29 January 2016

• U.S. Employment Cost Index — December 2015

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.0 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2015. In December 2014, compensation costs increased 2.2 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.1 percent for the current 12-month period, unchanged from the 12-month period ending in December 2014. Benefit costs increased 1.7 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2015. In December 2014, the increase was 2.6 percent.

Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 1.9 percent over the year, slowing from the December 2014 increase of 2.3 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.1 percent for the current 12- month period. In December 2014, the increase was 2.2 percent. The increase in the cost of benefits was 1.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2015, lower than December 2014 when the increase was 2.5 percent. Employer costs for health benefits increased 3.0 percent over the year. In December 2014, the increase was 2.4 percent.

Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2015. In December 2014, the increase was 2.0 percent. Wages and salaries increased 1.8 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2015, and in December 2014 the increase was 1.6 percent. Benefit costs increased 3.5 percent in December 2015, higher than in December 2014 when the increase was 2.9 percent.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Gross Domestic Product: Fourth Quarter and Annual 2015 (Advance Estimate)

Real gross domestic product -- the value of the goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes -- increased at an annual rate of 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to the "advance" estimate.. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 2.0 percent.

The fourth-quarter advance estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision…

The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), residential fixed investment, and federal government spending that were partly offset by negative contributions from private inventory investment, exports, and nonresidential fixed investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

The deceleration in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected a deceleration in PCE and downturns in nonresidential fixed investment, in exports, and in state and local government spending that were partly offset by a smaller decrease in private inventory investment, a deceleration in imports, and an acceleration in federal government spending.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


28 January 2016

• U.S. Average Retail Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Prices — 25 January 2016


Regular Gasoline: The U.S. average regular gasoline retail price fell six cents from the previous week to $1.86 per gallon on January 25, 2016, 19 cents lower than the same time last year. The Midwest price was down eight cents to $1.63 per gallon. The West Coast price decreased six cents to $2.46 per gallon. The Rocky Mountain price decreased five cents to $1.86 per gallon. The Gulf Coast and East Coast prices each decreased four cents to $1.63 per gallon and $1.87 per gallon, respectively.

Diesel Fuel: The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased four cents to $2.07 per gallon, down 80 cents from the same time last year. The Rocky Mountain and Gulf Coast prices each fell six cents per gallon to $2.02 per gallon and $1.96 per gallon, respectively. The Midwest price was down four cents to $1.99 per gallon. The West Coast and East Coast prices decreased three cents to $2.33 per gallon and $2.14 per gallon, respectively.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USEnergyInformationAdministration

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/

• U.S. Union Membership — 2015

The union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of unions--was 11.1 percent in 2015, unchanged from 2014. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.8 million in 2015, was little different from 2014. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent, and there were 17.7 million union workers.

Highlights from the 2015 data:

• Public-sector workers had a union membership rate (35.2 percent) more than five times higher than that of private-sector workers (6.7 percent).

• Workers in protective service occupations and in education, training, and library occupations had the highest unionization rates (36.3 percent and 35.5 percent, respectively).

• Men continued to have a slightly higher union membership rate (11.5 percent) than women (10.6 percent).

• Black workers were more likely to be union members than were White, Asian, or Hispanic workers.

• Median weekly earnings of nonunion workers ($776) were 79 percent of earnings for workers who were union members ($980). (The comparisons of earnings in this release are on a broad level and do not control for many factors that can be important in explaining earnings differences.)

• Among states, New York continued to have the highest union membership rate (24.7 percent), while South Carolina had the lowest (2.1 percent).

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Projected Salaries Master's, Doctoral Degree Graduates — 2016

“Engineering graduates are projected to be the highest-paid at the master's degree level for the Class of 2016, while computer science majors have the top projected salary at the doctoral level, according to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

”NACE's Winter 2016 Salary Survey report shows that the average overall salary projection for Class of 2016 engineering graduates at the master's degree level is $73,871, up from the projected $69,698 for Class of 2015 graduates.

”This year's computer science master's degree graduates follow closely with an overall average salary projection of $72,080—which is 1.3 percent higher than the projected average of $71,140 for the Class of 2015.

”Business majors earning master's degrees are also seeing a higher average salary projection this year of $71,663, which is up 5.5 percent from last year's average of $67,890….”

Please visit this link to read the full report: NACE

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders — December 2015

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $12.0 billion or 5.1 percent to $225.4 billion. This decrease, down four of the last five months, followed a 0.5 percent November decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.2 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.9 percent.

