The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slight gain in the number of nonfarm payroll positions for the month of October and little change in the unemployment rate, which remained steady at 7.3 percent. Industries that saw job growth …
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Retail Sales Up in September
Retail sales increased 0.6 percent seasonally adjusted from last month, and 3.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to the National Retail Federation. Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers stores’ sales also increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted. “Retailers witnessed a solid …
Read More »More Than 15,000 Retail Jobs Added in September
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 148,000 in September, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 7.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported. Employment increased in construction, wholesale trade, and transportation and warehousing. The National Retail …
Read More »Signs of Improving Economy Evident at Do it Best October Market
From the return of an old friend to the introduction of a new program, the Do it Best Corp. October Market, held Oct. 19-21 in Indianapolis, had plenty to offer its retailers. During the shareholders’ meeting Sunday night, Don Wolf, …
Read More »National Retail Federation Calls for Speedy End to Government Shutdown
In a recent letter to congressional leaders, the National Retail Federation called upon both Congress and the White House to end the budget stalemate and urged both political parties to immediately pass a funding bill so that federal employees and contractors can get back …
Read More »Marginal Sales Gains Forecast for This Holiday Season
The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects sales in November and December to marginally increase 3.9 percent to $602.1 billion, over 2012’s actual 3.5 percent holiday season sales growth. The forecast is higher than the 10-year average holiday sales growth of …
Read More »Existing-Home Sales Up in August
Existing-home sales increased in August and reached the highest level in more than six years, while the median price shows nine consecutive months of double-digit year-over-year increases, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Total existing-home sales rose 1.7 percent to a seasonally …
Read More »Builder Confidence Remains Unchanged in September
After four consecutive months of increasing confidence, builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes held unchanged in September with a reading of 58 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). “While builder …
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