Business Trends

by Raymond J. Keating- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics latest employment report revealed strong job gains during February. Each monthly employment report offers data from two surveys. The establishment survey offers data on nonfarm payrolls, and tends to better capture what’s happening in established businesses. Meanwhile, the household survey tends to better capture startup […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its report on state averages for 2020 in terms of unemployment rates and employment-population ratios, and how those compared to the previous year. Given the shortcomings of the unemployment rate (for example, it being affected by changes in the labor force), the most […]

by Raymond J. Keating- A big question for many entrepreneurs and small businesses is: How do I reach potential customers, especially in a cost-effective way? And regarding new and existing customers: How do I stay in contact with people who purchased my products? These aren’t some hypothetical or academic questions. Far too many small businesses […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Given what they do for a living, I’m always struck at how tone deaf some politicians can be. For example, Members of Congress have long played the game of attacking pharmaceutical companies, labeling them “Big Pharma.” Of course, that ignored the fact that small, entrepreneurial firms overwhelmingly populate the industry (for […]

by Raymond J. Keating- According to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, new housing starts declined in January. But permit numbers indicated that this likely will be little more than a temporary breather in an otherwise hot housing market. Total housing units started in January registered 1.58 million (on a seasonally adjusted annual rate) in […]

Looking for Fun in the Year of the Virus By Rieva Lesonsky- U.S. retail sales of toys generated $25.1 billion in 2020, an increase of 16% or $3.5 billion, according to a report from The NPD Group. The global research firm attributes much of the growth to the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing consumer behaviors associated with the lockdowns […]

by Raymond J. Keating- After three months of declines, retail sales took a major jump higher at the start of 2021, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Specifically, retail and food services sales in January increased by 5.3 percent, and excluding autos and gasoline, sales leaped by 6.2 percent. Looking at data going back […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many life changes as we are all well aware, including new ways in which many people work. Specifically, working from home, or working remotely, took a big jump. But what’s the latest on people working remotely and their attitudes toward doing so? Gallup released a […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Tune in to assorted talking heads on the economy via cable TV or online, and there’s been a resurgence in chatter about the possibility of inflation. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics serves up data that either side of the inflation debate can […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The monthly employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics always requires a bit more explanation than other releases on the economy given that it is based on two surveys, with payroll employment numbers coming from the establishment survey, and numbers like the employment-population ratio, labor force participation rate and […]