Transportation equipment, also down four of the last five months, led the decrease, $10.1 billion or 12.4 percent to $71.3 billion.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 23 January 2016


In the week ending January 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 278,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 293,000 to 294,000.

The 4-week moving average was 283,000, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 285,000 to 285,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.7 percent for the week ending January 16, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 16 was 2,268,000, an increase of 49,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending January 9 were in Alaska (4.8), West Virginia (3.5), Montana (3.3), Puerto Rico (3.3), New Jersey (3.2), Pennsylvania (3.2), Connecticut (3.0), Illinois (2.8), Wyoming (2.8), California (2.7), and Massachusetts (2.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 16 were in California (+16,425), Puerto Rico (+1,771), Oregon (+192), and the Virgin Islands (+4), while the largest decreases were in New York (-17,476), Pennsylvania (- 15,349), Georgia (-11,141), Missouri (-7,446), and Texas (-7,132).

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

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


27 January 2016

• U.S. New Home Sales — December 2015

Sales of new single-family houses in December 2015 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 544,000. This is 10.8 percent (±17.1%) above the revised November rate of 491,000 and is 9.9 percent (±25.0%) above the December 2014 estimate of 495,000.

The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2015 was $288,900; the average sales price was $346,400. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of December was 237,000. This represents a supply of 5.2 months at the current sales rate.

An estimated 501,000 new homes were sold in 2015. This is 14.5 percent (±4.5%) above the 2014 figure of 437,000.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


26 January 2016

• U.S. Regional and State Employment and Unemployment — December 2015

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in December. Twenty-five states had unemployment rate decreases from November, 14 states had increases, and 11 states and the District of Columbia had no change.

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while eight states had increases.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 14 states. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in California (+60,400), Texas (+24,900), and Florida (+21,900). The largest over-the-month decreases in employment occurred in Illinois (-16,300), Oklahoma (-5,100), and North Dakota (-4,000).

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


25 January 2016

• U.S. Business Economists Report on Economy — January 2016

“Wage and salary increases are becoming more widespread, according to panelists in the January 2016 NABE Business Conditions Survey, even as sales growth and hiring at their firms flatten and they trim their expectations for expansion in the overall economy…

“Nearly half of respondents—the largest share in over a decade—say their firms had increased pay in the past three months, and an even higher share anticipates pay to go up in the first quarter of 2016.

”Meanwhile, there was little change in the percentage of respondents whose firms experienced—or expect—a quarterly increase in sales or employment. For the first time in three years, more than a quarter of panelists expect real gross domestic product to increase by just 2% or less in the next four quarters….”

Please visit this link to read the full report: NationalAssociationBusinessEconomics

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


22 January 2016

• U.S. Median Weekly Earnings — Q4 2015

Median weekly earnings were $825 in the fourth quarter of 2015. Women who usually worked full time had median weekly earnings of $729, or 80.4 percent of the $907 median for men...

Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $674 per week, or 72.4 percent of the median for white men ($931). The difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings ($621) were 83.4 percent of those for white women ($745). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics ($624) and blacks ($643) who worked full time were lower than those of whites ($847) and Asians ($1,091)....

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Leading Indicators — December 2015

“The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. declined 0.2 percent in December to 123.7 (2010 = 100), following a 0.5 percent increase in both November and October.

“’The U.S. LEI fell slightly in December, led by a drop in housing permits and weak new orders in manufacturing,’ said Ataman Ozyildirim, Director of Business Cycles and Growth Research at The Conference Board. ‘However, the index continues to suggest moderate growth in the near-term despite the economy losing some momentum at the end of 2015. While the LEI’s growth rate has been on the decline, it’s too early to interpret this as a substantial rise in the risk of recession….’”

Please visit this link to read the full report: TheConferenceBoard

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Existing Home Sales — December 2015

“Total existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, ascended 14.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.46 million in December from 4.76 million in November.

”After last month's turnaround (the largest monthly increase ever recorded), sales are now 7.7 percent above a year ago.…”

Please visit this link to read the full report: NationalAssociationRealtors

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


21 January 2016

• U.S. Average Retail Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Prices — 18 January 2016


Regular Gasoline: The U.S. average retail regular gasoline price fell eight cents from last week to $1.91 on January 18, down 15 cents per gallon from the same time last year. The West Coast and Midwest prices were each down 11 cents to $2.52 per gallon and $1.71 per gallon, respectively. The East Coast price decreased seven cents to $1.91 per gallon. The Gulf Coast price decreased six cents to $1.67 per gallon, followed by the Rocky Mountain price, down four cents to $1.91 per gallon.

