Squawk Pod Local Shopping, Macroeconomic Thinking 12/1/25
Dec 1, 2025
Economist Mohamed El-Erian and Locavore founder Caroline Weaver join to discuss the nuances of local shopping during the holiday season. Caroline shares insights on the challenges faced by small businesses, including pricing pressures from tariffs and inventory struggles. Mohamed provides a macroeconomic perspective, analyzing the Federal Reserve’s direction and the impact of AI on market fundamentals. Together, they highlight the importance of supporting local economies against a backdrop of larger economic trends.
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Shopkeeper Built A One-Stop Local Store
- Caroline Weaver describes stocking everything from hand-blown glass to toothpaste in her Locavore store.
- She began the shop to gather Brooklyn-made goods people otherwise ordered online to their apartments.
Local Shopping Still Relies On Global Supply
- Consumers increasingly seek locally made goods but many components (like packaging) still come from overseas.
- Caroline Weaver says local products often aren't fully American because vendors rely on global supply chains.
Small Brands Can Be Cheaper Than You Think
- Small independent brands often price differently because they lack large marketing budgets and shareholder payouts.
- That can make some local goods competitively priced despite higher production costs.