Labor/Economy
‘Economy Watch’ Podcast with Dees Stribling: Retail Sales Grew in the Spring
Retail sales grew in the spring.
Economy Watch: Homebuilders Confidence Rises Unexpectedly
Despite sluggish sales in recent months, builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose four points in June to reach 49 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.
Economy Watch: World Bank Lowers Global Growth Predictions
Last week the World Bank, in its Global Economic Prospects, lowered its forecast for world economic growth in 2014
Economy Watch: Retail Sales Up in May
The Census Bureau reported that U.S. retail and food sales in May were up 0.3 percent compared with April, adjusted for seasonal variation and holidays, but not for price changes (though inflation is still pretty low).
Economy Watch: Service Sector Revenues Mixed in Q1
The Census Bureau reported that U.S. service sector revenues increased for certain industries in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the previous quarter, such as information services, utilities and finance and insurance.
Economy Watch: Job Openings Up in April
There were 4.5 million U.S. job openings on the last business day of April, up from 4.2 million in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in its Job Openings and Turnover Survey.
‘Economy Watch’ Podcast with Dees Stribling: Hiring is Pretty Strong
Hiring was pretty strong in May.
Economy Watch: Economic Worries a Drag on Housing
Americans’ concerns about the direction of the economy and their household income appear to be weighing on housing growth, according to Fannie Mae’s May 2014 National Housing Survey.
Economy Watch: U.S. Economy Adds 217,000 Jobs in May
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy added a net of 217,000 jobs in May, which wasn’t quite as much as in April, but still a reasonably healthy number.