News by the Numbers
Five noteworthy figures from the previous week
103,000
March’s net jobs gain.
This number was certainly disappointing, especially after payrolls swelled with 326,000 more jobs in February. Even so, Department of Labor data shows monthly net job growth in the first quarter, averaging 202,000.
Source: New York Times 1
90
The number of consecutive months in which U.S. payrolls have expanded.
Though fewer jobs were added than expected, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%.
Source: New York Times 1; NPR 2
$2.6 billion
The most recent estimate of the annual cost of treating opioid addiction for employers.
A Kaiser Family Foundation report released last week notes that workers covered by employer health plans received $2.6 billion worth of treatment for opioid addiction and opioid overdoses in 2016. That compares to $273 million back in 2004 and $1.4 billion as recently as 2012.
Source: CNNMoney 3
90%
The percentage of CFOs who rate current economic and business conditions as “good.”
So reports Deloitte in its latest quarterly CFO Signals Survey. This is an improvement from 74% in the previous edition and represents a peak in the survey’s history. In addition, 59% of the CFOs Deloitte polled think the economic and business climate will be better in a year.
Source: Fox Business 4
10%
The distance the Dow settled on Friday from its January record high.
A 572-point, single-session fall rounded out the first trading week of April.
Source: Charlotte Observer 5
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. All indices referenced are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
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Citations.
1 - www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/upshot/the-march-jobs-numbers-show-the-economy-is-sound-but-far-from-invincible.html [4/6/18]
2 - tinyurl.com/yblaquyx [4/6/18]
3 - money.cnn.com/2018/04/05/news/economy/employers-opioid-treatment/index.html [4/5/18]
4 - www.foxbusiness.com/markets/the-dows-wild-ride-claws-back-510-points-to-close-higher [4/5/18]
5 - tinyurl.com/y7zxm4gw [4/6/18]