The Labor Department’s latest jobs report showed that American workers’ wage gains are continuing to outpace stubbornly high inflation.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its jobs report for February Friday, which showed that workers’ average hourly earnings rose faster than expected last month.

Employees on private nonfarm payrolls saw their average hourly earnings rise by 15 cents, or 0.4%, on a monthly basis to $37.32 an hour. That outpaced the expected increase of 0.3% that was projected by LSEG economists.

Average earnings rose 3.8% in February compared with a year ago, up from 3.7% in January. LSEG economists estimated that the annual increase in earnings would be unchanged at 3.7% in February.

US ECONOMY SHED 92K JOBS IN FEBRUARY, WELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS

Wages rose 3.8% on an annual basis in February, beating economists’ expectations of a 3.7% rise. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The BLS data also showed that the average workweek was unchanged at 34.3 hours, in line with the estimate of LSEG economists and unchanged from January. Among workers in the manufacturing sector, the average workweek declined slightly by 0.1 hour to 40.1 hours, while overtime was unchanged at three hours.

The rising wages and relatively steady workweeks come as stubborn inflation has persisted above the Federal Reserve’s long-run target of 2%. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, rose to 2.9% on an annual basis in December. Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was up 3% from a year ago in December.

A separate inflation gauge, the consumer price index (CPI), was up just 2.4% on a year-over-year basis in January and trended down after a 2.7% reading in December. Core CPI was up 2.5% from a year ago in January.

Inflation creates severe financial pressures for households, particularly those with lower incomes that are forced to pay relatively more for essentials.

FED’S FAVORED INFLATION GAUGE SHOWED CONSUMER PRICE GROWTH REMAINED ELEVATED IN DECEMBER

Wage gains rising faster than inflation helps protect earners’ purchasing power by reducing the amount that’s eroded by inflation-induced price hikes, though that dynamic is limited by elevated inflation. 

They can also signal competition among employers for qualified workers. The unemployment rate was little changed in February, rising from 4.3% to 4.4% from the prior month.

“Jobs in the private sector, along with ongoing reductions in federal government staffing, led to lower payroll employment in February. But the unemployment rate remains low because of the southern border shutdown. That is why wage growth remains healthy with a 3.8% rise,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.

FED DISSENT GROWS AS SOME OFFICIALS WEIGH RETURN TO INTEREST RATE HIKES AMID STUBBORN INFLATION

Pressure in the labor market has contributed to the higher wage growth. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Andy Bregenzer, head of U.S. regional and small business banking and co-head of commercial bank at TD, said it was “disappointing to see January’s hiring momentum come into question with February’s slowdown” and emphasized that small businesses need to stay disciplined in this economic environment.

“What we continue to hear from small business owners is that while hiring pressure may ease modestly if jobs growth slows, wages and competition for skilled workers remain elevated. This is the environment where small business owners need to stay disciplined and balance growth plans with careful cost management.”

Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, noted that wage dynamics were “firmer than expected” and said the 3.8% annual wage growth underscored that “labor cost pressures remain sticky even as job growth falters.”

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He cautioned that “forward-looking indicators point to continued moderation in wage growth going forward, with the private sector quits rate remaining near its lowest level since early 2016 outside of a recession, and business surveys continue to signal restraint in compensation plans.”

Daco said that given the expectation of subdued labor demand, his firm’s outlook sees wage growth easing toward 3.5% in the second half of 2026.

More traffic sounds like the right move. It feels like progress. More clicks should mean more sales. Many founders learn the hard way. Traffic is not the problem. The buying path is the problem. Fixing conversion first often unlocks growth with the same budget.

This topic matters more now. Ad costs rise. Competition is tighter. Buyers also have less patience. A store can attract the right visitors and still lose them. The leak usually sits on product pages, cart, and checkout.

The right question is simple. Should the next effort go into traffic or conversion? The answer depends on where money is lost today.

The Fast Test That Shows the Real Bottleneck

Start with a basic check. Look at sessions and orders. If traffic is rising but sales are flat, conversion is the bottleneck. If conversion is strong but traffic is low, traffic is the bottleneck. Many stores sit in the first case.

