Jobs

Why July’s job gains do not ensure a strong outlook

Why will the U.S. spending outlook remain unevenly modest despite sustained strong job gains in July? It’s true that the gains are an encouraging sign. They show that the job market is overcoming the disruptions—primarily labor-strike and weather-related—that dramatically depressed the…




Job Trends Polarizing Growth by Local Markets

The U.S. economy is showing growing vulnerability focused in certain state and local job markets—beyond the impact of a Verizon strike that artificially depressed the latest employment numbers. The job trends nationally and by state and local markets suggest that consumer…


Latest Job Trends Show Uneven, Shifting Growth

The modest U.S. job gains in April reflect weaker growth in energy-dependent states that has become more evident despite improving growth in other states and metro markets. The job trends suggest that U.S. households will sustain growth in spending that will…


March Job Gains Keep Spending Outlook Steady

Strong job gains in March—especially in retail and food service—will keep the outlook steady for household spending, according to the latest U.S. jobs numbers. The job count increased by 215,000 in March. Five of the last six months have now registered…