In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,434,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 6,000 from 1,416,000 to 1,422,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,368,500, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was … [More]
A Vegetable’s Journey
For more than a century, the United States has been a major producer of vegetables and fruits, with total agricultural exports — to Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan and many other countries — valued in 2018 at $140 billion. Domestic sales aren’t as rosy. As COVID-19 shuttered restaurants, hotels and school districts around the country, farmers in Arizona and around the U.S. … [More]
Mid-Year Outlook: Expect a Bumpy Ride for the Remainder of 2020
As America gets closer to the presidential election, the country finds itself still struggling on several fronts: the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and most recently Chinese sanctions. And yet, the stock market has remained relatively stable over the past couple of months. Stock-market bulls cheered the Tuesday morning after Memorial Day as the S&P 500 traded above its … [More]
Weekly Jobless Claims Up to 1.4 Million, First Rise in Four Months
In the week ending July 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,416,000, an increase of 109,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 7,000 from 1,300,000 to 1,307,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,360,250, a decrease of 16,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was … [More]
Five Legislative Priorities Help Ensure Small Businesses Have Necessary Resources and Protection for Recovery
As small businesses continue efforts to reopen and Congress and the Administration prepare the next phase of legislation, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, issued a plan, “NFIB Phase Four Legislative Priorities for Small Business Recovery,” today. The plan lays out five legislative priorities to … [More]
Weekly Jobless Claims Up by more than 1 Million, 17th Straight Week
In the week ending July 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,300,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 4,000 from 1,314,000 to 1,310,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,375,000, a decrease of 60,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was … [More]
Small Business Optimism Improves in Anticipation of Better Economic Outlook
The Small Business Optimism Index increased 6.2 points in June to 100.6 with eight of the 10 components improving and two declining. Owners anticipate improving sales as the economy continues to re-open with sales expectations rebounding to a net 13% after April’s lowest reading in survey history (a net negative 42%). Small business owners continue to be optimistic about future … [More]
U.S. Consumer Prices Up More Than Expected in June
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent in June on a seasonally adjusted basis after falling 0.1 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 0.6 percent before seasonal adjustment. The gasoline index rose sharply in June after recent declines and accounted … [More]
Unemployment Continues Pressure on Economy with 1.3M Claims Last Week
In the week ending July 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claimswas 1,314,000, a decrease of 99,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 14,000 from 1,427,000 to 1,413,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,437,250, a decrease of 63,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was … [More]
What Small Businesses Need to Know about the New USMCA Trade Agreement
As the pandemic reveals the vulnerabilities in the global economy, a new opportunity emerges for small-business owners in the United States who plan to grow their business across the Canadian and Mexican borders with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, which went into effect on July 1, 2020. But, many small businesses in the United States are still unaware of … [More]
1.4M Jobless Claims Last Week as States Ponder Reopening Measures
In the week ending June 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,427,000, a decrease of 55,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 1,480,000 to 1,482,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,503,750, a decrease of 117,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was … [More]
Employers Added 4.8 Million Jobs in June, Unemployment Rate at 11.1%
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4.8 million in June, and the unemployment rate declined to 11.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. These improvements in the labor market reflected the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it. In … [More]
How the DACA Program Impacts the U.S. Economy
On June 18, 2020, the United States Supreme Court upheld a decision to extend the DACA program through which hundreds of thousands of Dreamers across the United States can live and work without the fear of deportation. Since 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has shielded many young undocumented immigrants from deportation. The Department of … [More]
Planning an Exit in Volatile Times
Succession planning comes down to one question: “How do you want to exit?” The reality is all business owners will eventually exit their business. Whether they retire to the beach, sell their company and move on to another venture or for health reasons can no longer be a part of the day-to-day operations, they need a plan that financially prepares them for the next phase of … [More]
Fed Says Banks Will Remain Resilient Despite Scenarios of Deep Recession
The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday released the results of its stress tests for 2020 and additional sensitivity analyses that the Board conducted in light of the coronavirus event. "The banking system has been a source of strength during this crisis," Vice Chair Randal K. Quarles said, "and the results of our sensitivity analyses show that our banks can remain … [More]
New Weekly Jobless Claims Hit 1.5M, 14th Week New Claims Topped a Million
In the week ending June 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,480,000, a decrease of 60,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 32,000 from 1,508,000 to 1,540,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,620,750, a decrease of 160,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was … [More]
Unemployment Weekly Jobless Claims Show Another 1.5M
In the week ending June 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 1,508,000, a decrease of 58,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 24,000 from 1,542,000 to 1,566,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,773,500, a decrease of 234,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was … [More]
New Virtual Certificate Program Gives Owners and Workers Confidence in CDC Guidelines
As reopening across America is underway, many businesses are left wondering if they are doing enough to follow CDC guidelines to keep their workers and customers safe while making a profit. This is one of the many challenges small businesses will have to overcome soon to regain confidence in the marketplace, especially as we see spikes in COVID-19 cases and worries of a second … [More]