28 June 2013

• U.S. Personal Income by State – Q1 2013


State personal income declined an average 1.2 percent in the first quarter of 2013 after growing 2.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Personal income declines ranged from 0.1 percent in Iowa to 2.5 percent in Wyoming. In contrast, personal income grew 1.6 percent in South Dakota, the only state with an increase in the first quarter. Inflation, as measured by the national price index for personal consumption expenditures, slowed to 0.2 percent in the first quarter from 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Connecticut personal income fell 1.7% from the prior quarter and ranked 44th in the nation in growth.

Read the full article at this link: USDOC-BEA


27 June 2013

• U.S. County Employment and Wages


From December 2011 to December 2012, employment increased in 287 of the 328 largest U.S. counties. Elkhart, Ind., posted the largest increase, with a gain of 7.4 percent over the year, compared with national job growth of 1.9 percent.

The U.S. average weekly wage increased over the year by 4.7 percent to $1,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012. San Mateo, Calif., had the largest over-the-year increase in average weekly wages with a gain of 107.3 percent.

Read the full article at this link: USDOL-BLS


• U.S. Personal Income And Outlays - May 2013


Personal income increased $69.4 billion, or 0.5 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $57.0 billion, or 0.5 percent, in May.

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $29.0 billion, or 0.3 percent. In April, personal income increased $18.3 billion, or 0.1 percent, DPI increased $6.5 billion, or 0.1 percent, and PCE decreased $39.6 billion, or 0.3 percent, based on revised estimates.

Real disposable income increased 0.4 percent in May, compared with an increase of 0.3 percent in April. Real PCE increased 0.2 percent, in contrast to a decrease of 0.1 percent.

See the complete report at this link: USDOC-BEA


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 9k

[Jobless]


In the week ending June 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 346,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 355,000 and down 9.2% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 345,750, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 348,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending June 15, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending June 15 were in Puerto Rico (4.6), Alaska (4.2), New Mexico (3.2), California (3.1), Connecticut (3.0), New Jersey (3.0), Pennsylvania (2.9), Nevada (2.8), Virgin Islands (2.8), Illinois (2.6), and Oregon (2.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending June 15 were in California (+15,341), Pennsylvania (+4,882), Florida (+4,850), Michigan (+1,114), and Maryland (+1,065), while the largest decreases were in Illinois (-3,401), New York (-2,090), Georgia (-1,893), Missouri (-1,591), and Tennessee (-1,542).)

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

Source: USDOL-BLS


26 June 2013

• Quarterly Summary of U.S. State and Local Government Tax Revenue – Q1 2013


This summary shows quarterly tax revenue statistics on property, sales, license, income and other taxes.

Statistics are shown for individual state governments as well as national estimates of total state and local taxes, including 12-month calculations.

This quarterly survey has been conducted continuously since 1962.

Read the full article at this link: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Real Domestic Product – Q1 2013


Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013 (that is, from the fourth quarter to the first quarter), according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

In the fourth quarter, real GDP increased 0.4 percent.

See the complete report at this link: USDOC-BEA


• U.S. Consumer Confidence – June 2013


The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had improved in May, increased again in June. The Index now stands at 81.4 (1985=100), up from 74.3 in May.

See the complete report at this link: The Conference Board


• U.S. New Residential Home Sales – May 2013


Sales of new single-family houses in May 2013 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 476,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 2.1 percent (±16.6%) above the revised April rate of 466,000 and is 29.0 percent (±17.5%) above the May 2012 estimate of 369,000.

The median sales price of new houses sold in May 2013 was $263,900; the average sales price was $307,800. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of May was 161,000. This represents a supply of 4.1 months at the current sales rate.

See the complete report at this link: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders - May 2013


New orders for manufactured durable goods in May increased $8.0 billion or 3.6 percent to $231.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up three of the last four months, followed a 3.6 percent April increase.

Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5 percent.

See the complete report at this link: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Holiday: The Fourth of July – Independence Day


On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation was 2.5 million.

The nation's estimated population on this July Fourth: 316.2 million

All about the 4th of July: USDOC-Census


24 June 2013

• Poll: Most U.S. Workers Hate Their Jobs


“Seven out of 10 workers have ‘checked out’ at work or are ‘actively disengaged,’ according to a recent Gallup survey.

