WASHINGTON — Job cuts in the United States surged 175% in October from a year ago, according to a report released Thursday from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

The reasons include softer consumer and corporate spending, rising costs and the adoption of artificial intelligence.

The October 2025 layoffs jumped to 153,074, the highest level since 2003, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said in its report.

One reason the report is notable is that the government shutdown, now in its second month, has delayed the release of the Labor Department's employment report for September, and there isn't expected to be one released for October.

Outside of company updates, Wall Street has been relying more on economic updates from other private sources. Private payrolls rose more than ex

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