Diesel Fuel: The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased seven cents from the previous week to $2.11 per gallon, down 82 cents from the same time last year. The Midwest, Gulf Coast, and West Coast prices each fell seven cents to $2.02 per gallon, $2.01 per gallon, and $2.36 per gallon, respectively. The Rocky Mountain and East Coast prices decreased six cents to $2.08 per gallon and $2.17 per gallon, respectively.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USEnergyInformationAdministration

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/

• U.S. Science, Math, Computer Engineering Grad Salaries — Winter 2015-16

“NACE's Winter 2016 Salary Survey report indicates that the overall average salary for bachelor's degree graduates earning engineering degrees is projected to be $64,891, up 3 percent over the average salary projection of $62,998 for engineering graduates from the Class of 2015. (See Figure 1.)

”The computer sciences fields are second in terms of starting salary, with an overall average starting salary projected at $61,321. Two of the three reported computer science disciplines also top the $60,000 mark, while the third—information science and systems—falls just below that mark at $59,810.…”

Please visit this link to read the full report: NACE

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• 2015 Warmest Year Globally

“Last year shattered 2014’s record to become the hottest year since reliable record-keeping began, two U.S. government science agencies announced Wednesday in yet another sign that the planet is heating up.

“2015’s sharp spike in temperatures was aided by a strong El Niño weather pattern late in the year that caused ocean waters in the central Pacific to heat up. But the unusual warming started early and steadily gained strength in a year in which 10 of 12 months set records, scientists said.….”

Please visit this link to read the full article: WashingtonPost

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 16 January 2016


In the week ending January 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 293,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 284,000 to 283,000.

The 4-week moving average was 285,000, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 278,750 to 278,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.6 percent for the week ending January 9, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 9 was 2,208,000, a decrease of 56,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending January 2 were in Alaska (4.6), New Jersey (3.5), Pennsylvania (3.4), Connecticut (3.2), Montana (3.2), West Virginia (3.2), Illinois (2.8), Massachusetts (2.8), Minnesota (2.8), and Rhode Island (2.8).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 9 were in California (+17,371), Texas (+13,399), New York (+6,819), Georgia (+5,901), and Missouri (+5,892), while the largest decreases were in Iowa (-2,737), Kentucky (- 1,790), Minnesota (-1,031), New Jersey (-698), and Michigan (-591).

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

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


20 January 2016

• U.S. Real Earnings – April 2015


For the Month: Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.1 percent from November to December, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from no change in average hourly earnings combined with a 0.1-percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings increased 0.1 percent over the month due to the increase in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek.

For the Year: Real average hourly earnings increased 1.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, from December 2014 to December 2015. This increase in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.3-percent decrease in the average workweek resulted in a 1.6-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period.

Please visit this link to read the full report: 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.

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Consumer Price Index — December 2015

• CPI-U: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.7 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 236.525 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

• CPI-W: The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 0.4 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 230.791 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index declined 0.4 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

C-CPI-U: The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.3 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index declined 0.5 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Housing Starts — December 2015

Privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,149,000. This is 2.5 percent (±8.6%) below the revised November estimate of 1,179,000, but is 6.4 percent (±12.2%) above the December 2014 rate of 1,080,000.

Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 768,000; this is 3.3 percent (±8.5%) below the revised November figure of 794,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 365,000.

An estimated 1,111,200 housing units were started in 2015. This is 10.8 percent (±2.9%) above the 2014 figure of 1,003,300.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


15 January 2016

• U.S. Business Sales, Inventories — November 2015

Sales. The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for November, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1,313.5 billion, down 0.2 percent (±0.2%)* from October 2015 and was down 2.8 percent (±0.5%) from November 2014.

Inventories. Manufacturers’ and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,809.8 billion, down 0.2 percent (±0.1%) from October 2015, but were up 1.6 percent (±0.5%) from November 2014.

Inventories/Sales Ratio. The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of November was 1.38. The November 2014 ratio was 1.32.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Industrial Production — December 2015

Industrial production declined 0.4 percent in December, primarily as a result of cutbacks for utilities and mining.

