Business
business
Rani Molla

The more companies talk about labor, the tighter the market

Good news for people who pay attention to what companies are saying on earnings calls: what they say might actually mean something.

Parsing transcripts from public company earnings calls from 2002-2024, researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found a very high correlation between mentions of labor issues on earnings calls and actual labor market tightness. They found that when companies are talking about labor issues, they are typically talking about them in a negative sense. “As a result, we can interpret an increase in mentions of labor issues as a situation in which firms are facing more labor issues, rather than resolving existing ones,” the researchers wrote.

That gives economists another tool in their toolbox when it comes to diagnosing labor market tightness, in addition to typical measures like the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed workers.

U.S. Labor Market Tightness and Labor Issues Index
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, S&P Global, St. Louis Fed researcher calculations (stlouisfed.org)

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Starbucks issues apology after viral “Bearista” cup meltdown

Holiday cheer turned into chaos this week for Starbucks after the coffee giant’s new “Bearista” holiday cup sent fans into a frenzy. 

Dropped alongside its 2025 holiday menu, the $30 beanie-wearing glass bear tumbler sparked long lines, sellouts, and even in-store scuffles before Starbucks stepped in with an apology.

“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations,” the company said in a statement to People. “Despite shipping more Bearista cups to our coffeehouses than almost any other item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast.”

Within hours of launch, frustrated fans flooded Starbucks’ social media pages and even store hotlines. Some customers waited in line before dawn and others said their stores received only a handful of cups. In one Houston location, the craze even turned physical, with police reportedly called to break up a brawl. Meanwhile, the cup is already reselling on sites like eBay, with listings topping $600.

“We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused,” Starbucks said. While in-store customers may be upset, investors seem happy about the viral hit, as the stock has risen over 3% on Friday.

If you’re still hoping for a Bearista at market price, that may not be on order: the chain didn’t disclose how many cups were made or whether a restock is planned.

business
Hyunsoo Rim

Target tells workers to smile, wave, and greet shoppers if they come within 10 feet of them

Target just rolled out a new rule for store employees: “smile, make eye contact, and greet or wave” when a shopper comes within 10 feet — and if they get closer, within four feet, “ask whether they need help or how their day is going,” according to a new Bloomberg report.

Dubbed the “10-4 program” internally, the rule mirrors rival Walmart’s own 10-foot policy, formalizing behavior Target had previously only encouraged.

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Target Mandates Worker Smiles, Friendliness to Boost Sales

Target Mandates Worker Smiles, Friendliness to Boost Sales
Hyunsoo Rim
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11/7/25
Half of new US companies disappear within 5 years — and only 1 in 3 makes it to year 10

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Seedling on dry dirt.

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