<H3>• U.S. Business Economists Report Q2 Business Conditions Improved…More Growth Expected</H3>

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”A growing percentage of respondents noted that employment levels increased at their firms inthe second quarter—rising to 36% from an average of 28% in the previous four quarters. Thirty- seven percent of survey respondents expect to see employment growth at their firms in the next three months. In contrast, only 9% of respondents expect employment levels to decline, and the majority, 55%, expects them to remain unchanged. ”Wage increases continued to spread, as 43% of respondents reported that their firms raised wages last quarter, the third straight quarterly rise in that share and more than double the share reporting increases a year ago. Somewhat fewer panelists (35%) expect their companies to increase wages in the next three months. See the summary report at this link: NABE.com

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