For the fourth quarter as a whole, industrial production fell at an annual rate of 3.4 percent. Manufacturing output edged down in December. The index for utilities dropped 2.0 percent, as continued warmer-than-usual temperatures reduced demand for heating.

Capacity utilization for the industrial sector decreased 0.4 percentage point in December to 76.5 percent, a rate that is 3.6 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2014) average.

Please visit this link to read the full report: Federal Reserve

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Retail Sales — December 2015

U.S. retail and food services sales for December, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $448.1 billion, a decrease of 0.1 percent (±0.5%) from the previous month, and 2.2 percent (±0.7%) above December 2014. Total sales for the 12 months of 2015 were up 2.1 percent (±0.4%) from 2014.

Total sales for the October 2015 through December 2015 period were up 1.8 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The October 2015 to November 2015 percent change was revised from up 0.2 percent (±0.5%)* to up 0.4 percent (±0.2%)

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Producer Price Index — December 2015

The Producer Price Index for final demand decreased 0.2 percent in December. Final demand prices increased 0.3 percent in November and fell 0.4 percent in October.

Prices for final demand goods declined 0.7 percent and the index for final demand services advanced 0.1 percent.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


14 January 2016

• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 09 January 2016


InIn the week ending January 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 284,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 277,000. The 4-week moving average was 278,750, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 275,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.7 percent for the week ending January 2, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 2 was 2,263,000, an increase of 29,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending December 26 were in Alaska (4.9), Montana (3.2), New Jersey (2.9), Pennsylvania (2.8), West Virginia (2.8), Connecticut (2.7), Illinois (2.6), Minnesota (2.6), Wyoming (2.6), Massachusetts (2.5), Nevada (2.5), and Rhode Island (2.5).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 2 were in New York (+15,090), Georgia (+12,139), Pennsylvania (+11,216), Alabama (+3,272), and Wisconsin (+3,266), while the largest decreases were in Illinois (- 3,633), California (-2,191), Puerto Rico (-1,718), Ohio (-1,428), and Maryland (-1,061).

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

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


13 January 2016

• U.S. Treasury Budget — December 2015

“The government's deficit, unlike last year, is on the rise, up 22 percent at $215.6 billion three months into fiscal year 2016.…”

Please visit this link to read the full report: WallStreetJournal

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Average Retail Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Prices — 11 January 2016


Regular Gasoline: The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline fell three cents from the previous week to $1.996 [sic] per gallon on January 11, 2016, 14 cents lower than the same time last year and the first time since March 2009 that the U.S. average was below $2.00 per gallon. The Midwest price fell four cents to $1.82 per gallon. The West Coast and East Coast prices each decreased three cents to $2.63 per gallon and $1.97 per gallon, respectively. The Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain prices both decreased two cents to $1.73 per gallon and $1.95 per gallon, respectively.

Diesel Fuel: The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased three cents from the prior week to $2.18 per gallon, 88 cents lower than the same time last year. The Rocky Mountain price was down six cents to $2.13 per gallon. The West Coast price decreased four cents to $2.43 per gallon. The East Coast, Midwest, and Gulf Coast prices all decreased three cents to $2.23 per gallon, $2.10 per gallon, and $2.08 per gallon, respectively.<

Please visit this link to read the full report: USEnergyInformationAdministration

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/

12 January 2016

• U.S. Job Openings, Hires, Turnover, Quits — November 2015


• There were 4.972 million job openings [all data NSA] on the last business day of November, up 11.7% from the same month a year ago; the job openings rate was 3.3%.

• Hires were 4.817 million, up 3.0% from the same month in 2014; the hires rate was 3.3%.

• Total separations were 4.281 million up 5.5% in the last 12 months. This yielded a “turnover” rate of 3.0% for the month…an annual equivalent of 36.0%.

• Within total separations, the 2.352 million quits [up 7.1%] yielded a quit rate of 1.6% percent and 1.612 million layoffs and discharges [up 7.1%] yielded a rate of 1.1%.

[1] The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. [2] The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. [3] The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment; includes quits. [4] The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment; included in "total turnover."

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


08 January 2016

• U.S. Wholesale Trade — November 2015

Sales. November 2015 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 $442.8 billion, down 1.0 percent (+/-0.5%) from the revised October level and were down 4.6 percent (+/-1.4%) from the November 2014 level.

