The record-high turnover in the job market, known as the Great Resignation, is showing signs of easing, but that may not be the case for small businesses. If anything, the struggle has only been amplified for firms with fewer than 50 employees. While the overall rate of workers quitting their jobs fell ... READ MORE >
Job openings drop in June amid Fed’s attempt to control inflation
Job openings in the United States fell for the third straight month in June as the labor market started to loosen up, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday. Job openings—which represent labor demand—have been the main target of the Federal Reserve to lessen the second-round impact on ... READ MORE >
Manufacturing sector activity hits lowest level in two years
U.S. manufacturing sector activity continued to slow in July to its lowest level in two years as demand and prices cooled off, the Institute of Supply Management reported on Monday. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index inched down to 52.8 from 53 the previous month, still indicating growth as ... READ MORE >
American spending and income eroded by multi-decade high inflation
American consumer spending barely kept up with price gains in June as the Federal Reserve's key inflation gauge—the Personal Consumption Expenditure price index—reached a new multi-decade high, according to government data released Friday. Additionally, personal income declined for the first time since ... READ MORE >
Jobless claims in July continue rising layoffs trend
New filings for jobless benefits continued to beat market estimates to the upside, falling 1.9% to 256,000 for the week ending July 23. Given that the labor market is the main force keeping the economy from descending toward an economic trough, the initial jobless claims data released Thursday add ... READ MORE >
Unexpectedly strong durable goods orders and trade data temper recession concerns
U.S. durable goods orders and the goods trade deficit in June beat expectations, according to data released Wednesday, tempering recession concerns before the Federal Reserve is expected to announce a rate hike later in the day. On top of that, shipments of nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft—a ... READ MORE >
Consumer confidence drops as new home sales slump
Consumer confidence continued to fall in July to the lowest level since February 2021 amid inflation angst and an economic slowdown, the Conference Board reported on Tuesday. The top-line number fell to 95.7 from 98.4 in June, driven by broad declines across all components. But there was good news: ... READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims rise to eight-month high
New filings for jobless benefits rose more than expected last week to an eight-month high of 251,000, continuing to show signs of increases in layoffs amid an economic slowdown. That was also the seventh week in a row that new jobless claims stayed above the pre-pandemic average, government data ... READ MORE >
Existing home sales continued its slump, down 21% in 2022
Existing home sales fell for the fifth straight month as the housing market cooled significantly amid steep rises in mortgage rates and housing prices, the National Association of Realtors reported on Wednesday. Sales dropped 5.4% in June from a month earlier to 5.12 million on a seasonally adjusted ... READ MORE >
U.S. housing supply continues to fall amid rising mortgage rates
Housing starts and permits in the United States continued to fall in June amid higher interest rates and sharp declines in demand because of elevated housing prices, the Census Bureau reported on Tuesday. There were 1.56 million new housing starts in June on an annualized basis, a 2.0% decline from May ... READ MORE >