”In its ongoing survey of the American workplace, Gallup found that only 30 percent of workers are "were engaged, or involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to their workplace." Although that equals the high in engagement since Gallup began studying the issue in 2000, it is overshadowed by the number of workers who aren't committed to performing at a high level -- which Gallup says costs companies money.”

Read the full article at this link: Rep-Am.com


21 June 2013

• Connecticut Labor Situation – May 2013


Following a large gain of 6,400 nonfarm jobs in April, Connecticut added another 1,000 nonfarm positions in May, for the best five month start to a year of employment gains since the job recovery began at the start of 2010. Connecticut has now gained jobs in four of the first five months of 2013, losing employment only during the blizzard-impacted month of February.

The state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.0% in May, but experienced a key turnaround in civilian labor force growth which had been on a continuous decline since June of 2010. The unemployment rate has held steady at 8.0% for four consecutive months. Connecticut’s unemployment rate is down four-tenths of a percentage point from May 2012 (8.4%).

“With the exception of a storm impacted February, Connecticut has been experiencing consistent job growth so far this year,” said Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. “The upward turn in labor force participation, after 35 straight months of decline, may indicate increased confidence in labor market conditions. However, there are still headwinds ahead. Federal budget sequester cuts could hinder employment growth possibilities throughout the rest of 2013.”

See the complete report at this link: CTDOL


• U.S. Back to School: 2013-2014


By August, summertime will be winding down and vacations will be coming to an end, signaling that back-to-school time is near. It's a time that many children eagerly anticipate — catching up with old friends and making new ones, and settling into a new daily routine.

Parents and children alike scan the newspapers and websites looking for sales to shop for a multitude of school supplies and the latest clothing fads and essentials.

This edition of Facts for Features highlights the many statistics associated with the return to classrooms by our nation's students and teachers.

See the complete report at this link: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Regional & State Employment, Unemployment – May 2013


In May, 25 states had over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, 17 had increases, and 8 and the District of Columbia had no change.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and the district and decreased in 17 states.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS


• U.S. Mass Layoffs – May 2013


In May, employers took 1,301 mass layoff actions involving 127,821 workers. Mass layoff events increased by 102 from April, and associated initial claims increased by 10,972.

This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS


20 June 2013

• U.S. Existing Home Sales – May 2013


”Existing-Home Sales Rise in May with Strong Price Increases:

”Existing-home sales improved in May and remain solidly above a year ago, while the median price continued to rise by double-digit rates from a year earlier….”

See the complete report at this link: Realtor.org


• U.S. Time Use Survey - 2012


On days they worked, 23% of employed do some or all of their work at home in 2012 06/20/2013.

In 2012, on days they worked, 23 percent of employed persons spent some time working at home. Among workers age 25 and over, those with a bachelor's degree or higher were more likely to perform work from home than were persons with less education.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Up 18k

[Jobless]


In the week ending June 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 354,000, an increase of 18,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 336,000 but down 8.3% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 348,250, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average of 345,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending June 8, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending June 1 were in Alaska (4.5), Puerto Rico (4.3), New Mexico (3.2), New Jersey (3.1), Connecticut (3.0), Pennsylvania (3.0), California (2.9), Nevada (2.8), Oregon (2.8), and Illinois (2.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending June 8 were in Pennsylvania (+5,214), Illinois (+3,364), Texas (+3,007), Georgia (+2,937), and Ohio (+2,326), while the largest decreases were in California (-1,209), Kansas (-404), Nebraska (-314), Missouri (-212), and Montana (-202).

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

Source: USDOL-BLS


19 June 2013

• U.S. DOL-BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey


The Consumer Expenditure Survey Update page contains new information of interest to users of data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure program.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS


18 June 2013

• U.S. Real Average Earnings – May 2013

(Wages, pay, inflation)


Real average hourly earnings fell 0.2 percent in May, seasonally adjusted. Average hourly earnings was unchanged and the CPI-U rose 0.1 percent.

Real average weekly earnings fell 0.1 percent over the month.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS


• U.S. New Residential Construction - May 2013

(Housing starts, building permits)


Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 914,000. This is 6.8 percent (±10.1%)* above the revised April estimate of 856,000 and is 28.6 percent (±14.4%) above the May 2012 rate of 711,000.

Single-family housing starts in May were at a rate of 599,000; this is 0.3 percent (±8.7%)* above the revised April figure of 597,000.

The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 306,000.

