Small business owners continued feeling ebullient in August according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Increasing one-tenth of a percentage point, the Small Business Optimism Index matched its highest reading in 12 years, reaching 105.3 in August 2017. Details in the report were mixed, but the magnitude of the rate of change for rising categories was greate
After more complete data were collected, it now appears America was more productive than first estimated from April through June of 2017. New estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate productivity increased 1.5 percent, upwardly revised from 0.9 percent; this is a stark contrast to the first quarter’s productivity gain of just 0.1 percent. Additionally, unit labor
Popular measures of consumer attitudes were positive in August 2017. Those polled by the Conference Board for the Consumer Confidence tally were much more enthusiastic than a month earlier as were the folks interviewed by the University of Michigan for Consumer Sentiment figures.
America’s trade deficit widened a little in July according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Growing $200 million to $43.7 billion from the revised tally of $43.5 billion (originally $43.6 billion), our nation’s trading shortfall gave back a portion of the prior month’s $2.8 billon improvement. Nonetheless, America continues to import much more that it exports.&n
Location is critical for many trading partnerships. For instance, last year America’s number two and three trading relationships were with the world’s 10th and 15th largest economies: Canada and Mexico. These two nations trade with the U.S in large part because of proximity. However, with increased globalization, other key relationships develo
Output on both sides of the American economy accelerated in August according to the two figures from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Manufacturing’s tally increased to 58.8 from an already strong reading of 56.3 in July. On the service side of output, the non-manufacturing total reached 55.3 after the prior count of 53.9.
Just before Labor Day Weekend started, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their latest figures for America's employment situation. Our economy added 156,000 net new jobs in the period, but the prior two months were downwardly revised by a combined 41,000. Despite the increased number of filled positions, the unemployment rate climbed one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.4 percent.
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