Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 143,000 in January. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.0%, reflecting annual adjustments to population controls.
News in end use
University of Michigan Releases Preliminary Results of Its Consumer Sentiment Index for February
The University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment declined to a reading of 67.8 in February. This is a month-over-month decline of 4.6% and down 11.8% year-over-year.
Canadian Employment Increases in January; Unemployment Trends Lower
Employment increased 0.4%, or 76,000 positions. The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 6.6%.
US Mortgage Rates Fall for Second Consecutive Week in the Week Ending February 6
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.89%, down from last week when it averaged 6.95%, Freddie Mac reported.
US Mortage Delinquency Rate Increases in Q4
The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties increased in Q4, MBA reported.
US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Increase in the Week Ending February 1
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 219,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week’s revised total.
Private Sector Job Cuts Increase Month-Over-Month in January
US-based employers announced 49,795 job cuts in January, a 28.0% increase from the 38,792 cuts announced in December, CG&C reported.
US Mortgage Applications Increase in the Week Ending January 31
Mortgage loan application volume increased 2.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, MBA reported.
ADP® Reports Private Sector Employment and Compensation Both Increased in January
US private sector employment increased by 183,000 jobs in January, ADP reported. Meanwhile, compensation was up 5.7% year-over-year.
US Construction Labor Market Continues to Soften in December
The number of open construction sector jobs declined from a revised 272,000 in November to just 217,000 in December, the BLS and NAHB reported.