See the complete report at this link: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Consumer Price Index – May 2013


On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.1 percent in May after decreasing 0.4 percent in April.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in May after increasing 0.1 percent in April.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS


14 June 2013

• U.S. Treasury Statement – May 2013


Monthly Treasury Statement of Receipts and Outlays of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2013 Through May 31, 2013.

Link to the Statement: United States Treasury


• U.S. Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization – May 2013


Industrial production was unchanged in May after having decreased 0.4 percent in April.

In May, manufacturing production rose 0.1 percent after falling in each of the previous two months, and the output at mines increased 0.7 percent. The gains in manufacturing and mining were offset by a decrease of 1.8 percent in the output of utilities.

At 98.7 percent of its 2007 average, total industrial production in May was 1.6 percent above its year-earlier level.

The rate of capacity utilization for total industry edged down 0.1 percentage point to 77.6 percent, a rate 0.2 percentage point below its level of a year earlier and 2.6 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2012) average.

Source: Federal Reserve


• U.S. Producer Price Index - May 2013


The Producer Price Index for finished goods rose 0.5 percent in May, seasonally adjusted. Prices for finished goods fell 0.7 percent in April and 0.6 percent in March.

At the earlier stages of processing, prices received by manufacturers of intermediate goods declined 0.1 percent in May, and the crude goods index advanced 2.2 percent.

On an unadjusted basis, prices for finished goods moved up 1.7 percent for the 12 months ended May 2013.

Source: USDOL-BLS


13 June 2013

• U.S. Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales - April 2013


Sales. The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for April, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,267.9 billion, down 0.1 percent (±0.2) from March 2013, but were up 1.5 percent (±1.1) from April 2012.

Inventories. Manufacturers’ and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,657.2 billion, up 0.3 percent (±0.1) from March 2013 and up 4.2 percent (±1.5) from April 2012.

Inventories/Sales Ratio. The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of April was 1.31. The April 2012 ratio was 1.27.

Source: USDOC-Census


• Asians Fastest-Growing U.S. Race or Ethnic Group in 2012


Asians were the nation's fastest-growing race or ethnic group in 2012. Their population rose by 530,000, or 2.9 percent, in the preceding year, to 18.9 million, according to Census Bureau annual population estimates. More than 60 percent of this growth in the Asian population came from international migration.

By comparison, the Hispanic population grew by 2.2 percent, or more than 1.1 million, to just over 53 million in 2012. The Hispanic population growth was fueled primarily by natural increase (births minus deaths), which accounted for 76 percent of Hispanic population change. Hispanics remain our nation's second largest race or ethnic group (behind non-Hispanic whites), representing about 17 percent of the total population.

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (climbing 2.2 percent to about 1.4 million), American Indians and Alaska Natives (rising 1.5 percent to a little over 6.3 million), and blacks or African-Americans (increasing 1.3 percent to 44.5 million) followed Asians and Hispanics in percentage growth rates.

Source: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Sales of Retail and Food Services - May 2013


U.S. retail and food services sales for May, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $421.1 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, and 4.3 percent (±0.7%) above May 2012.

Total sales for the March through May 2013 period were up 3.7 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The March to April 2013 percent change was unrevised from 0.1 percent (±0.3%).

Source: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes - May 2013


Prices for U.S. imports declined 0.6 percent in May, after a 0.7 percent drop the previous month. Falling fuel and nonfuel prices contributed to the decreases in both months.

U.S. export prices fell 0.5 percent in May following declines of 0.7 percent in April and 0.5 percent in March.

Source: USDOL-BLS


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 12k

[Jobless]


In the week ending June 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 334,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 346,000 and down 12.8% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 345,250, a decrease of 7,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 352,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending June 1, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 25 were in Puerto Rico (4.6), Alaska (4.5), New Mexico (3.2), New Jersey (3.1), Connecticut (3.0), California (2.9), Pennsylvania (2.9), Nevada (2.8), Oregon (2.7), and Illinois (2.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending June 1 were in Tennessee (+1,280), New York (+1,001), Oregon (+851), Montana (+501), and North Carolina (+302), while the largest decreases were in California (-8,796), Florida (-3,250), Pennsylvania (-1,923), Texas (-1,876), and Missouri (-1,704).

