• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims – 23 November 2013 [Jobless]

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In the week ending November 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 316,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 326,000. The 4-week moving average was 331,750, a decrease of 7,500 from the previous week's revised average of 339,250. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending November 16, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 16 were in Alaska (4.6), Puerto Rico (3.8), New Jersey (3.2), Virgin Islands (3.1), California (2.8), Connecticut (2.8), Pennsylvania (2.7), Oregon (2.5), Illinois (2.4), and New York (2.4). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 16 were in Florida (+888), Idaho (+573), Mississippi (+534), Minnesota (+155), and North Dakota (+103), while the largest decreases were in California (-4,644), Michigan (-3,342), Pennsylvania (-3,112), Texas (-2,584), and New York (-2,246). Click on chart to enlarge Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS

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• CTDPH Says 1 in 6 Americans Will Get Food Poisoning This Year

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“The Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds Connecticut residents that food safety is especially important as they prepare holiday meals. Many holiday dinners include meat and poultry, a possible source of foodborne disease if not handled and prepared properly. ”This holiday season, DPH urges consumers to prevent foodborne illness and follow the basic principles of food safety and good hygiene when buying and preparing food items.” Read the full article at this link: CTDPH

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• U.S. Nonfatal Occupational Injuries And Illnesses Requiring Days Away From Work - 2012

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The rate of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases requiring days away from work to recuperate was 112 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2012, down from 117 in 201l. The total number of private industry, state government, and local government cases with days away from work decreased 2 percent to 1,153,980 cases. The median days away from work--a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses--was 9 days. This is one day more than in 2011. See the complete report at:: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Occupational Injuries. Illnesses, and Fatalities – by State

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State data presenting the number and frequency of work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatal injuries are available from two BLS programs: nonfatal cases of work-related injuries and illnesses that are recorded by employers under the Occupational safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) recordkeeping guidelines are available for 46 States and Territories from the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII); fatal cases of work-related injuries are available for all States, Territories, and New York City under a separate program, the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). See the detailed state-by-state data at:: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Employment and Unemployment vs. Connecticut - October 2013

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• 12-Month % Growth in Employment: U.S. vs. CT

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• Unemployment Rate: U.S. vs. CT

• U.S. Labor Turnover, Quits, Layoffs – September 2013

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There were 3.5 million total separations in September, little changed from August. Total turnover was 3.5% up from 3.2% in the same month a year ago. In September, 2.57 million resignations yielded a quits rate of 1.9%, up from 1.6% last year. U.S. employers laid off or fired 1.85 million workers, up a bit from August’s figure. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Job Openings and Hires – September 2013

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There were 3.95 million job openings in September, little changed from August. The number of job openings decreased in arts, entertainment, and recreation and was little changed in all remaining industries and in all four regions. The number of job openings (NSA) increased over the year for total nonfarm and total private, and was little changed in government. Over the year, the number of job openings increased in several industries but decreased in nondurable goods manufacturing and federal government. The Midwest region experienced an increase in job openings over the 12 months ending in September. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Regional and State Employment and Unemployment -- October 2013

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UNEMPLOYMENT Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in October. Twenty-eight states had unemployment rate decreases from September, 11 states and the District of Columbia had increases, and 11 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-eight states had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 10 states and the District of Columbia had increases, and 2 states had no change. EMPLOYMENT Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 34 states, decreased in 15 states, and was unchanged in the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in Florida (+44,600), California (+39,800), and North Carolina (+22,200). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Kentucky (-12,600), followed by Washington (-8,100), New Jersey (-5,500), and Virginia (-5,400). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Michigan (-13,000), followed by Ohio (-12,800) and Oregon (-7,900). Source: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Local Area Personal Income - 2012

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Personal income growth slowed in 2012 in most of the nation’s 381 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Personal income growth slowed in 311 MSAs, accelerated in 65 MSAs, and remained unchanged in 5 MSAs. On average, MSA personal income rose 4.2 percent in 2012, after growing 6.0 percent in 2011. Personal income growth ranged from 12.1 percent in Midland, Texas to -1.6 percent in Yuma, Arizona, one of only five MSAs where personal income declined in 2012. Inflation, as measured by the national price index for personal consumption expenditures, slowed to 1.8 percent in 2012 from 2.4 percent in 2011. See the complete report at this link: USDOC-BEA

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• U.S. Real* Average Hourly Earnings – October 2013

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Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2 percent from September to October, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from a 0.1 percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with a 0.1 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Real average hourly earnings rose 1.3 percent, seasonally adjusted, from October 2012 to October 2013. The increase in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.3 percent increase in the average workweek, resulted in a 1.5 percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS *Note: Real earnings show the effect of inflation on your pay. If your salary went up by 2.1% over the year while the cost-of-living (CPI-U) rose 2.3%, then the “real” value of your salary fell by 0.2% [differences in some of the data are due to rounding and seasonal adjustment]. The figures reported here are earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, seasonally adjusted.

