The July trade figures in general continue to show a degree of recovery when compared to the 2019 pre-pandemic levels, but only regaining ground rather than moving forward. On an annualized basis, import flows were up 3.1% annually from 2019 in nominal terms, and export flows up 3.3%. In real terms, both were essentially unchanged.
Total initial claims fell in both California and the nation for the week of August 21.
Highlights for policy makers:
COVID-19 and the State Economy
Employment 1.094 Million Below Recovery
Labor Force Participation Rate
Nonfarm Jobs: 1.132 Million Below Recovery
Jobs Change by Industry
Employment Recovery by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative Districts
Unemployment Rates by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Initial claims for the week of August 21 were little changed. The total continued rising slightly in California, while easing in the rest of the country.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released our initial analysis of the July Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. While the July numbers were generally positive, they remained at levels keeping California’s recovery behind much of the rest of the country. The largest gap still remains in the relative performance for […]
Eight weeks into California’s reopening and three weeks before the federal benefit enhancements are scheduled to expire on September 4, total initial claims continue to rise in California while dropping in the rest of the country.
Below are the monthly updates from the most current July 2021 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and May 2021 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration).
Seven weeks into California’s reopening, initial unemployment claims continue to rise in the state while dropping in the rest of the country.
While goods flows through the state’s ports have largely returned to pre-pandemic levels and begun an expansion, port congestion continues to delay shipments, adding to shortages of both components and finished goods and contributing to the current inflationary surge.
Six weeks into California’s reopening, initial unemployment claims continue to rise in the state while dropping in the rest of the country.
Total initial claims rose sharply in California the week of July 24 while dropping more substantially elsewhere in the US. The US total fell to a new low for the pandemic period, while the California total was at its highest level since early April.
Highlights for policy makers:
COVID-19 and the State Economy
Employment 1.146 Million Below Recovery
Labor Force Participation Rate
Nonfarm Jobs: 1.244 Million Below Recovery
Jobs Change by Industry
Employment Recovery by Region
Unemployment Rates by Legislative Districts
Unemployment Rates by Region
MSAs with the Worst Unemployment Rates
Total initial claims in California were basically unchanged the week of July 17. The total rose for the US as a whole due to a rise in the numbers in a few states, in particular resumption of PUA claims in Indiana as the result of court challenges to that state’s early phase-out of enhanced benefits in order to counter labor shortages and a sharp rise in regular claims in Michigan due both to the annual automotive shut-downs for retooling and slowing production due to supply chain blockages.
In spite of the state’s full reopening on June 15, total initial claims in California the week of July 10 continued rising over the past two weeks. Following a somewhat larger than usual adjustment to last week’s numbers, total initial claims for the US as a whole have remained essentially level over the past three weeks.
Below are the monthly updates from the most current June 2021 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and April 2021 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration). Continuing the trends indicated in prior reports, energy prices rose across all sources, keeping energy costs for households and the state’s employers at or near the top […]