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A government shutdown would stifle flow of economic data

Sep 21, 2023
The threat comes just when the Federal Reserve really needs a clear picture of how the economy is doing.
The Federal Reserve relies on government-produced data to make monetary policy. Above, Chair Jerome Powell.
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Why inflation runs hottest in the Mountain West

May 9, 2023
Last month, the CPI pegged area inflation at 6% year-over-year, a whole percentage point higher than the national average.
The cost of housing accounts for a third of the CPI. With the flexibility of remote work, many people have moved to the Mountain West, raising prices for locals.
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Housing costs are a main reason inflation is still high

Mar 14, 2023
The cost of shelter is driving more than 70% of inflation right now, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So what gives?
It can take a year or more for changes in housing costs to show up in inflation data.
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The job market cooled in January — that's what the Fed's been hoping for

Mar 8, 2023
There are fewer job openings and fewer people are quitting jobs — signs that the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes are working as intended.
Job openings fell about 49% in construction, according to the recent JOLTS report. There were also fewer openings in accommodation and food services, and in finance and insurance.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

If it's the first Friday of the month, there must be a jobs report, right? Wrong.

Mar 3, 2023
A rule that makes the underlying data more consistent has delayed February's report by a week.
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What the number of involuntary part-time workers tells us about the economy

Sep 7, 2022
The "I’d prefer a full-time gig, but I can’t find one” measure can give us a sense of how much slack or unmet potential there is in the labor market.
If involuntary part-time employment starts to tick up, that can be a leading indicator of a slowing economy.
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Federal jobs survey will replace COVID questions with new queries about telework

Sep 5, 2022
It's the end of an era — the pandemic era — for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Since May 2020, the  Bureau of Labor Statistics has been asking people whether COVID affected the hours they've worked or prevented them from looking for work.
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For public good, not for profit.

Employment's back to pre-pandemic levels with more than 500,000 new jobs added in July

Aug 5, 2022
There were even job gains in construction and finance, which were expected to slow down. Wages grew again too.
Employers added double the number of jobs economists were expecting in July, with big hiring increases in leisure and hospitality, health care and retail.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

What does "broad-based" inflation look like down the road?

Jul 13, 2022
Energy, food and rent were big drivers of the 9.1% inflation reading. Where are those numbers headed?
Food prices were up 10% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Decline in involuntary part-time work shows the labor market is still robust

Jul 8, 2022
At the start of the pandemic, the number of part timers who would rather work full time spiked. Now, it’s lower than any time since 2001.
Even in today's relatively hot job market, people who have served prison time may find it difficult to secure employment.
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