Let’s start with a sign of weakness in the job market that may have an acute cause; we’ll consult Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial in Chicago. Plus, one of the oldest of America’s supermarket chains has figured out how to stay ahead of the fresh-faced competition. Kroger of Cincinnati reported today that its profits went up 9 percent last quarter and its stock is up about 1 percent. Kroger recently bought Harris Teeter and already owned Ralphs and Food 4 Less. The company’s also doing a lot of hiring. And by one projection, the United States needs about a million new teachers in the next five years or so, as more Baby Boomer–aged instructors retire. A national recruiting campaign is underway, but holding on to those budding teachers may be tough.