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• U.S. Producer Price Index – October 2013

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The Producer Price Index for finished goods declined 0.2 percent in October, seasonally adjusted. Prices for finished goods fell 0.1 percent in September and rose 0.3 percent in August. At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by producers of intermediate goods declined 0.4 percent, and the crude goods index decreased 0.9 percent. On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods advanced 0.3 percent for the 12 months ended October 2013. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims – 16 November 2013 [Jobless]

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In the week ending November 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 338,500, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 345,250. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent for the week ending November 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 9 were in Alaska (4.9), Puerto Rico (4.0), Virgin Islands (3.8), New Jersey (3.0), Connecticut (2.8), Pennsylvania (2.7), California (2.6), Oregon (2.5), Arkansas (2.4), District of Columbia (2.4), Illinois (2.4), Nevada (2.4), and New York (2.4). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 9 were in California (+4,737), New York (+2,853), Pennsylvania (+2,711), Michigan (+2,271), and New Jersey (+2,210), while the largest decreases were in Florida (-1,055), Kentucky (-580), Ohio (-409), Kansas (-169), and Puerto Rico (-144). Click on chart to enlarge Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Consumer Price Index – October 2013

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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.0 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 233.546 (1982- 84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.8 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 229.735 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.0 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 133.964. For the month, the index decreased 0.2 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. The Consumer Price Index for November 2013 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. (EST). See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Minimum Wage Changes Ahead – By State

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State minimum wage changes effective December 31, 2013 New York: $8.00 per hour. The state minimum wage will also increase to $8.75 per hour effective December 31, 2014, and $9.00 effective December 31, 2015. State minimum wage changes effective January 1, 2014 Arizona: $7.90 per hour. Connecticut: $8.70 per hour. The minimum wage is also scheduled to increase to $9.00 per hour on January 1, 2015. Florida: $7.93 per hour. Missouri: $7.50 per hour. Montana: $7.90 per hour. New Jersey: $8.25 per hour. Ohio: $7.95 per hour for businesses with annual gross receipts in excess of $292,000 per year. Oregon: $9.10 per hour. Rhode Island: $8.00 per hour. Vermont: $8.73 per hour. Washington: $9.32 per hour. State minimum wage changes effective July 1, 2014 California: $9.00 per hour. The state minimum wage will increase again to $10 per hour effective January 1, 2016. See the complete report at this link: Business & Legal Resources

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• U.S. Employment Cost Index – Q3 2013

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Civilian Workers: Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.9 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2013, unchanged from the 12-month period ending in September 2012. Wages and salaries increased 1.6 percent for the current 12-month period. In September 2012, the 12-month increase was 1.7 percent. Benefit costs increased 2.2 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2013, compared with the 2.4 percent increase for the 12-month period ending September 2012. Click on chart to enlarge. Private Industry Workers: Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 1.9 percent over the 12-month period ending September 2013, the same increase as in September 2012. Wages and salaries increased 1.8 percent for the year ending in September 2013, the same increase as the period one year ago. The increase in the cost of benefits was 2.0 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2013, compared with a 2.2 percent increase in the period ending in September 2012. Health benefit costs increased 2.7 percent. In September 2012, the increase was 2.3 percent. State and Local Government Workers: Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 1.7 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2013. In September 2012 the increase was 1.8 percent. Wages and salaries increased 0.9 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2013, compared with a 1.1 percent increase from a year earlier. Prior values for this series, which began in June 1982, ranged from 1.0 percent to 8.5 percent. Benefit costs increased 2.9 percent in September 2013. In September 2012, the increase was 3.2 percent. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Productivity & Labor Costs – Q3 2013

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Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 1.9 percent annual rate during the third quarter of 2013. The increase in productivity reflects increases of 3.7 percent in output and 1.7 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013, productivity was essentially unchanged as a 1.8 percent increase in output was matched by a 1.8 percent increase in hours worked. Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses decreased 0.6 percent in the third quarter of 2013, while hourly compensation increased 1.3 percent. Unit labor costs rose 1.9 percent over the last four quarters. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims – 09 November 2013 [Jobless]

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In the week ending November 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 339,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 341,000. The 4-week moving average was 344,000, a decrease of 5,750 from the previous week's revised average of 349,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent for the week ending November 2, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending November 2 were in Alaska (4.3), Puerto Rico (4.0), Virgin Islands (3.5), New Jersey (3.0), California (2.9), Connecticut (2.7), Pennsylvania (2.6), District of Columbia (2.4), Illinois (2.4), and Oregon (2.4). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending November 2 were in Michigan (+2,720), Ohio (+2,289), New Jersey (+1,371), Massachusetts (+1,051), and Kansas (+919), while the largest decreases were in Oregon (-3,011), California (-2,468), Tennessee (-989), Puerto Rico (-859), and South Carolina (-718). Click on chart to enlarge Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Employment Situation – October 2013

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Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 204,000 in October, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 7.3 percent. Employment increased in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, professional and technical services, manufacturing, and health care. Note: The alternative unemployment rate is the official unemployment rate plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force. [Click on chart to enlarge.] See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Personal Income and Outlays - September 2013

