Newsletters

Initial Jobless Claims declined by 1,000 in the latest week, as 202,000 people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continuing Claims also fell by 34,000, with 1.834 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim.  What’s the bottom line? Initial Jobless Claims are historically lower during the holiday season, as layoffs tend to […]

The Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures inflation on the wholesale level, fell 0.1% in December, coming in below the expected 0.1% rise. On an annual basis, PPI rose from an anemic 0.8% to 1%, also lower than expected. Core PPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was flat for the month with the […]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were 216,000 jobs created in December, which is stronger than the 170,000 that were forecasted. However, revisions to October and November removed 71,000 jobs in those months combined. The unemployment rate held steady at 3.7%. What’s the bottom line? While the headline job growth figure for December appears […]

The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed that job openings fell from 8.85 million in October to a less than forecasted 8.79 million in November, which is the lowest level since March of 2021. The hiring rate dropped from 3.7% to 3.5% while the quit rate also declined from 2.3% to 2.2%, […]

The minutes from the Fed’s December meeting showed there is a growing sense among Fed members that inflation is under control. The Fed cited the decline we’ve seen in their favored inflation measure, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures, which strips out volatile food and energy prices. The Fed also acknowledged that there is a risk to the economy […]

ADP’s Employment Report showed that private payrolls were stronger than forecasted in December, as employers added 164,000 jobs “led by a healthy bump in leisure and hospitality hiring.” Almost all the growth came in service-providing industries, with goods-producing companies only adding 9,000 jobs. Annual pay for job stayers increased by 5.4% while job changers saw an […]

You’ll especially enjoy National Bittersweet Chocolate Day on January 10 with these rich, chewy and decadent Salty Chocolatey Cookies courtesy of the New York Times. Yields 24 cookies. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small pot, melt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat until it starts […]

Initial Jobless Claims fell by 18,000 in the latest week, as 202,000 people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continuing Claims also declined by 31,000, with 1.855 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. What’s the bottom line? Initial Jobless Claims are historically lower during the holiday season, as layoffs tend to […]

It’s National Soup Month. This quick and easy Chicken Noodle Soup courtesy of Allrecipes serves six and is the perfect way to kick off the year right. In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup each chopped onion and chopped celery and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. […]

Initial Jobless Claims rose by 12,000 in the latest week, with a higher than expected 218,000 people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continuing Claims also rose by 14,000, remaining near the highest level in more than two years as 1,875,000 people are still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim.  What’s the bottom […]

The Case-Shiller Home Price Index, which is considered the “gold standard” for appreciation, showed home prices nationwide rose 0.6% from September to October after seasonal adjustment, marking the ninth consecutive month of gains. Prices were also 4.8% higher than in October of last year, which is the fastest annual rate of the year. S&P DJI’s Head […]

Pending Home Sales were unchanged from October to November, though October’s figures were revised slightly higher according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Sales were also 5.2% below the level reported in November of 2022. This data measures signed contracts on existing homes, making it a forward-looking indicator for closings as measured by Existing […]