Key Economic Indicators – April 7, 2014

  • Total non-farm payroll employment increased 192 thousand in March, following an increase of 197 thousand in the previous month.   Private-sector payrolls increased by 192 thousand in the month, while government employment was unchanged.
  • The unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%.
  • The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased 0.3 to 34.5 hours. Average hourly earnings were unchanged.
  • The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 6 thousand to 326 thousand in the week ending March 29.
  • Sales of domestic vehicles increased 7.1%, while total vehicle sales increased 6.9%.
  • In February, international trade deficit was $42.3 billion, compared with a deficit of $39.3 billion in January.
  • The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of April 3rd showed average fixed mortgage rates little changed from the previous week.
  • Mortgage applications decreased 1.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending April 2nd.
  • In March, the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey results indicated growth in activity.

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