybe it is worth the squeeze.<\/p>\n MoneyPack Your Bags (and Your Backup Plan) <\/p>\n What\u2019s going on: This year\u2019s travel theme might just be \u201cproceed with caution.\u201d While global travel spending has rebounded from the pandemic, big questions remain<\/a>. The New York Times reports that people are packing Europe in the off-season \u2014 think Barcelona and Florence buzzing well past summer as visitors dodge both overtourism and the heat. But whether similar vibes make it to the US is TBD. Will the World Cup lure people in? Will Canadians head south again if states start rolling out the welcome mat<\/a>? Geopolitics could also scramble itineraries. Experts warn that US strikes on Venezuela could affect travel across parts of the Caribbean, and increased US pressure on Cuba has already complicated some routes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n What it means: Flexibility wins this year. Book refundable flights and hotels when possible, and actually read what your travel insurance covers before you hit purchase. Hotel prices, for now, have stayed largely flat. Brands aren\u2019t loudly advertising discounts, but some are quietly trimming rates on lower-demand days \u2014 which makes shoulder-season Europe or midweek stays look even smarter. Many travelers are opting for \u201cmicro trips\u201d or leaning on loyalty programs to stretch budgets. Looking for inspiration? These are the top places experts are eyeing for 2026<\/a>. Trends like period-drama \u201cset-jetting\u201d or \u201cgrocery store tourism\u201d<\/a> offer clever new angles. If it\u2019s warm and doesn\u2019t anger our credit cards, we\u2019re in.<\/p>\n Related: The Packing Mistakes a Veteran Flight Attendant Sees Every Trip<\/a> (Travel + Leisure)<\/p>\n LifestyleHappiness Isn’t a Solo Sport <\/p>\n What’s going on: Happiness has become something we chase, track, and try to optimize for \u2014 and still, it\u2019s often unattainable. No one knows this better than the researchers who study the emotion. And while they don\u2019t have an \u201ceasy\u201d secret to happiness, they may have identified one of the main keys<\/a>: feeling loved. This goes a bit against the grain of other research, which has often focused on self-improvement and the love one feels for others. But as two researchers recently told The New York Times, their new book argues that what matters most is the experience of receiving love \u2014 that sense of warmth and connection from our favorite people.\u00a0<\/p>\n What it means: This isn\u2019t permission to sit back and wait for applause. The slightly inconvenient twist is that the most reliable way to feel loved often starts with being someone who loves others well. Yes, the New Radicals were onto something: you get what you give. That doesn\u2019t require grand gestures. It looks more like this: Ask your loved ones follow-up questions. Actually listen to their answers (please, no \u201cboomerasking<\/a>\u201d). Pick one or two people you want to strengthen ties with and initiate a few conversations each week instead of waiting for them to text first. A final strategy, as Gretchen Rubin recommends in The Happiness Project<\/a>: Work on showing more \u201cproofs of love.\u201d Saying \u201cI love you\u201d when you part ways is a good start.<\/p>\n Related: \u201cSoft Living\u201d Starts in the Morning & These Nine Habits Can Help<\/a> (Real Simple)<\/p>\n On Our Calendar<\/p>\n A few things to jot down today\u2026<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f A California film festival will honor Michael B. Jordan with its Outstanding Performer of the Year Award<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Women\u2019s curling match between the USA and Sweden at 1:05 pm ET & Women\u2019s snowboard halfpipe finals at 1:30 pm ET. Catch both on Peacock. <\/p>\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f A moon shift could give three lucky signs<\/a> a breakthrough in some part of their life. <\/p>\n Psst\u2026For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n Know It AllParents everywhere have yet to escape KPop Demon Hunters, but how long did it take the minds behind the movie to create the Saja Boys’ abs<\/a>? Skimm’d by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.<\/p>\n Live Smarter<\/p>\n Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. Delivered to your inbox every morning and prepares you for your day in minutes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n