- Total non-farm payroll employment rose 88 thousand in March, following an increase of 268 thousand in the previous month. Private-sector payrolls increased by 95 thousand in the month, while government employment decreased by 7 thousand.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 7.6% in March, from 7.7% in February.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased 0.1 to 34.6 hours. Average hourly earnings increased by a cent to $23.82. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 1.8%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 28 thousand to 385 thousand in the week ending March 30.
- Sales of domestic cars decreased 2.9% in March, while total light vehicle (cars and light trucks) sales decreased 0.8%. Total light vehicle sales were 15.203 million units, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, compared to 14.088 million in March of 2012.
- New orders for manufactured goods increased 3.0% in February, while shipments increased 0.9%.
- In February, international trade deficit was $43.0 billion, $1.5 billion less than the revised January figure.
- February construction spending increased 1.2%, following a 2.1% decrease in the previous month.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates decreasing for the week ending April 4th.
- Mortgage applications decreased 4.0% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending March 29th.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated expansion in March for the fourth consecutive month.
- In March, the Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing survey results indicated growth for the 39th consecutive month.
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