Tag Archives: Unemployment

North Carolina's economy appears to back on the move, according to a recently released study performed by the Wells Fargo Economics Group. Labor market conditions are improving, with job growth outpacing the nation and home sales finally recovering from a period of dormancy.

The Department of Labor reported 192,000 new jobs in March, down slightly from February’s revised growth of 197,000 (from 175,000 originally reported). Despite last month’s apparent strength, the overall unemployment rate stubbornly stayed at 6.7 percent, unchanged from February (which was a slight step up from January’s 6.6 percent).

Recovery in the housing market is stumbling back to solid ground, thanks to a rise in home prices and existing home sales, as well as a drop in foreclosures, according to the latest Housing Barometer report released Wednesday by Trulia.

After losing 32,000 jobs in January, nonfarm employment rebounded in February, adding 58,800 jobs in February, according to the Wells Fargo Economics Group. February's increase reflected a 2.3 percent growth over the past year, creating a net gain of 345,600 jobs.

Although employment is being reduced, the need for certain types of talent is more critical than ever, according to Rick Glass, founder of R.T. Glass & Associates, one of the mortgage banking industry's leaders in executive search since 1993.

A report released this week by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and First American’s Leading Markets Index showed that the economy and housing market are functioning at a level about 87 percent of their pre-crisis normal levels. The report measures metro markets based on housing permits, home prices, and employment.

The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in February, beating expectations after two weak months but still failing to impress, according to a report from the Labor Department. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg anticipated a consensus forecast of 150,000 new jobs. The unemployment rate edged up to 6.7 percent from January’s five-year low of 6.6 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Friday jobs report shows another disappointing month of growth in January—and this one can’t all be blamed on the weather. With the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting to be held in March, it remains to be seen how January’s data will influence the Federal Reserve’s stimulus program.

Anyone combing through President Obama's State of the Union address hoping for a hint on housing policy in the year ahead surely came away disappointed. Instead, much of Obama's focus went toward addressing wages, which have been slow to move as home prices continue to climb higher. Also on Obama's mind Tuesday was the country's unemployment situation, which looked grim as of the end of December.

Experts at Freddie Mac and Equifax expect falling unemployment and economic growth to keep the housing market steady in 2014. This, despite climbing interest rates and anticipated growth in housing prices nationwide. While industry economists welcome the idea of a steady, slowly recovering housing market, they also have a checklist of housing and economic indicators they're keeping tabs on that could influence the pace of recovery.