The cost of gas at Costco dropped last week from $3.69 to $3.19.
Unemployment is climbing faster than we realize.
Here is some information on that, courtesy Mr. Google.
Yes, major layoffs have accelerated across multiple industries in May 2026, largely driven by corporate restructurings to incorporate artificial intelligence. You can monitor the daily scale of these workforce reductions using the SkillSyncer 2026 Tech Layoffs Tracker or review broader company lists on Business Insider’s Layoffs Tracker. [1, 2, 3]
Notable major layoffs in May 2026 include:
Meta: Initiated a major layoff of 8,000 employees (10% of its workforce) to shift resources toward AI initiatives.
Cloudflare: Cut approximately 1,100 jobs (20% of its staff) to restructure its workflows around “agentic AI”.
Coinbase: Let go of 700 employees (14% of its workforce) to become a more “AI-native” company.
Upwork: Laid off roughly 25% of its workforce to increase profitability and move faster with smaller teams.
BILL: Slashed its headcount by up to 30%.
Estée Lauder: Expanded a previously announced job cut plan to eliminate an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 positions, shifting toward online and high-growth retail channels.
Spirit Airlines: Impacted 14,000 employees nationwide as the airline ceased operations entirely.
PayPal: Continued its previously announced multi-year restructuring program, which amounts to cutting roughly 20% of its workforce. [2, 3, 4, 5]
These job cuts contribute to a broader trend of workforce reductions in 2026 across technology, finance, media, and aviation. [3]
Earlier, I had envisioned blue-collar layoffs. Then, as incomes dropped, deflation would set in.
Things are worse; higher-paying jobs in tech are seeing layoffs. This changes the K economy more directly. It chops away at it.
Courtesy Google
Yes, blue-collar job cuts have continued in May 2026, though the market is characterized by a broader slowdown in hiring rather than mass layoffs. You can track the latest reported layoffs across all sectors using the
Challenger, Gray & Christmas
economic reports.
The blue-collar labor market is facing a plateau, marked by a few specific trends:
Slowing Hiring, Not Firing: While outright layoffs remain relatively low, hiring rates in manufacturing and the trades have dropped significantly compared to previous years.
Policy and Economic Impacts: Sectors heavily exposed to trade policies and changing tariff agendas have struggled to maintain job growth, and localized dips in new construction projects have reduced demand for skilled trade workers.
Shift to Data and AI: While white-collar and tech professions have seen more prominent job cuts tied to artificial intelligence and automation, manufacturing and blue-collar sectors are seeing steady restructuring as companies optimize operations. [1, 2, 5, 6, 7]
You can monitor up-to-date monthly data on hiring, quits, and total separations directly through the