Quikrete Industry Dashboard
The national unemployment rate gained one tenth of a percentage point to 4.1 percent in June, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The unemployment rate had been running under the 4.0 percent level for 27 months, before the last two months of 4.0 percent and 4.1 percent.
Other jobs-related data points released Friday morning in the government report include:
• Construction added 27,000 jobs in June, higher than the average monthly gain of 20,000 over the prior 12 months.
• Retail trade employment changed little in June (down 9,000 jobs), after trending up earlier in the year.
• Among those not in the labor force who wanted a job, the number of people marginally attached to the labor force, at 1.5 million, was essentially unchanged in June.
• Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 206,000 in June, similar to the average monthly gain of 220,000 over the prior 12 months.
The data-rich Quikrete Industry Dashboard also shows gas prices leveling at a national average of $3.51 — a penny higher than the previous month, and a penny lower than a year ago.
Also on the Quikrete Industry Dashboard, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index dipped in June to 100.4 (1985=100), down from 101.3 in May.
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Coming next: July 16 will bring updates to the monthly sales statistics for NAICS 444 and 44413. July 17 will bring residential construction statistics.