Inventories. Total inventories of merchant wholesalers after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $582.9 billion at the end of November, down 0.3 percent (+/-0.4%)* from the revised October level, but were up 2.2 percent (+/-1.6%) from the November 2014 level.

Inventories/Sales Ratio. The November inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.32. The November 2014 ratio was 1.23.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOC-Census

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Employment Situtation — December 2015

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 292,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent.

Employment gains were led by professional and business services, construction, health care, and food services and drinking places. Mining employment continued to decline.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


07 January 2016

• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 02 January 2016


In the week ending January 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 277,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 287,000. The 4-week moving average was 275,750, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 277,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.6 percent for the week ending December 26, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 26 was 2,230,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending December 19 were in Alaska (4.3), New Jersey (2.7), Montana (2.6), Puerto Rico (2.6), Pennsylvania (2.5), West Virginia (2.5), Connecticut (2.3), Illinois (2.3), Nevada (2.3), and Massachusetts (2.2).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending December 26 were in New Jersey (+6,935), Michigan (+6,348), Kentucky (+5,497), Pennsylvania (+5,350), and Ohio (+3,901), while the largest decreases were in California (-9,900), Texas (-5,083), Florida (-2,474), North Carolina (-1,460), and Colorado (-1,272).

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

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


06 January 2016

• U.S. Average Retail Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Prices — 04 January 2016


Regular Gasoline: The U.S. average regular gasoline retail price decreased less than a penny to remain $2.03 per gallon on January 4, 2016, down 19 cents from the same time last year. The West Coast price was the only increase, up three cents to $2.66 per gallon. The East Coast price decreased two cents to $2.00 per gallon. The Midwest, Gulf Coast, and Rocky Mountain prices each fell one cent to $1.86 per gallon, $1.75 per gallon, and $1.96 per gallon, respectively.

Diesel Fuel: The U.S. average diesel fuel price decreased two cents to $2.21 per gallon, down 93 cents from the same time last year. The Rocky Mountain price decreased four cents to $2.19 per gallon. The Midwest and Gulf Coast prices each fell three cents to $2.13 per gallon and $2.11 per gallon, respectively. The East Coast price was down two cents to $2.26 per gallon. The West Coast price fell less than a penny to remain $2.46 per gallon.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USEnergyInformationAdministration

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/

• U.S. Factory Orders — November 2015

• New orders for manufactured goods in November, down three of the last four months, decreased $1.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $472.2 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent October increase.

• Shipments, up following four consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.0 billion or 0.2 percent to $475.3 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent October decrease.

• Inventories, down five consecutive months, decreased $1.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $641.3 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent October decrease.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Auto Sales — December 2015

U.S. car sales were down 2.2% for the year ended December 2015...light trucks and other types of vehicles increased.

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NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Balance of Trade — November 2015

The goods and services deficit was $42.4 billion in November, down $2.2 billion from $44.6 billion in October, revised. November exports were $182.2 billion, $1.6 billion less than October exports. November imports were $224.6 billion, $3.8 billion less than October imports.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOC-BEA

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Construction Spending — November 2015

Construction spending during November 2015 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,122.5 billion, 0.4 percent (±1.5%) below the revised October estimate of $1,127.0 billion. The November figure is 10.5 percent (±1.8%) above the November 2014 estimate of $1,016.1 billion.

During the first 11 months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,011.9 billion, 10.7 percent (±1.2%) above the $913.9 billion for the same period in 2014.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. “New Orders, Production and Employment Contracting…” — December 2015

“Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December for the second consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 79th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®...

”The December PMI® registered 48.2 percent, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point from the November reading of 48.6 percent.…”

Please visit this link to read the full report: InstituteForSupplyManagement

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


01 January 2016

• U.S. Population Count — 01 January 2016

As our nation rings in the new year, the U.S. Census Bureau projects the United States population will be 322,762,018 on Jan. 1, 2016. This represents an increase of 2,472,745, or 0.77 percent, from New Year’s Day 2015.

In 2016, the United States is expected to experience one birth every eight seconds and one death every ten seconds. Meanwhile, net international migration is expected to add one person to the U.S. population every 29 seconds. The combination of births, deaths and net international migration increases the U.S. population by one person every 17 seconds.

Worldwide: The projected world population on Jan. 1 is 7,295,889,256, an increase of 77,918,825, or 1.08 percent, from New Year’s Day 2015. During January 2016, 4.3 births and 1.8 deaths are expected worldwide every second.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOCCensus

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/