This past week's data point of significance for investors has to be March's job report, which indicated the U.S. economy created a better-than-expected 216,000 jobs, the U.S. Labor Department said.

Also, the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 8.8% from 8.9%. A Bloomberg survey had expected the economy to create 200,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 8.9%. Further, job creation totals for February and January were revised higher: February to 194,000 from the initially estimated 192,000 gain; January to 68,000 from 63,000.

Continue reading Ray of Light: March's Jobs Gain Is More Evidence of Healing Labor Market

Ray of Light: March's Jobs Gain Is More Evidence of Healing Labor Market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Some good news for everyone out there looking for a job: unemployment fell to a two-year low in March, down to 8.8%.

While an 8.8% percent unemployment rate is still nothing to celebrate, it is a clear indication that we are headed in the right direction. Companies hired new employees at the fastest two-month pace since before the recession began.

Continue reading Unemployment Rate Falls to Two-Year Low

Unemployment Rate Falls to Two-Year Low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

According to the ADP Employer Services Report, the private sector added 201,000 new jobs in March, basically in-line with 203,000 new jobs that analysts had been expecting to see.

February's figures were revised downwards to 208,000 from a previously estimated 216,000 new jobs.

March's employment gains bring the four-month average of new jobs to 211,000, more than enough to keep the labor track on path. Analysts estimate that the economy needs to add 125,000 new jobs each month in order to keep up with population growth, so any jobs over that figure result in a lower unemployment figures.

Continue reading Labor Market Continues to Show Signs of Improvement

Labor Market Continues to Show Signs of Improvement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The calendar quarter winds down this week and quarterly reports are due from Apollo Group (APOL), CarMax (KMX), Global Payments (GPN), Krispy Kreme (KKD), Lennar (LEN) and McCormick (MKC). But analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high hopes for results from fertilizer and animal feed maker Mosaic (MOS), apparel maker Phillips Van Heusen (PVH) and discount retailer Family Dollar (FDO). So here's a look at what they anticipate from these three companies.

Mosaic

During its fiscal second quarter, Cargill agreed to distribute its stake in Mosaic, and Mosaic also said it would redeem senior notes. Analysts anticipate that the Minnesota-based potash producer will report per-share earnings of $1.07, a jump of 53.3% from the same quarter of last year. Mosaic also is expected to post revenue of $2.4 billion for the three months that ended in February. That's a 35.9% rise from a year earlier.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Mosaic, Family Dollar Earnings and March Unemployment Rate

Week in Preview: Mosaic, Family Dollar Earnings and March Unemployment Rate originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So, the unemployment rate sank below 9% in February, but investors didn't seem to be impressed by that. The Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 all fell on Friday over concerns about how the ongoing unrest in the Middle East might affect energy prices, and thus the economic recovery.

Will this coming week's economic calendar offer anything likely to bring excitement to the markets? Here's what's on tap:

• Monday: Consumer credit numbers for January
• Tuesday: Weekly chain store sales, TIPP Economic Optimism Index

Continue reading Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings

Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This past week's data point of significance for investors has to be the February nonfarm payroll report by the U.S. Department of Labor, which indicated that the U.S. economy created 192,000 jobs last month -- roughly in-line with the consensus estimate.

The good news was complemented by the fact that January's job gain was revised up to 63,000 from 36,000 and December's to 152,000 from 121,000. January's low job tally was probably skewed lower by the winter blizzards and storms that hit the Northeast and Midwest; hence, it's safe to say that the economy is creating jobs. What it needs now is sustained demand to drive GDP growth, which will lead to stronger job growth.

Continue reading Ray of Light: U.S. Private Sector Hiring Increases

Ray of Light: U.S. Private Sector Hiring Increases originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Most of us did not expect a sharp turnaround on the employment front in February. For the better part of two years, we've had painfully slow growth in employment. Then, in February, with many people snowed in for most of the time, things changed dramatically: Nonfarm payrolls increased by a whopping 192,000 and the unemployment rate dropped to 8.9%, as reported in Reuters.

The numbers were impressive. Private sector jobs increased to 222,000, up from 68,000 in January. Private service sector jobs increased to 152,000 from 33,000 in January. Government employment fell by 30,000. The average work week was steady. Hourly earnings rose one penny.

Continue reading Big Surprise! Payrolls Jump By 192,000 as Unemployment Rate Drops

Big Surprise! Payrolls Jump By 192,000 as Unemployment Rate Drops originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This week we turn the calendar page, and that change brings with it a raft of economic data. Scheduled for release on Monday are pending home sales and personal income numbers for January, as well as the Chicago PMI and car and truck sales data for February.

On Tuesday, look for the ISM Manufacturing Index for February and construction spending numbers for January. That's followed on Wednesday by the week's first employment data: the Challenger Job-Cuts announcement and the ADP employment report for February. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will deliver his semiannual monetary policy testimony before Congress on both days.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail Earnings, Bernanke Testimony

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail Earnings, Bernanke Testimony originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The jobs number is disappointing at best. Only 36,000 jobs were added in January, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones news wires had forecast an increase of 136,000. The unemployment rate fell to 9%.

The key reason for such a poor showing was bad weather. However, the December number was increased to 121,000 jobs, from 103,000.

Commenting on the jobs situation, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said: "Until we see a sustained period of stronger job creation, we cannot consider the recovery to be truly established."

