As the data begins to fully reflect the state’s full reopening on June 15, total initial claims in California the week of July 3 climbed back to levels previously seen the last three weeks of April.
While many of the May numbers show substantial increases over the prior year, these outcomes are due to comparisons at the low levels from May 2020 when world trade was substantially restrained by the pandemic. Comparisons instead against numbers from 2019 give a more realistic picture of ongoing trends and the extent to which trade activities in the state are moving towards recovery.
Total initial claims for the week of June 26 saw only a slight dip in the number of claims processed. The total has been little changed since mid-April.
Highlights for policy makers:
COVID-19 and the State Economy
Employment 1.170 Million Below Recovery
Labor Force Participation Rate Unchanged
Nonfarm Jobs: 1.308 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 for the week of June 19 saw only a slight dip from last week’s jump in the number of claims processed.
In a reversal from last week’s results, total initial claims rose in the US and more sharply in California.
While normally more subdued period following the holiday related traffic, the state’s ports broke February records as imports continued to surge. In total value, imports through the state’s ports climbed 23.7% from the year earlier. The number of TEUs (20-foot equivalent units; loaded and empty) moved jumped 46.92% in the Port of Los Angeles, 43.3% in Long Beach, and 6% in Oakland.
Below are the monthly updates from the most current May 2021 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and March 2021 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration). The average annual residential electric bill in California as of March surpassed the average for the rest of the US for the first time. Passing this milepost is […]
The number of total initial claims for the week of June 5 finally showed improvement in California, while continuing a longer term decline in the rest of the US.
The number of total initial claims rose in California for the week of May 29, while continuing to drop in the rest of the US.
Highlights for policy makers:
COVID-19 and the State Economy
Employment Up Only 0.2%
Labor Force Participation Rate Up 0.1 Point
Nonfarm Jobs: 1.412 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
Recent trends continued for the week of May 22, with the number of total initial claims down slightly in California while continuing to drop more strongly since the week of February 27 in the rest of the US.
Recent trends continued for the week of May 15, with the number of total initial claims essentially level in California while continuing to drop since the week of February 27 in the rest of the US.
Recent trends continued for the week of May 8, with the number of total initial claims essentially level in California while continuing to drop in the rest of the US.
Below are the monthly updates from the most current April 2021 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and February 2021 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration).