The U.S. economy created 199,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The percentage of Americans who are unemployed has been below 4 percent for two years, a sign that the labor market remains unusually favorable for workers, giving them leverage to demand raises and switch into better jobs. Layoffs also remained low in October, according to the Labor Department’s job openings survey released Tuesday, despite some concentrated pockets of job losses in finance, tech and media.
The good news for workers is that even as wage growth has moderated since earlier this year, rising by 4.1 percent over the previous 12 months in October, inflation has slowed more, meaning average hourly earnings are beating price increases, boosting Americans’ spending power.
“This is encouraging for central bankers and the people getting real wage gains,” Bunker said. “It’s helping people spend more which is good for GDP growth and for everyone. It’s a win-win for a variety of audiences."
The final stretch of 2023 is shaping up to be the slowest hiring period in years for the U.S. labor market, as employers tighten their belts after years of explosive growth following the job losses of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday and signaled in new economic projections that the historic tightening of U.S. monetary policy engineered over the last two years is at an end and lower borrowing costs are coming in 2024.
Last month, for the first time since April 2020, prices fell on a monthly basis.
US inflation slowed further in November, and consumer spending continued to outpace expectations, according to a closely watched report released Friday by the Commerce Department.
November’s Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, a comprehensive measure of prices US households pay for goods and services, declined 0.1% from the month before, bringing the annual inflation rate to 2.6%.
It’s the first time the headline PCE index went negative on a monthly basis since early in the pandemic. Annually, it’s a marked improvement from a 2.9% rate in October.
The Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge — the “core” Personal Consumption Expenditures price index that excludes energy and food prices — also cooled to 3.2% for the year ended in November. That’s a step back from October’s annual increase of 3.4% and a step closer to the central bank’s 2% target rate.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.