• U.S. Monthly Wholesale Trade - Sales And Inventories - March 2013

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March 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 $414.7 billion, down 1.6 percent (+/-0.4%) from the revised February level, but were up 1.3 percent (+/-1.1%) from the March 2012 level. Source: USDOC-Census

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• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 4k [Jobless]

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In the week ending May 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 327,000 and down 11.7% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 336,750, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 343,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending April 27, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending April 20 were in Alaska (5.2), Puerto Rico (4.4), Connecticut (3.5), New Jersey (3.4), New Mexico (3.3), Rhode Island (3.3), Wisconsin (3.3), California (3.2), Pennsylvania (3.2), and Illinois (3.1) The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending April 27 were in Illinois (+1,744), Oregon (+1,244), New Hampshire (+765), Arkansas (+455), and Maine (+379), while the largest decreases were in California (-3,721), Michigan (-2,993), Wisconsin (-2,623), Massachusetts (-2,487), and Florida (-2,062). Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. College Starting Salaries – Highest-Paying Majors

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"By far, petroleum engineering majors received the top starting salaries with an average of $93,500, nearly $22,000 more than the second highest-paid major, computer engineering at $71,700." Source: NACEWeb.org

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• U.S. Job Openings And Labor Turnover – March 2013

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There were 3.8 million job openings on the last business day of March, little changed from 3.9 million in February. The hires rate (3.2 percent) and separations rate (3.1 percent) were little changed in March. Click on chart to enlarge Source: USDOL-BLS

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• U.S. Consumer Credit – March 2013

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• Q1: Consumer credit increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5-3/4 percent during the first quarter. Revolving credit was little changed, while nonrevolving credit increased at an annual rate of 8 percent. • Month: In March, consumer credit increased at an annual rate of 3-1/2 percent. Source: Federal Reserve *Note: Nonrevolving credit can be used only once, such as with a car loan or student loan. Revolving credit can be used multiple times, such as with a credit card.

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• Connecticut Employers in Hartford, Middlebury, and Shelton to Lay Off 879 Workers

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The CTDOL says that AEG Management CT, LLC. d.b.a. XL Center of Hartford will lay off 745 employees between 6/30/13 and 8/30/13; at least some of these workers are represented by AFCME Local 1716 and/or IATSE Local 84 CTDOL also reports that Chemtura Corporation of Middlebury will lay off 39 employees on 7/1/13. And, CTDOL says The William Carter Company including its subsidiary, Carter's Retail, Inc. of Shelton will lay off 95 workers effective 6/30/13. Source: CTDOL

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• U.S. Employment Situation – April 2013

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The unemployment rate, at 7.5 percent, changed little in April but has declined by 0.4 percentage point since January. The number of unemployed persons, at 11.7 million, was also little changed over the month; however, unemployment has decreased by 673,000 since January. Source: USDOL-BLS

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