A quick way to confirm this is a funnel review. Check the add to cart rate. Check the checkout start rate. Check purchase rate. One step is usually weak, and Baymard’s cart abandonment rate research highlights how often checkout friction drives drop-offs.

Do not guess. Do not change five things at once. Find the step with the biggest drop. Fix that step first.

Traffic Can Hide Problems and Make Them Worse

More traffic can hide broken pages. It can also hide weak offers. A store can still get orders. The store still loses profit. The ad account then gets blamed. The real issue stays in place.

Traffic also creates noisy data. Low conversion means fewer purchases. Fewer purchases mean weaker learning. That slows ad improvement. It also slows product decisions.

Traffic should scale after the basics work. Otherwise, the store pays for visitors who never had a chance.

Fix the Leak Before Buying More Clicks

Conversion work starts with friction. Friction is anything that makes buying feel hard. It can be slow pages. It can be unclear shipping. It can be weak trust. It can be a messy checkout.

Start with a founder style audit. Open the store on mobile. Add a product to the cart. Start checkout. Count the steps. Watch for surprises. Note every moment that feels annoying.

Checkout and upsell structure also affects conversion. Some stores improve this by using funnel-style pages. Funnel pages reduce distractions and keep focus on one offer. For context, Funnelish is positioned as an all-in-one platform for fast funnels, optimized checkouts, and one-click upsells. The aim is higher conversion and higher average order value.

The Conversion Basics That Pay Off First

Page speed is a conversion lever, and Google explains why mobile site speed matters for growth in retail. Slow pages reduce trust fast. Mobile makes this worse. Heavy themes and stacked apps often cause it. Speed work should target product pages and checkout first.

Clarity is the next lever. Buyers need answers fast. What is included? How long does delivery take? What do returns look like? If these details are hidden, buyers pause. Pauses turn into exits.

Trust is the third lever. Add real signals near the buy action. Show support contact. Show returns window. Show payment icons early. Avoid a wall of badges. Keep it clean and believable.

Raise AOV Before Raising Budget

Conversion is not only about more orders. It is also about more profit per order. Average order value protects margins. It also makes ads easier to scale.

AOV improves with relevant add-ons. It improves with bundles. It improves with post-purchase offers. It drops when offers feel pushy. It also drops when checkout feels noisy.

A simple rule helps. Offer one clear add-on. Make it match the product. Make the value easy to understand. Keep it optional.

For a practical view of funnel steps and offer timing, check out this blogpost: eCommerce funnel and checkout flows. It explains order bumps, upsells, and testing in one system. That supports higher-order value without more traffic.

When Traffic Should Come First

Sometimes, traffic is the real issue. This happens when conversion is already healthy. It also happens when the offer is proven. The store has reviews. The store has strong repeat buyers. The store has a stable checkout.

In that case, traffic work can be smart. The goal is still controlled growth. Add one traffic channel at a time. Track blended return. Watch for margin drop.

Traffic should also match intent. A cold audience needs a clear promise. A warm audience can handle more product depth. Bad targeting creates low-quality clicks. Those clicks will never convert.

A Practical Decision Framework for Founders

A simple framework keeps focus. Use it every month. It prevents random work.

If conversion is low, fix conversion first. If conversion is solid, test new traffic. If both are weak, start with offer clarity and page flow.

This table helps decide fast:

The Metrics That Matter More Than Vanity Numbers

Traffic numbers feel good. Sessions can still lie. The store needs metrics tied to money.

Track purchase rate by device. Track checkout drop by step. Track page load time on mobile. Track refund rate. Track average order value. Track contribution margin.

Also, track repeat purchase rate. A store with strong repeat buyers can pay more for traffic. A store with weak retention must protect its margin.

Growth gets easier when these numbers improve. Ads become simpler. Inventory planning becomes safer. Cash flow becomes calmer.

Conclusion

Traffic and conversion are not rivals. They are a sequence. Conversion comes first for most stores. Fix the buying path. Fix clarity. Fix trust. Fix speed. Then scale traffic with confidence.

A founder does not need more noise. A founder needs fewer leaks. Fewer leaks create better profit. Better profit creates more options. That is the real win.

