Browsing: Economy

Economy

There were $497.6 billion in retail and food service sales in April, up 0.3% from the previous month and 4.7% from April 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. March’s number was upwardly revised to reflect a 0.8% increase. Core retail sales – excluding automobiles and parts – rose 0.3%. Year-over-year core sales increased 4.8%.

Economy

The Consumer Price Index increased 0.2% in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This followed a 0.1% March decline. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index rose 2.5%. Prices for all items less food and energy, the “core CPI,” grew 0.1% in April, following a 0.2% March

Economy

Producer prices increased 0.1% in April, seasonally adjusted, after rising 0.3% in March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Producer prices rose 2.6% for the twelve months ended April 2017. The index for final demand goods was unchanged in April, after increasing 0.3% last month. The index for final demand energy rose 0.1%,

Economy

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index grew to 104.8, 0.1 point above March’s reading. Four of the ten index components rose in April, while three declined. Twenty-seven percent of business owners surveyed said the next three months was a good time to expand, one point lower than last month’s reading. Reported job creation grew four

Economy

Consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.6% in March, down from a 4.3% rate in February. Total outstanding credit increased $11.7 billion during the month (compared with $13.6 billion in February) to $3.87 trillion. Revolving credit, largely a reflection of credit card debt, declined at an annual rate of 3.0% to

Economy

Total nonfarm payroll employment grew by 164,000 in April, an increase from last month’s reading of 135,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national unemployment rate fell to 3.9%, the first sub-4% unemployment figure since 2000. Private service-providing industries gained 119,000 jobs, led by professional and business services and education and health care,

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