U.S. Economic News
May 8, 2018
U.S. Economic Indicators
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index inched up 0.1 point to 104.8 in April and remains near all-time highs, as four of the components rose, three fell, and three remained unchanged. The share of small business owners who are planning capital outlays in the next few months rose 3 points. NFIB Report
U.S. News
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (“JOLTS”), a closely-watched measure of labor market health, indicated there were 6.6 million job openings at the end of March, a record high. Hires edged down to 5.4 million while the quits rate inched up to 2.3%. BLS Report
The Wall Street Journal reports that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that the Fed will communicate its interest rate policy as clearly and transparently as possible. Powell also said that the role of U.S. monetary policy in influencing capital flows into emerging markets was overstated, and that a stronger global financial system could help avoid “policy whiplash.” WSJ