Economic pain is mounting quickly for America's small businesses, raising the chances of a Main Street recession despite an AI-powered growth boom.

The big picture: The economic fortunes of mom-and-pop businesses are diverging from their larger counterparts. The dynamic is not new, but the divide is getting bigger, faster. • It exposes a vulnerability for President Trump's economic agenda, which top officials have said is focused on reigniting Main Street businesses.

By the numbers: The private sector shed 32,000 jobs in November, according to payroll processor ADP. Small firms — those with fewer than 50 employees — accounted for the entirety of the losses. • Those businesses reported a net loss of 120,000 jobs, the most small businesses have cut since the onset of the pandemic. Larg

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