Job Openings

March 11, 2025 The  Labor Department reported that job openings rose 232 thousand in January to 7,740 thousand after having declined 523 thousand in December and having risen 416 thousand in November.   The pace of economic activity has remained relatively solid while...

Small Business Optimism

March 11, 2025 . Small business optimism declined 2.1 points in February to 100.7 after having declined 2.3 points in January.  The media focus seems to be on the fact that the index has declined in each of the past two months.  That is true,  But the index level also...

Too Much, Too Fast

March 7, 2025 The chaotic nature of the Administration’s implementation of tariffs, immigration policy, and federal government layoffs is creating considerable uncertainty for consumers and business leaders. Thus far the economic damage has been minimal, but if it...

Payroll Employment

March 7, 2025 Payroll employment climbed by 151 thousand in February after having climbed by 125 thousand in January and 323 thousand in December.  The job gain was roughly in  line with expectations, but the quality of the jobs has deteriorated.   Many of those jobs...