This article was written by

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The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline was defined by high-stakes movement, but few deals carried as much sentimental and strategic weight as the homecoming of Bobby Brink. On Friday, March 6, 2026, the Philadelphia Flyers traded the 24-year-old forward to his hometown team, the Minnesota Wild, in a one-for-one swap for defenseman prospect David Jiříček.

As Brink swaps the orange and black for the forest green and wheat, here are the 10 things you must know about the dynamic winger as he enters this new chapter of his career.

1. He’s Finally Coming Home

Born in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Brink grew up in the heart of “State of Hockey” territory. Before becoming a pro, he was a local legend for the Minnetonka Skippers, leading them to an MSHSL State Championship in 2018. Returning to Minnesota isn’t just a business move; it’s a full-circle moment for a player who spent his childhood dreaming of playing at the Xcel Energy Center.

2. The “David Jiříček” Swap

The trade that brought Brink to Minnesota was a rare “hockey trade” between two young assets. The Flyers, facing a logjam at right wing with the emergence of Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny, traded Brink to address their need for a high-end blueliner. In return, they received David Jiříček, a 22-year-old former No. 6 overall pick with a massive slapshot. For Minnesota, the deal adds immediate scoring depth to their middle-six forward group.

3. A Hobey Baker Pedigree

Brink isn’t just another prospect; he was arguably the best player in college hockey during his tenure at the University of Denver. In 2022, he led the entire NCAA in scoring with 57 points in 41 games and was a “Hat Trick” finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He capped that season by leading the Pioneers to a National Championship before turning pro.

4. He Survived the “Tortorella School of Coaching”

Perhaps the most impressive part of Brink’s development was his relationship with former Flyers head coach John Tortorella. Known for being notoriously hard on offensive-minded “small” players, Tortorella famously challenged Brink’s defensive game, once even quipping that Brink probably didn’t know how to spell “checking.” However, by early 2025, Brink had won him over, becoming a staple on what was nicknamed the “Most Tortorella Line” alongside Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster.

5. Elite Skating Speed (The 94th Percentile)

While Brink stands at a modest 5-foot-8, his speed is elite. According to NHL EDGE data for the 2025-26 season, Brink’s top skating speed reached 23.30 MPH, placing him in the 94th percentile of the entire league. This explosive burst allows him to win puck battles and create odd-man rushes despite being smaller than most defenders.

6. Current 2025-26 Season Stats

Before being traded on Friday, Brink was having a solid, consistent year in Philadelphia. In 55 games this season, he recorded 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists). His shooting percentage of 14.4% remains well above the league average, proving his efficiency when he gets into high-danger scoring areas.

7. Contract Status: RFA Imminent

Brink is currently in the final year of a two-year, $3 million contract ($1.5M AAV) he signed in July 2024. He is set to become a Restricted Free Agent (RFA) with arbitration rights on July 1, 2026. This gives the Minnesota Wild team control over his rights, but they will likely need to negotiate a multi-year extension this summer if he performs well in the upcoming playoff push.

8. A World Junior Gold Medalist

Brink has a history of winning on the international stage. He was a key member of the Team USA squad that won the Gold Medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships. His experience in high-pressure, short-tournament formats makes him a valuable asset for a Wild team looking to make noise in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

9. He Overcame Major Injury Setbacks

Brink’s path to the NHL wasn’t seamless. Shortly after signing his entry-level contract in 2022, he underwent hip surgery that sidelined him for a significant portion of his first full professional season. His ability to regain his elite skating speed and lateral agility after such a procedure is a testament to his work ethic and the modern sports medicine available to NHL athletes.

10. Versatility in the Lineup

One of Brink’s greatest strengths is his ability to play anywhere in the top nine. In Philadelphia, he spent time on the top-line power play but was also trusted in defensive “grind” situations. Minnesota Wild fans can expect to see him slot in on the right wing, likely alongside a playmaker like Marco Rossi or as a creative spark for the second power-play unit.

As the US and Israel continue strikes on Iran, and with retaliatory strikes hitting nearby Middle East states, key shipping routes are being disrupted. Oil and gas production in the region is also being affected.

The BBC’s Nick Marsh examines how the war could cause a rise in living costs around the world.