• U.S. Balance of Trade — July 2015

The goods and services deficit was $41.9 billion in July, down $3.3 billion from $45.2 billion in June, revised. July exports were $188.5 billion, $0.8 billion more than June exports. July imports were $230.4 billion, $2.5 billion less than June imports.

The July decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of $3.4 billion to $61.4 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of less than $0.1 billion to $19.6 billion.

Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $10.6 billion, or 3.6 percent, from the same period in 2014. Exports decreased $47.0 billion or 3.5 percent. Imports decreased $36.4 billion or 2.2 percent.

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. Average Retail Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Prices — 31 August 2015

---

Regular Gasoline: The U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline decreased 13 cents from last week to $2.51 per gallon on August 31, 2015, 95 cents per gallon less than at the same time last year. The Midwest price showed the largest decline, down 20 cents to $2.47 per gallon. The West Coast price decreased 12 cents per gallon to $3.16 per gallon. The Gulf Coast and East Coast prices were both down nine cents per gallon, to $2.20 per gallon and $2.34 per gallon, respectively. The Rocky Mountain price was down five cents to $2.77 per gallon.

Diesel Fuel: The U.S. average diesel fuel price fell five cents from the previous week to $2.51 per gallon, down $1.30 per gallon from the same time last year. The East Coast price decreased six cents to $2.59 per gallon. The Midwest, Gulf Coast, and West Coast prices each were down four cents, to $2.44 per gallon, $2.38 per gallon, and $2.72 per gallon, respectively. The Rocky Mountain price declined three cents to $2.56 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. Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders — July 2015

New orders for manufactured durable goods in July, up two consecutive months, increased $5.1 billion or 2.2 percent to $241.7 billion, up from the previously published 2.0 percent increase. This followed a 4.1 percent June increase.

Transportation equipment, also up two consecutive months, led the increase, $4.4 billion or 5.5 percent to $84.0 billion.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $3.1 billion or 1.3 percent to $240.3 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. Productivity and Unit Labor Costs — Q2 2015

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 3.3-percent annual rate during the second quarter of 2015 as output increased 4.7 percent and hours worked increased 1.4 percent. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.) From the second quarter of 2014 to the second quarter of 2015, productivity increased 0.7 percent, reflecting increases in output and hours worked of 3.3 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.

Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector decreased 1.4 percent in the second quarter of 2015, reflecting a 1.8-percent increase in hourly compensation and a 3.3-percent increase in productivity. Unit labor costs increased 1.7 percent over the last four quarters.

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. Major Metropolitan Area Employment, Unemployment — July 2015

Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 359 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 20 areas, and unchanged in 8 areas.

Six areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and five areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 322 metropolitan areas, decreased in 54 areas, and was unchanged in 11 areas.

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. ISM Manufacturing Report — August 2015

“Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August for the 32nd consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 75th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

"The August PMI® registered 51.1 percent, a decrease of 1.6 percentage points from the July reading of 52.7 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/

---

• U.S. Construction Spending — July 2015

Construction spending during July 2015 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,083.4 billion, 0.7 percent (±1.5%)s above the revised June estimate of $1,075.9 billion. The July figure is 13.7 percent (±2.0%) above the July 2014 estimate of $952.5 billion.

During the first 7 months of this year, construction spending amounted to $583.2 billion, 9.3 percent (±1.5%) above the $533.7 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/

---