Quikrete Industry Dashboard: Triple play

The Quikrete Industry Dashboard demonstrates another surge in prices at the pump. This time, the American Automobile Association’s tally shows an increase from $4.19 a month ago, to a current level of $4.72.

Meanwhile, the latest numbers for Consumer Confidence Index and the unemployment rate were released in recent days.

Confidence slipped a couple of points to a reading of 106.4 (1985 =100), down from 108.6 a month ago.

Consumers, according to Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board, “do not foresee the economy picking up steam in the months ahead. They do expect labor market conditions to remain relatively strong, which should continue to support confidence in the short run.”

On Friday morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the monthly jobs report, with the national unemployment rate unchanged from last month at 3.6. percent. A year ago, the unemployment rate stood at 5.8 percent.

More details from the bureau: Employment in construction increased by 36,000 in May, following no change in April. In May, job gains occurred in specialty trade contractors (+17,000) and heavy and civil engineering construction (+11,000). Construction employment is 40,000 higher than in February 2020.