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

Source: USDOL-BLS


12 June 2013

• U.S. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation – March 2013


Employer costs for employee compensation averaged $31.09 per hour worked in March 2013, up 1.3% from the same quarter a year ago. Wages and salaries averaged $21.50 per hour worked and accounted for 69.1 percent of these costs, while benefits averaged $9.59 and accounted for the remaining 30.9 percent.

Total employer compensation costs for private industry workers averaged $29.13 per hour worked in March 2013, up 1.2% from Q1 2012.

Total employer compensation costs for state and local government workers averaged $42.12 per hour worked in March 2013, up 2.3%.

Source: USDOL-BLS


• Persons With A Disability: U.S. Labor Force Characteristics -- 2012


In 2012, 17.8 percent of persons with a disability were employed. In contrast, the employment-population ratio for persons without a disability was 63.9 percent. The employment-population ratio for persons with a disability was unchanged from 2011 to 2012, while the ratio for persons without a disability increased.

The unemployment rate for persons with a disability was 13.4 percent in 2012, higher than the rate for persons with no disability (7.9 percent).

Source: USDOL-BLS


• NOAA Predicts Active 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season


Era of high activity for Atlantic hurricanes continues....

In its 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an active or extremely active season this year.

Read the full article at this link: NOAA


• U.S. Real Personal Income for States and Metropolitan Areas, 2007-2011


The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis has released experimental real, or inflation-adjusted, estimates of personal income for states and metropolitan areas.

The inflation-adjustments are based in part on regional price parities (RPPs) that provide a measure of differences in price levels across each state and region relative to the national price level for each of the years, 2007-2011. When RPPs are applied in conjunction with BEA’s national Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, which measures price changes over time, personal income comparisons can be made across regions and time periods.

These prototype statistics are being released for evaluation and comment by data users.

Source: USDOC-BEA


11 June 2013

• Monthly Wholesale Trade: Sales and Inventories April 2013


Sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences but not for price changes, were $416.6 billion, up 0.5 percent (+/-0.5%) from the revised March level and were up 0.7 percent (+/-3.2%) from the April 2012 level.

Source: USDOC-Census


• Job Openings and Labor Turnover – April 2013


There were 3.8 million job openings on the last business day of April, little changed from 3.9 million in March.

The hires rate (3.3 percent) and separations rate (3.2 percent) also were little changed in April.

Source: USDOL-BLS


07 June 2013

• U.S. Help-Wanted Ads – May 2013

(Job advertising)


“Online advertised vacancies fell 150,200, or 3 percent, in May to 4,827,600 in The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series….

"In the first five months of 2013 labor demand has dropped an average of 29,600 per month. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.3 unemployed for each vacancy. In April there were 6.7 million more unemployed than the number of advertised vacancies, down from 11.9 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.

“’The upward trend in labor demand since the end of the recession seems to have stalled in 2013,’ said June Shelp, Vice President of The Conference Board. 'The 2013 levels for labor demand are still well above the pre-recession high of April 2007, but the small 2013 pullback of 29,000 per month in labor demand indicates that the national economy is still not out of the woods.’”

Read the full article at this link: The Conference Board


• U.S. Employment Situation – May 2013

(Unemployment, wages, hours of work)


Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 7.6 percent.

Click on charts to enlarge:

Alternative Rate = 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.

Employment rose in professional and business services, food services and drinking places, and retail trade.

Source: USDOL-BLS


• Connecticut: “Only State Where Economy Shrank in 2012”


”A report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis [USDOC] shows that Connecticut was last in economic growth last year, the only state in the nation where the combined value of goods and services produced shrank compared with 2011.

Source: Courant.com


06 June 2013

• Connecticut Governor Signs Off On Minimum Wage Increase


Governor Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday morning signed legislation that increases the minimum wage in two stages over the next two years.

Under the new law, it will increase from $8.25 to $8.70 on January 1, 2014, followed by a second increase on January 1, 2015 to $9.00.

Source: CTDOL


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 11k

[Jobless]


In the week ending June 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 346,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 357,000 and down 8.5% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 352,500, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average of 348,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending May 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 18 were in Alaska (4.9), Puerto Rico (4.3), California (3.2), New Mexico (3.2), New Jersey (3.1), Connecticut (3.0), Pennsylvania (3.0), Nevada (2.8), Oregon (2.7), and Illinois (2.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 25 were in California (+8,622), Missouri (+2,999), Kentucky (+1,750), Pennsylvania (+1,333), and Kansas (+1,325), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-2,185), North Carolina (-1,747), South Carolina (-867), Tennessee (-686), and Texas (-608).

