Small Business Optimism

April 10, 2024 . Small business optimism fell 0.9 point in March to 88.5 after declining 1.1 points in February.  That is the lowest level for this series since December 2012 which makes the current level even lower than the low point in the March/April 2020 recession...

Payroll Employment

April 5, 2024 Payroll employment jumped by 303 thousand in March after  having risen 270 thousand in February and 256 thousand in January.  In the past three months the average increase has been 276 thousand.  The March increase was larger than the 200 thousand...

Private Employment

April 5, 2024 Private sector employment jumped by 233 thousand in March after  having risen 206 thousand in February and 196 thousand in January.  In the past three months the average increase has been 212 thousand.  The March increase was larger than the 180 thousand...

Unemployment Rate

April 5, 2024 The unemployment rate fell 0.1% in March to 3.8% after having risen 0.2% in February.  In March the labor force rose by 469 thousand..  Employment jumped by 498 thousand.  As a result, the number of unemployed workers fell; by 29 thousand  and the...