December was the fourth consecutive month and the eighth month out of the last nine in which more than 200,000 jobs were added nationwide. The highest total of jobs added during any one month in 2014 was 297,000 in June. The year began with just 121,000 jobs added in January.
Read More »Labor Indicators Support Predictions of Housing Rebound
Reports from economists at CoreLogic and Wells Fargo released in December indicated they believe housing will rebound in 2015 after a disappointing 2014, and they cited improvements in the U.S. labor market as a main reason why.
Read More »Payrolls Jump by 321K in November; Unemployment Rate Flat
U.S. payrolls for November surpassed even the most optimistic forecasts, increasing at the highest rate in more than two years, according to a government estimate.
Read More »Report Breaks Down Labor Force Hurdles
A report released recently by the Pew Research Center indicates that while the U.S. unemployment rate is low, the number of people who are "not in the labor force," meaning they are not counted among the unemployed in the BLS survey, is near an all-time high.
Read More »Employers Add 214K Jobs in October; Unemployment Dips to 5.8%
U.S. employers added 214,000 jobs last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday morning. Economists had expected payrolls would increase by 240,000, a slight decline from September's preliminary estimate of 248,000 new jobs added.
Read More »Private Employers Add 230K Jobs in October
The number of jobs in the private sector increased by 230,000 from September to October, according to the latest report from ADP. October's growth was the highest since June and the second highest so far this year, said ADP's president and CEO, Carlos Rodriguez.
Read More »Fannie: Jobs Data Supports Growth Forecast
Fannie Mae's chief economist, Doug Duncan, said the latest employment report supports Fannie's "forecast of solid economic growth," and is consistent with the company's September National Housing Survey, "which is expected to show a rebound in consumer expectations regarding housing after a couple of months of eroding confidence."
Read More »Labor Market Index Improves After Four-Month Slowdown
After slowing for the fourth straight month in August, the Federal Reserve's gauge of conditions in the labor market made a slight recovery in September. The Fed's labor market conditions index, which the central bank said it will now release on a monthly basis, added 2.5 points in September after increasing only 2 points in August—its lowest pace of growth in 13 months.
Read More »September Job Growth Beats Forecasts at 248,000
After giving a soft performance in August, the labor market came back strong last month, knocking the national unemployment rate down below the 6.0 percent mark for the first time in more than six years.
Read More »Consumer Confidence Suffers Backslide in September
The Conference Board reported a drop of nearly eight points in its monthly measure of consumer sentiment, putting the group's index at 86 from August's upwardly revised reading of 93.4. Economists had expected a slight nudge upward to 92.5 from an originally reported 92.4 the previous month.
Read More »