The total number of jobs created last year was roughly 6 million as the unemployment rate declined from 6.5% at the start of the year to 3.9%. … READ MORE >
Blog
Chart of the day: Service sector grew at slower pace in December
The purchasing managers’ index for services grew at a much slower rate in December as supply chain delays continued to put a drag on service activities. … READ MORE >
Canada’s merchandise trade surplus increases, lifted by vaccine production
Canada’s international merchandise trade surplus widened to 3.1 billion CAD in November because of an unexpected source: the mass production of the COVID-19 vaccine. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims remain below pandemic level despite seasonal uptick
New filings for unemployment insurance last week ticked up to 207,000 from 198,000, continuing to stay below the pre-pandemic level amid a tight labor market where businesses are holding onto their workers. … READ MORE >
ADP jobs report: Service sector led an upside surprise in December
Private businesses in the United States added 807,000 jobs in December, the most since May, pointing to a stronger rebound of the labor market, according to a report from ADP on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
Canada’s building permits hit a record in November
Canadian building permits rose by 6.8% in November to an all-time-high of 11.2 billion CAD, the third straight monthly increase demand for residential housing remained strong. … READ MORE >
December jobs report preview: Expect the unemployment rate to fall to 4.1%
We expect a net change in total employment of 475,000 jobs and a decline in the unemployment rate to 4.1% when the jobs report for December is published on Friday. … READ MORE >
Labor market tightened in November despite decline in job openings
Demand for labor declined slightly in November while the rate of people quitting their jobs returned to an all-time high, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Manufacturing sector grows at a slower pace
The manufacturing sector continued to grow in December but at a slightly lower rate compared to November, according to data released by the Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday. … READ MORE >
Monetary and fiscal policy in a changing economy: Meeting the Fed’s full employment mandate
As workers have returned to the labor force, incomes have risen and the unemployment rate has dropped to 4.2%, a robust discussion has followed over what constitutes full employment in the American economy. … READ MORE >