 Single-family authorizations in June were at a rate of 493,000; this is 0.6 percent (±0.8%) above the revised May figure of 490,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 241,000 in June. Housing Starts: Privately-owned housing starts in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 760,000. This is 6.9 percent (±13.3%) above the revised May estimate of 711,000 and is 23.6 percent (±16.8%) above the June 2011 rate of 615,000. Single-family housing starts in June were at a rate of 539,000; this is 4.7 percent (±10.1%) above the revised May figure of 515,000. The June rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 213,000. Source: USDOC |
18 July 2012
∙ U.S. Building Permits Down in June, Housing Starts Up
∙ Connecticut's Average Gasoline Price Up for Second Straight Week
 Source: NorwichBulletin.com |
17 July 2012
∙ U.S. Average Real Hourly Earnings Up Only 0.3% in Year
|
Hourly Earnings Change for Year: The average hourly pay in the U.S. in June 2012 was $23.50, up 2.0% from June 2011. However, after accounting for the effects of inflation, real average hourly earnings were $10.28 [1982 dollars] compared to $10.25 in the same month a year ago…a 0.3% increase.  Weekly Earnings Change for Year: The average weekly pay in the U.S. in June 2012 was $810.75, up 2.2% from Junee 2011. However, after accounting for the effects of inflation, real weekly earnings were $354.63 [1982 dollars] compared to $352.52 in the same month a year ago…a 0.6% increase. Hourly Earnings Change for Month: Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.2 percent from May to June, seasonally adjusted. This change resulted from a 0.3 percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with an unchanged Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Weekly Earnings Change for Month: Real average weekly earnings rose 0.5 percent over the month due to the increase in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.3 percent increase in the average workweek. Since reaching a peak in October 2010, real average weekly earnings have fallen 0.5 percent. Source: USDOL |
∙ U.S. Industrial Production Up 0.4% in June 2012
 In the second quarter of 2012, manufacturing output rose at an annual rate of 1.4 percent, a marked deceleration from its strong gain of 9.8 percent in the first quarter. The largest contribution to the increase in the second quarter came from motor vehicles and parts, which climbed 18.2 percent; excluding motor vehicles and parts, manufacturing output edged up 0.1 percent. Outside of manufacturing, the output of mines advanced 0.7 percent in June, while the output of utilities decreased 1.9 percent. For the quarter, however, the output of mines fell at an annual rate of 1.2 percent, while the output of utilities rose 14.9 percent. At 97.4 percent of its 2007 average, total industrial production in June was 4.7 percent above its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization for total industry moved up 0.2 percentage point in June to 78.9 percent, a rate 1.4 percentage points below its long-run (1972--2011) average. Source: Federal Reserve |
∙ U.S. Consumer Prices Up 1.7% in Last Year
|
CPI: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 1.7 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 229.478 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.  CPI-W: The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 1.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 226.036 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index decreased 0.2 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. C-CPI-U: The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 1.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 131.557. For the month, the index decreased 0.1 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. NY-NJ-CT: The CPI-U and CPI-W for New York, Northern New Jersey, Long Island, and parts of western Connecticut each were up 1.6% on the year. The Consumer Price Index for July 2012 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). Source: USDOL |
∙ U.S. Labor Turnover: When Is It Highest…Lowest?
|
There are definite patterns to labor turnover in the U.S. [Click on chart to enlarge.]  Turnover then takes a descending sleigh ride as the holidays approach...that time of the year when no one wants to be without without income if it can be avoided. Turnover jumps again right after the holidays as employees have pocketed their holiday bonuses...and perhaps had that week off between Christmas and New Year’s. Also, many temporary jobs end shortly after New Year's. And it snowballs downhill in February which, for much of the U.S., is a lousy time, weather-wise, to be out schlepping around looking for a job. Then the cycle repeats itself. Source: Data: USDOL…commentary’s ours. |
16 July 2012
∙ U.S. Total Business Sales Down in May, Inventories Were Up
 Inventories: Manufacturers’ and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,578.4 billion, up 0.3 percent (±0.1%) from April 2012 and up 5.2 percent (±0.3%) from May 2011. Inventories/Sales Ratio: The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of May was 1.27. The May 2011 ratio was 1.27. Source: USDOC |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)