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Personal income increased $67.4 billion, or 0.5 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $64.8 billion, or 0.5 percent, in September. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $24.7 billion, or 0.2 percent. In August, personal income increased $65.6 billion, or 0.5 percent, DPI increased $66.3 billion, or 0.5 percent, and PCE increased $39.8 billion, or 0.3 percent, based on revised estimates. Real disposable personal income increased 0.4 percent in September, the same increase as in August. Real PCE increased 0.1 percent in September, compared with an increase of 0.2 percent in August. See the complete report at this link: USDOC-BEA

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• U.S. OSHA Reports on Illnesses and Injuries -2012

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Private industry employers reported nearly 3.0 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2012, lowering the incidence rate to 3.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers compared to 3.5 cases in 2011. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. GDP Price Index – Q3 2013

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The U.S. Price Index for Gross Domestic Product reached a level of 106.667 (2009 = 100) during the third quarter of 2013. This is up 1.3% from a level of 105.345 at the same time in 2012. This largely parallels the Consumer Price Index increase of 1.2% reported for September 2013. The GDP Price Index is a supplemental measure that is based on household expenditures for which there are observable price measures. It excludes most implicit prices (for example, financial services furnished without payment) and the final consumption expenditures of nonprofit institutions serving households. See the complete report at this link: USDOC-BEA

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• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims 02 November 2013 [Jobless]

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In the week ending November 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 336,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 345,000. The 4-week moving average was 348,250, a decrease of 9,250 from the previous week's revised average of 357,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent for the week ending October 26, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending October 26 were in Alaska (4.4), Virgin Islands (4.1), Puerto Rico (3.8), California (3.0), New Jersey (3.0), Connecticut (2.7), Pennsylvania (2.7), District of Columbia (2.6), Illinois (2.4), and Oregon (2.4). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending October 26 were in Oregon (+2,956), Florida (+2,873), Illinois (+2,460), New York (+2,033), and Pennsylvania (+1,542), while the largest decreases were in California (-4,460), Virginia (-1,807), Washington (-833), Maryland (-431), and Missouri (-343). Click on chart to enlarge Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS

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• IRS Announces COLA Increases for Dollar Limitations on Benefits and Contributions

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The Internal Revenue Code provides for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions under qualified retirement plans. IRC Section 415 requires the limits to be adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases. The IRS announced on October 31, 2013 cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for pension plans and other items for tax year 2014. Click on table to enlarge: See the complete report at this link: IRS 2014 COLA Adjustments

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• Usual Weekly Earnings Of U.S. Wage And Salary Workers – Q3 2013

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Median weekly earnings of the nation's 105.5 million full-time wage and salary workers were $771 in the third quarter of 2013 (not seasonally adjusted). This was 1.7 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.6 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period. On a not seasonally adjusted basis, median weekly earnings were $771 in the third quarter of 2013. Women who usually worked full time had median weekly earnings of $698, or 82.4 percent of the $847 median for men. The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 82.8 percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with black (87.1 percent), Asian (77.4 percent), and Hispanic women (90.8 percent). Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $682 per week, or 78.6 percent of the median for white men ($868). The difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings ($594) were 82.6 percent of those for white women ($719). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($587) were lower than those of blacks ($630), whites ($794), and Asians ($922). Usual weekly earnings of full-time workers varied by age. Among men, those age 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 had the highest median weekly earnings, $970 and $1,001, respectively. Usual weekly earnings were highest for women age 35 to 64; weekly earnings were $775 for women age 35 to 44, $755 for women age 45 to 54, and $769 for women age 55 to 64. Workers age 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, at $430. Among the major occupational groups, persons employed full time in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings-— $1,338 for men and $962 for women. Men and women employed in service jobs earned the least, $562 and $447, respectively. By educational attainment, full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $479, compared with $659 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,174 for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree and above), the highest earning 10 percent of male workers made $3,436 or more per week, compared with $2,302 or more for their female counterparts. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Help-Wanted Advertising – October 2013

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”Online advertised vacancies were down 257,900 in October to 4,926,800, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series released today. The September Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.2 unemployed for each vacancy, with a total of 6.1 million more unemployed workers than the number of advertised vacancies. ”’Slow overall economic growth has left labor demand flat in the first 10 months of 2013,’ said June Shelp, Vice President of The Conference Board. ‘Even though the labor demand level still hovers around 5 million/month, the October loss leaves the 2013 year-to-date basically flat. This continues the trend we’ve seen this year with gains in one month being offset by declines the next month.’ ”Since October 2012, the most striking pattern is that most of the Professional occupations have seen losses while the Production/Service jobs have continued with modest gains. Over the year, higher-wage Professional occupations like Computer &Math jobs (-32,000) and Healthcare professionals (-29,000) lost job demand while lower-wage Production/Service jobs like Transportation (+54,000), Sales (+36,000), and Food service (+33,000) have posted gains." Click on chart to enlarge See the complete report at this link: The Conference Board

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• Statistics About Veterans Day 2013: Nov. 11

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”Veterans Day originated as 'Armistice Day' on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. ”President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. ”The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.” See the complete report at this link: USDOC-Census

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