A new de-facto entry-level wage of $15 per hour is becoming the national standard in the private sector. The shock to the economy unleashed by the pandemic and the response by workers have radically transformed the wage-earning landscape. … READ MORE >
coronavirus
September U.S. jobs report: One-time factors dampen hiring as unemployment rate falls to 4.8%
Widespread disruption to supply chains, the impact of Hurricane Ida, modest delays in the reopening of schools and day care centers and seasonal noise in the employment data all combined to dampen hiring in September. … READ MORE >
ADP private payrolls report: Strong rebound, but not for middle market firms
Nonfarm private employment showed a surprisingly strong rebound in September after a disappointing August, according to data released by ADP on Wednesday. … READ MORE >
U.S. September jobs preview: Expect a modest gain amid special factors and seasonal adjustments
The U.S. September employment report will most likely feature a net change in total employment of 375,000 and a decline in the unemployment rate to 5.1% when it is released on Friday. … READ MORE >
Services PMI grew faster in September as prices and demand remained elevated
In a sign of the service sector’s continuing strength, the Service Purchasing Managers’ Index inched up by 0.2 percentage points to 61.9% in August – the 16th consecutive month of expansion, according to data released Tuesday by the Institute for Supply Management. … READ MORE >
Canada’s trade surplus rose in August with global energy demand
Canada’s merchandise trade surplus widened to CAD $1.94 billion in August thanks to rising global demand for energy amid shortages in other countries, Statistics Canada reported on Tuesday. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: U.S. trade deficit reached record high in August
The U.S. trade deficit rose to a record $73.25 billion in August, up from $70.3 billion in July, as both goods and service trade balances declined. … READ MORE >
Global natural gas prices hit record as middle market girds for difficult winter
Global natural gas prices have climbed to record highs amid soaring demand fueled by the reopening economy and tight supplies. As power outages halt manufacturing and threaten climate commitments, businesses and consumers should brace themselves for a difficult winter. … READ MORE >
Lessons from the American Dream mega-mall
The tortured history of American Dream is a lesson in how ambitious plans with the best of intentions can go awry. … READ MORE >
Americans spent more on building homes than on building anything else for the first time in 14 years
In another sign of the housing market’s continued strength, U.S. spending on residential buildings—both private and public—increased by 0.4% in August to $795.5 billion, while nonresidential spending declined by 0.4% to $788.6 billion, on a seasonally adjusted annual rate. … READ MORE >