Job Openings And Labor

(Reuters) - A measure of how many U.S. workers quit their jobs held steady in March, suggesting a recent slowdown in hiring has not triggered a major deterioration of confidence in the labor market. The U.S. Labor Department said on Tuesday that 1.6 percent of job holders quit in March, unchanged from February. The quits rate has trended higher since dipping to 1.2 percent in September 2009, but is still below its long-term average. Since 2000, the rate has averaged 1.9 percent. The quits rate can act as a measure of a worker's willingness or ability to change jobs. The layoffs rate was unchanged in March at 1.3 percent. U.S. employers cut back on hiring in three straight months through April, heightening fears the economy was losing momentum. But also pointing to ongoing healing in ...

(Reuters) - Gary Feeman has been searching for a job for 16 months. He's not ready to give up just yet, but the 60-year-old worries he is running out of options. Feeman is among the more than 5 million Americans who have been out of work for more than six months and who represent the heart of the crisis in the labor market. Their plight also poses a warning that U.S. unemployment may not drop back to its pre-recession levels and could be stuck higher than many policymakers expect. Feeman, from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has sent out as many as 100 resumes. But the former maintenance director at a small amusement park in the area, has had only one interview in person. That was in January. "I have tried everything under the sun," he said. "The frustrating thing to me is that when ...

The Weekly Bottom Line : 16/03/2012 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK United States Market participants are clearly trading on what everyone else seems to be feeling: the recovery is back. But the Fed, for its part, is not yet willing to admit that the economy has entered a new, stronger phase. Though the quickening pace of job growth is a positive sign, disposable income growth is still stagnant, and the recent run-up in commodity prices threatens to erode consumer spending growth. Europe's troubles haven't gone away. If market sentiment get's too far ahead of itself, the Fed may be tempted to fight back with another round of asset purchases. But if rising borrowing costs are a product of a stronger recovery then the Fed should be less concerned. Increased spreads may actually be ...

Weekly Economic and Financial Commentary U.S. Review “March Happiness” Tempered by Late Week Reports As March Mayhem arrives in the sports world, investors found much to be happy about with many of this week's economic releases. Retail sales improved for the second straight month thanks to a stronger labor market, rising consumer confidence and unseasonably warm weather across much of the country. Regional manufacturing indices also improved, while import and producer price growth slowed. However, Friday's reports tempered the enthusiasm as industrial production was unchanged, rising gas prices led to the biggest increase in consumer prices in 10 months, and consumer sentiment slipped. Signs of a Consumer Rebound Following a weak end to 2011, retail sales have bounced back, rising 0.6 ...

(Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week, a government report showed on Thursday, but not enough to change perceptions that the labor market was strengthening. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000, the Labor Department said. Even with the increase, claims are still near their lowest in four years. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims unchanged at 351,000 last week. The four-week moving average for new claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends, edged up 250 to 355,000 - still near a four-year low. "We remain in this lower range as far as the jobless claims are concerned and most analysts are looking forward to at least a moderately encouraging payrolls ...

New claims for unemployment benefits were unchanged last week, holding at the lowest level since the early days of the 2007-2009 recession and giving a fresh sign the battered labor market is healing. Workers filed 351,000 initial claims for state unemployment benefits, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The prior week's figure was revised up to 351,000 from the previously reported 348,000. The last two weekly readings have been the lowest since March 2008. The four-week moving average for new claims, a measure of labor market trends, fell 7,000 to 359,000 - also the lowest since March 2008. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast initial claims rising to 354,000. With weekly claims approaching levels last seen before the recession that began in December 2007, economists say ...

The number of Americans filing for new jobless benefits fell to a near four-year low last week and factory activity in the Mid-Atlantic area grew in February, more evidence of sustained momentum in the economy. The economic outlook was brightened further by other data on Thursday showing builders breaking more ground on new residential projects in January, pointing to signs of life in the distressed housing market. The reports added to a raft of solid data that now has analysts expecting only a mild slowdown in growth in the first quarter. Economists also have dialed down their expectations for another round of bond-buying or quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve. "The numbers add to the belief that the economy is shifting gears. There is just no number that is giving us a whole ...

(Reuters) - New claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to a near four-year low, a government report showed on Thursday, suggesting the labor market was finally strengthening. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,000, the Labor Department said, the lowest since March 2008. The prior week's figure was revised up to 361,000 from the previously reported 358,000. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims rising to 365,000. The four-week moving average for new claims, seen as a better measure of labor market trends, fell 1,750 to 365,250 - the lowest since April 2008. Last week's drop pushed claims below the 350,000 level that economists normally associate with sustained strength in the labor market. New ...

Weekly Economic and Financial Commentary : 11/02/2012 U.S. Review The Moderate Economic Recovery is Still Underway Consumer credit surged by $19.3 billion in December, the second consecutive solid monthly increase reflecting growth in credit cards, student loans and car loans. Weekly first-time jobless claims fell by 15k to 358k and the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed the number of job openings in December rose 2.5 percent. Data on international trade show the nominal U.S. trade deficit widened 3.7 percent to $48.8 billion in December from $47.1 billion in November. Light Week for Data, but the Economy is Still Improving Despite headlines dominated by the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis, the flow of economic releases in the U.S. this week was fairly light and ...