Most analysts had been expecting a net increase in jobs for September to be in the 150,000 to 200,000 range. Instead, the net increase in payroll jobs was an astonishing 336,000. Let’s take a look at the numbers — with NC State economist Dr. Mike Walden.
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U.S. job openings unexpectedly rose in August to 9.6 million, another sign the U.S. labor market remains strong despite higher interest rates. Stock markets fell by 400 points and bond prices hit 16-year highs. So are we headed toward more interest rate hikes?
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The “painful medicine” of higher interest rates administered by the Fed has not resulted in a surge of unemployment due to three factors unique to the current business cycle. Let’s take a look.
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The average interest rate on mortgages today is at a 20-year high. It is also almost three times higher than a mere three years ago. This means that for every $100,000 borrowed to buy a home, monthly payments are $270 more now than they were in 2020. But there are alternatives to conventional mortgages that might help.
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The North Carolina economy has a strong “economic heartbeat,” says N.C. State economist Dr. Mike Walden. Take a look at the numbers he’s dialed in on.
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Depending on which inflation measure is preferred, people either come away frowning or smiling after reading or hearing today’s federal report. Let’s take a look.
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“Uncertainty looms as latest data complicates predictions about the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions, says N.C. State economist Dr. Michael Walden. Hear what he thinks might happen next.
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North Carolina is an ideal state to examine questions about taxes. With the divided government we’ve frequently had at the state level in recent years – meaning the General Assembly is controlled by one party with the Governor of the other party – debates about taxes are typical. So let me delve into the multiple issues tied to taxes and let you make the decisions about winners and losers.
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North Carolina’s record for the number of people keeps climbing, with 13,000 jobs added in July to the more than 5 million reported in June. While the unemployment rate reported Friday remains at 3.3%, the state’s economy keeps creating more opportunities despite challenges of inflation and some layoffs that keep happening.
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