• 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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