[PEN-L:4475] BLS Daily Report

[Richardson_D]

This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.

------_=_NextPart_000_01BE7480.199F7070

BLS DAILY REPORT, FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1999

RELEASED TODAY:  Regional and state unemployment rates remained relatively
stable in February.  All four regions reported little or no change in their
jobless rates from January, and 42 states and the District of Columbia
recorded shifts of 0.3 percentage point or less.  The national jobless rate
was essentially unchanged at 4.4 percent.  Nonfarm payroll employment rose
in 38 states. ...  

Consumer prices rose a mild 0.1 percent in February, but the core CPI was
quiescent.  February marked the third consecutive month that the CPI-U rose
just 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, the BLS reports.  In the year ended
in February, the CPI-U increased 1.6 percent, the same gain as in all of
1998.  The February CPI shows price stability even in its details.  Among
the eight expenditure categories in the CPI-U and the three special indexes,
the sharpest gain in the month was 2 percent and the most precipitous fall
was 2 percent, BLS economist Patrick Jackman says. ...  The core CPI-U rate
-- excluding food and energy prices, which often have wide monthly
fluctuations -- rose just 0.1 percent and is up 2.1 percent for the year
ended in February.  The core rose 2.4 percent in 1998. ...  (Daniel J. Roy
in Daily Labor Report, page D-1)

Real average weekly earnings were up 0.7 percent in February, after seasonal
adjustment, BLS reports.  February's gain stemmed from a 0.6 percent rise in
average weekly hours and a 0.1 percent increase in average hourly earnings.
....  (Daily Labor Report, page D-20).

The trade deficit in goods and services surged 20.6 percent to a record in
January as exports weakened broadly while imports rose, the Commerce
Department says. ...  (Daily Labor Report, page D-23)_____As American
exports continued to fall, the Unites States trade deficit jumped to a
monthly record, fueled by a flood of imports from China  that could stir
further protectionist sentiments in Congress.  Among the imports flowing
into the U.S., Chinese-made steel surged 65 percent from December. ...  (New
York Times, page A1)_____Aided by a ballooning deficit with China, the U.S.
trade deficit swelled to the widest gap since the Commerce Department began
compiling the monthly data on good and services in 1992.  With textbook
simplicity, imports are up and exports are down. ...  (Wall Street Journal,
page A2

New claims for unemployment benefits jumped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted
298,000 in the week ended March 13, the Employment and Training
Administration announces. ...  (Daily Labor Report, page D-21).

The U.S. trade deficit hit a record in January as strong increases in
consumer and business spending boosted imports while continuing economic
woes in much of the rest of the world dragged down exports, the Commerce
Department reported. ...  Meanwhile, consumer prices rose 0.1 percent last
month for the third month in a row, BLS said. ...  And in another sign of
how well the economy is doing, the Labor Department said that initial claims
for unemployment benefits remained below the 300,000 mark for the seventh
consecutive week, the longest such stretch in more than a quarter century.
....  (John M. Berry in Washington Post, page E1; Wall Street Journal, page
A4).

Undercounting of minorities, particularly black, Asian-American, Hispanic,
and American Indian groups, is a chronic problem for census takers, says The
New York Times (page A17).  Officials say they fear it could be particularly
acute next year because of the big wave of immigration that has transformed
urban centers like New York City and Los Angeles since the last national
head count in 1990. ...  The census agency has already hired about 300 of
the 600 people it eventually wants to put on the streets nationwide to
promote and explain the census to immigrant groups. The workers are an
eclectic bunch that includes people of Russian, Haitian, Filipino, Korean,
Chinese, Mexican, Vietnamese, and Portuguese backgrounds.  By the time the
census questionnaires are mailed out on April 1, 2000, officials said, an
additional 15,000 people will be hired for temporary part-time work in
census assistance centers, where explanatory material will be available in
32 languages.  The census form itself will be printed in six languages,
although Congressional critics of the Census Bureau's plans want them in
many more languages. ...  

Workers say the ability to balance work and family life is more important
than any other job factor, according to a Work Trends Survey.  The poll of
1,000 adult workers was conducted by the John L. Heldrich Center for
Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the Center for Survey
Research Analysis at the University of Connecticut ...  A reason for this
concern may be that 46 percent of Americans spend more than 40 hours a week
on the job, with 18 percent working more than 50 hours a week, survey
results showed. ...  The survey also found that even though there is high
job satisfaction and the country is experiencing the lowest unemployment
rate in 30 years, workers still are concerned with job security and are
finding work stressful. ...  (Daily Labor Report, page A-9).


------_=_NextPart_000_01BE7480.199F7070
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------_=_NextPart_000_01BE7480.199F7070--