Market Voices: Seasonal hiring woes, Powell on rates, Lithium Americas

[FED federal reserve of USA sybol and sign.]
Bet_Noire

_Seeking Alpha's roundup of statements, announcements and remarks that could impact markets, sectors or individual stocks. _

* Challenger, Gray & Christmas is projecting a decline in seasonal retail hiring for holidays this year.

The outplacement and executive coaching group said it sees retailers adding under 500,000 jobs during the fourth quarter, marking an 8% drop from last year and the lowest level of seasonal hiring since 2009.

“Seasonal employers are facing a confluence of factors this year: tariffs loom, inflationary pressures linger, and many companies continue to rely on automation and permanent staff instead of large waves of seasonal hires,” said the firm's senior vice president, Andy Challenger, according to CNBC [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/24/seasonal-hiring-2025-to-fall-to-lowest-level-since-2009-recession.html].

“While we could see a late hiring push if holiday sales surprise to the upside, the cautious pace of announcements so far suggests that companies are not betting on a big seasonal surge. This year may be more about doing more with less," Challenger added.

* The Trump administration is reportedly interested in the U.S. taking an equity stake in Canadian mining company Lithium Americas (NYSE:LAC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LAC]).

A White House official told CNBC [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/24/lithium-americas-lac-equity-stake-trump-stock.html] that the proposal was made in connection with a renegotiation of terms for a $2.26 billion loan [https://lithiumamericas.com/thacker-pass/overview/default.aspx] made to the company by the Department of Energy for development of the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada.

In July, the U.S. government took a 15% equity stake in rare earth miner MP Materials (MP [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MP]).

* Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he sees interest rates as well-positioned given the potential risks of increased inflation and a cooling job market, according to CNN.

“The increased downside risks to employment have shifted the balance of risks to achieving our goals,” Powell said at an event Tuesday afternoon, according to CNN [https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/23/economy/fed-chair-powell-rate-cuts]. “This policy stance, which I see as still modestly restrictive, leaves us well positioned to respond to potential economic developments.”

"Uncertainty around the path of inflation remains high," Powell continued, adding that officials must “make sure that this one-time increase in prices does not become an ongoing inflation problem.”

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