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 … Continue reading
The two largest differences between the two forecasts result from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in reducing output and the legislation enacted between January and early May in response, which partly offsets that reduction. Real GDP The revised forecast for nominal GDP reflects a significant markdown in CBO’s projection of real (inflation-adjusted) production … Continue reading
Despite repeated warnings, America’s industrial base has been whittled away by corporations offshoring work to Mexico, China, and other countries. The offshoring of much-needed medical equipment in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic heightens the urgency to bring these supply chains home. While U,S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer’s recent op-ed heralding an end to “the … Continue reading
Total nonfarm payroll employment fell by 20.5 million in April, and the unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent,the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The changes in these measures reflect the effects of thecoronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it. Employment fell sharply in all major industry sectors,with particularly heavy job losses in … Continue reading
The Bank has published its quarterly Monetary Policy Report alongside an interim Financial Stability Report. Together, they provide a scenario for the path of the UK economy in the light of Covid-19 and assess the financial system’s resilience to that scenario. The spread of Covid‐19 and the measures to contain it are having a significant … Continue reading
How bad is the coronavirus economy? The worst ever, says Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. “We are going to see economic data for the second quarter that is worse than any data we have seen for the economy,” Powell said. “There are direct consequences of the disease and measures we are taking to protect ourselves from it. … Continue reading
Coronavirus is a public health crisis and the Government has rightly taken unprecedented measures to tackle it. This has included significant restrictions on much social interaction and economic activity. The result has been the sharpest spike in unemployment on record. There were one million claims for Universal Credit in a two week period, 7.3 times … Continue reading
Nearly 3 in 10 (29.0%) Canadians reported that the COVID-19 situation is having a moderate or major impact on their ability to meet financial obligations or essential needs such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities and groceries. A further 23.8% said it was too soon to tell, while just under one-half (47.2%) reported minor or no impact. At the time of … Continue reading
Estimates produced by the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex suggest the lockdown can take more than 6.5m jobs out of the economy -around a quarter of the total.The study led by Professor Matteo Richiardi with ISER researcher Diego Collado uses ONS data to predict job losses by sector.Using … Continue reading
Straggling in a Good Economy, and Now Struggling in a Crisis The coronavirus pandemic has shown how close to the edge many Americans were living, with pay and benefits eroding even as corporate profits surged. Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story @ Coronavirus Crisis Underlines Weak Spots in U.S. Economic System – The … Continue reading
Quebec’s economy has grown at a brisk pace over the past few years, with real GDP expanding by an annual average of 2.8 per cent between 2017 and 2019. However, the coronavirus pandemic will throw Quebec’s economy into a tailspin this year, with real GDP forecast to decline by 3.8 per cent—a drop 3.5 times … Continue reading
The Canadian economy was in a solid position ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak, but has since been hit by widespread shutdowns and lower oil prices. One early measure of the extent of the damage was an unprecedented drop in employment in March, with more than one million jobs lost across Canada. Many more workers reported … Continue reading
Amid the fast-moving pandemic and the policy responses, economic forecasting has become an unusually uncertain enterprise. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, for example, canceled the March release of its forward-looking composite leading indicator. Forecasts in this period must be looked upon with robust skepticism. Moody’s Investors Service, one of the most respected forecasting … Continue reading
The first people to lose their jobs worked at restaurants, malls, hotels and other places that closed to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Higher skilled work, which often didn’t require personal contact, seemed more secure. That’s not how it’s turning out. A second wave of job loss is hitting those who thought they were safe. Businesses … Continue reading
Evidence from past pandemics suggests that the economic impact of the coronavirus will arise much less from people falling ill or dying than from the public health restrictions and social distancing required to limit its spread. This will reduce demand for goods and services and the ability of businesses and public sector institutions to supply … Continue reading