Continue reading Economy Adds Only 36,000 Jobs in January

Economy Adds Only 36,000 Jobs in January originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Friday's fourth-quarter GDP numbers offered more evidence that the economy is picking up steam, but one of the biggest obstacles to the recovery remains the stubbornly high unemployment rate. We'll find out whether there's been any movement on that front when employment data for January comes out this week. The Challenger Job-Cut report and ADP employment data are due Wednesday, and the government's unemployment rate on Friday. Another mild increase in jobs is expected, in line with the three-month average, but not enough to significantly reduce the unemployment rate.

Also look for the ISM manufacturing and nonmanufacturing indexes this week, as well as the Chicago PMI and the New York NAPM index. And Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak to the National Press Club on Thursday.

Continue reading Week in Preview: January Employment Data, UPS Earnings and More

Week in Preview: January Employment Data, UPS Earnings and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Labor Department reported that employers added 103,000 jobs last month. This fell short of the expected 150,000 predicted by economists surveyed by Dow Jones. However, the unemployment rate fell to 9.4%. The November report was revised upward to 71,000 from 39,000, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Earlier in the week ADP reported that private sector jobs rose by 297,000 last month, the strongest gain since ADP began collecting data.

Continue reading Jobs Report Disappoints Despite Lower Unemployment Rate

Jobs Report Disappoints Despite Lower Unemployment Rate originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. Stock Futures Down, All Eyes on Payroll Data

U.S. Stock Futures Down, All Eyes on Payroll Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although the U.S. economy has added jobs in recent months, the unemployment rate remains uncomfortably high at 9.8%. The rate for December is due out on Friday and is expected to drop to 9.7%. However, no one seems to expect significant improvement until well into the new year.

Other economic data on this week's schedule include:

• Monday: ISM Manufacturing Index, construction spending and auto sales data

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Australia's economy added 54,600 jobs in October. What, you ask, does that have to do with U.S. investing?

Well, adjusting for Australia's population, November's job growth down under is the equivalent of a 728,000 monthly job gain in the United States -- in other words, a Roaring 90s-level monthly job growth performance.

Continue reading Australia's Job Boom Continues -- Is the U.S. Next?

Australia's Job Boom Continues -- Is the U.S. Next? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This morning, my colleague Connie Madon reported that initial jobless claims showed a disappointing gain of just 39,000 jobs and an unemployment rate at a seven-month high of 9.8%. Remember that the Street expected job growth of 144,000. This disappointing data has helped push the Dow Jones as we head through the lunch hour. I wanted to take a look at a couple tidbits of news from the report, one that I find especially disturbing.

Continue reading Unemployment Data Is Disturbing, Underemployment Numbers Are Staggering

Unemployment Data Is Disturbing, Underemployment Numbers Are Staggering originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Black Friday has come and gone and the holiday shopping season is off and running. In addition to keeping on eye on how retailers are doing, there will be plenty of other economic data for analysts and investors to peruse on this week.

• Monday: Chicago Fed's Midwest Manufacturing Index
• Tuesday: Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index, Chicago Purchasing Managers Index, S&P/Case-Schiller Home Price Index for Q3, Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Fed's Beige Book, Canadian Banks

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Fed's Beige Book, Canadian Banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It will be a busy week. Republicans are poised to gain control of the House of Representatives and gain governorships in Tuesday's mid-term elections. Also, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce another round of quantitative easing Wednesday, following the FOMC meeting. Major retailers are scheduled to report October same-store sales Thursday, while the October unemployment rate, announced on Friday, is expected to remain at 9.6%.

Toyota's (TM) fiscal second-quarter results will be one of the highlights on the earnings front this week. After three periods of way underestimating Toyota's earnings, have the analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters got it right this time? The stock sure could use a boost. Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA) is in a similar situation; i.e., high expectations for this week's quarterly results but a stock in need of a boost. Marathon (MRO) and Starbucks (SBUX) are also expected to post strong earnings growth this week, but both stocks are riding high.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Election, QE2, Unemployment and More Earnings

Week in Preview: Election, QE2, Unemployment and More Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 31 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Tell-Tale Stat: U.S. Underemployment Rate Rose to 17.1% in September

Tell-Tale Stat: U.S. Underemployment Rate Rose to 17.1% in September originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stock futures inched higher ahead of the opening bell after the Labor Department reported weekly dropped by 11,000 last week to 445,000. While this was better than expectations that called for a slight increase, the total amount of claims are still hovering at a reading that doesn't indicate significant hiring or firing is taking place.

The four-week average of new claims fell by 3,000 to 455,750. The four-week claim is considered less volatile than the weekly data. Continuing jobless claims also dropped 48,000 to 4.46 million. Continuing jobless claims are workers who continue to receive regular weekly benefits. This data follows Wednesday's ADP data that indicated private employers cut jobs last month.

Continue reading Initial Jobless Claims Fall Slightly

Initial Jobless Claims Fall Slightly originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The U.S. lost fewer jobs than expected in August. Here are the key stats, as reported in the New York Times:

• The economy lost another 54,000 jobs last month.
• Private companies added 67,000 jobs.
• The unemployment rate rose to 9.6% from 9.5%.
• The government lost 121,000 jobs in August.
• State and local governments cut 10,000 jobs and another 114,000 temporary census positions.

Continue reading U.S. Lost Fewer Jobs Than Expected in August

U.S. Lost Fewer Jobs Than Expected in August originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.