Marketplace All-in-One Small businesses pull back on hiring
Dec 3, 2025
Mitchell Hartman, a Marketplace reporter, dives into the buy now, pay later trend, explaining how it benefits retailers and reshapes their business models. Judith Enk, former EPA regional administrator and author, sheds light on the multifaceted issues of plastic waste, addressing the rising production rates and insufficient regulation. She discusses innovative policy solutions like producer-responsibility laws and refillable packaging. Together, they highlight the complex intersection of consumer behavior, environmental sustainability, and economic strategy.
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Small Businesses Are Cutting Hiring
- Small businesses are pulling back on hiring despite many owners saying they're optimistic in surveys.
- Homebase and ADP data show small firms cut jobs and reduced hours, flagging broader future labor weakness.
Matriarch Foods Dodges Inflation
- Anna Hammond of Matriarch Foods says business is OK and she's even considering hiring more people.
- Her company avoids inflation pressure by using surplus U.S.-grown vegetables, lowering input costs.
Payroll Data Shows Early Warning
- Real-time payroll data from Homebase reveals hiring and hours have fallen in ways unseen in three years.
- John Waldman warns small firms are leading indicators for medium and large business labor moves.