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

Source: USDOL-BLS


05 June 2013

• U.S. Auto & Light Truck Sales – May 2013


”Full-size pickups once again dominated U.S. auto sales in May, as small businesses — increasingly confident in the economy — raced to replace the aging pickups they held on to during the recession.

“Car buyers, too, were lured by low interest rates and Memorial Day sales. Overall, U.S. consumers bought 1.4 million vehicles in May, up 8 percent from the same month a year ago….”

Source: NewsTimes.com


• U.S. Productivity & Labor Costs – Q1 2013


Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 0.5 percent annual rate during the first quarter of 2013. The increase in productivity reflects increases of 2.1 percent in output and 1.6 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)

From the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2013, productivity increased 0.9 percent as output and hours worked increased 2.4 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

Source: USDOL-BLS


• Fewer Americans Having Problems Paying Medical Bills

(U.S., health insurance)


The percentage of people under age 65 in families having problems paying medical bills decreased from 21.7 percent in the first six months of 2011 to 20.3 percent in the first six months of 2012.

Source: CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics


04 June 2013

• Smoking Employees Cost U.S. Employers $6,000 a Year More


”Smokers cost their employers nearly $6,000 a year more than staff who don’t smoke, researchers said on Monday in what they say is the first comprehensive look at the issue.”

Source: NBCNews.com


• U.S. Balance of Trade – April 2013

(Deficit, import, export)


Total April exports of $187.4 billion and imports of $227.7 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $40.3 billion, up from $37.1 billion in March, revised. April exports were $2.2 billion more than March exports of $185.2 billion. April imports were $5.4 billion more than March imports of $222.3 billion.

In April, the goods deficit increased $3.2 billion from March to $58.6 billion, and the services surplus increased $0.1 billion from March to $18.3 billion. Exports of goods increased $1.8 billion to $131.1 billion, and imports of goods increased $5.0 billion to $189.7 billion. Exports of services increased $0.4 billion to $56.3 billion, and imports of services increased $0.3 billion to $38.0 billion.

The goods and services deficit decreased $6.3 billion from April 2012 to April 2013. Exports were up $3.1 billion, or 1.7 percent, and imports were down $3.2 billion, or 1.4 percent.

Source: USDOC-BEA


03 June 2013

• U.S. Construction Spending – April 2013


Construction spending during April 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $860.8 billion, 0.4 percent (±1.6%) above the revised March estimate of $857.7 billion. The April figure is 4.3 percent (±2.0%) above the April 2012 estimate of $825.1 billion.

During the first 4 months of this year, construction spending amounted to $250.7 billion, 4.5 percent (±1.5%) above the $239.8 billion for the same period in 2012.

Source: USDOC-Census


• U.S. Purchasing Managers’ Manufacturing Index – May 2013


”Manufacturing contracted in May as the PMI™ registered 49 percent, a decrease of 1.7 percentage points when compared to April's reading of 50.7 percent.

”This month's reading reflects the second month of contraction in the manufacturing sector since July 2009, when the index registered 49.9 percent. It is also the lowest reading for the PMI™ since June 2009, when the index registered 45.8 percent.

”A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.”

Source: Institute for Supply Management


• Quarterly Survey of U.S. Public Pensions


The Quarterly Survey of Public Pensions is a quarterly survey that provides national summary data on the revenues, expenditures, and composition of assets of the largest defined benefit public employee retirement systems for state and local governments.

This survey currently consists of a panel of 100 retirement systems, which comprise 89.4 percent of financial activity among such entities, based on the 2007 Census of Governments.

Source: USDOC-Census


02 June 2013

• U.S. Spring 2013 Statistics of Income Bulletin Now Available


The Internal Revenue Service today announced the availability of the spring 2013 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin, which features information on high-income individual income tax returns filed for tax year 2010.

Source: IRS


01 June 2013

• Facts About U.S. Father's Day - June 16, 2013


“The idea of Father's Day was conceived slightly more than a century ago by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., while she listened to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm.

”A day in June was chosen for the first Father's Day celebration, June 17, 1910, proclaimed by Spokane's mayor because it was the month of Smart's birth.

”The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Father's Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.

”How Many Fathers? There were 70.1 million fathers across the nation in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available.”

Full report: USDOC-Census