It’s one of those terms we hear attached to economic data all the time. But what is seasonal adjustment and how is it done?

Holiday shopping was up — but seasonal hiring was cautious and often depended on the size of the business.

Retail hiring for the holiday shopping period is roughly flat, while transportation and warehousing are down from last year.

That could mean that holiday hiring will be slower this season, says Andy Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Retailers are worried that inflation and fear of a potential recession will impact holiday spending.

But striking the right balance to meet demand is tricky this year.

Employers are looking for help, but a lot of people have jobs. That means stores will need to start looking at workers they may have ignored.