BLS

One of the most-followed economic indicators disappointed in August 2019.  Employment gains decelerated to 130,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Adding to the weakness, the prior two months’ tallies were downwardly revised by 20,000 net new jobs.  However, we shouldn’t lose track of the fact that unemployment is very low; it held steady at 3.7 percent

America’s economy added 224,000 net new jobs in June according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  This latest change to the employment situation was a dramatic uptick from the downwardly revised count of just 72,000 (originally 75,000) in May.  Although the unemployment rate ticked up marginally to 3.7 percent, this release was largely positive.

Prices paid by producers and wholesalers rose marginally in February 2019 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Their Producer Price Index rose 0.1 percent after declining a similar amount in both December and January.  Year-over-year, this price proxy is up 1.9 percent, declining modestly from 2.0 percent in January. 

Prices increased for Americans during the month of February 2019 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI).  On a seasonally adjusted basis, this inflation measure increased 0.2 percent.  Year-over-year, the all items index increased 1.5 percent. 

Prices paid by wholesalers and producers declined to start this year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Their measure of Producer Price Index (PPI) dropped marginally, falling 0.1 percent in January 2019 and matching the prior month’s decline as well.  Year-over-year, this price proxy has gained a tame 2.0 percent.

Prices paid by Americans were unchanged in January 2019 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI).  This comprehensive look at inflation gained just 1.6 percent in the past twelve months.  Stripping out food and energy, the “core” CPI tally gained 0.2 percent to start the year and 2.2 percent on a year-over-year basis. 

Normally around this time in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases information on our nation’s Productivity and Unit Labor Costs from the fourth quarter of the prior year.   Not this time.  With another government shutdown already looming, economic data continues suffering from the last time portions of the federal budget went unfunded.  In the meanti