Quikrete Industry Dashboard - (Week 2, 2025)
The Week 2, 2025 edition of the Quikrete Industry Dashboard shows U.S. average gas prices have crept up ($3.06) from last month ($3.01). However, prices at the pump are still slightly lower compared to last year's nationwide average of $3.07 in early-January 2024, per AAA's data.
The latest jobs figures are also out, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reporting an upbeat December increase of 256,000 nonfarm payroll jobs. That's the biggest monthly jump for job gains since March 2023, per Yahoo Finance.
The unemployment rate also ticked down (4.1 percent) from the previous month's figure of 4.2 percent. BLS adds: "Employment trended up in health care, government, and social assistance. Retail trade added jobs in December, following a job loss in November."
Retail added 43,000 jobs in December, per BLS, though building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers lost approximately 11,000 jobs.
Also new on the Quikrete Industry Dashboard this week, hardware and building supply stocks slid again. Each stock on our list decreased over the past month, though year-over-year, several have still posted gains. Overall, Tractor Supply (+29.6), Beacon (+18.1), Lowe's (+15.9) and Home Depot (+14.6) have enjoyed the biggest increases over the past year.
