News

BEA Releases Third Quarter GDP (Second Estimate) (Nov. 2018)

11.28.2018

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018, according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 4.2 percent.

The GDP estimate released today is based on more complete source data than were available for the "advance" estimate issued last month. In the advance estimate, the increase in real GDP was also 3.5 percent. With this second estimate for the third quarter, the general picture of economic growth remains the same; upward revisions to nonresidential fixed investment and private inventory investment were offset by downward revisions to personal consumption expenditures (PCE) and state and local government spending.

The deceleration in real GDP growth in the third quarter primarily reflected a downturn in exports and decelerations in nonresidential fixed investment and in PCE. Imports increased in the third quarter after decreasing in the second. These movements were partly offset by an upturn in private inventory investment.

BLS Releases October 2018 Consumer Price Index (Nov. 2018)

11.14.2018

The Consumer Price Index report, released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides the latest evidence that inflation is more or less in line with where the Federal Reserve Bank wants it to be.  The Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in October on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.1 percent in September.  Over the last 12 months, the all items index rose 2.5 percent before seasonal adjustment.  The monthly increase was nudged higher by gasoline prices, but there was broad based support from other categories, principally shelter, used cars and trucks, and electricity.  In contrast, food slightly declined in October. 

Core inflation—all items minus food and energy—rose 0.2 percent in October following a 0.1 percent rise in September.  Along with indexes for shelter, used cars and trucks and electricity, medical care, household furnishings increased in October; in contrast, communications, new vehicles, and recreation declined during the month. 

Core inflation increased 2.1 percent over the last 12 months ending in October.  The energy index increased 8.9 percent, while the food index increased more modestly, advancing 1.2 percent over the last 12 months. 

The full press release can be found via the link below.

Next release is Wednesday, December 12, 2018, for the November 2018 Consumer Price Index.

BLS Releases October 2018 Employment Data (Nov. 2018)

11.02.2018

Nonfarm employers added 250,000 jobs, the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent, and hourly wages posted strong growth in October.  The strong growth in the month was largely a bounce back from a hurricane-weakened September gain of 118,000 jobs (revised down from the initial release of 134,000).  The three-month average is 218,000 jobs, roughly in-line with growth over the last four years.

Job gains occurred across a broad range of sectors in October including health care, manufacturing, construction, professional and business services, and transportation and warehousing.  Health care added 36,000 jobs.  Employment in manufacturing increased by 32,000, with durable goods dominating.  Construction employment rose by 30,000, with nearly half the gain in residential specialty trade contractors.  Professional and business services continued its growth trend, adding 35,000 jobs.  Transportation and warehousing added 25,000 jobs in October.  Professional and business services (adding 516,000 jobs over the last 12 months) and health care (431,800) continued to be the biggest drivers of job growth; with solid gains over the year coming from construction and manufacturing.

While the unemployment rate was unchanged in October, the strong labor market is pulling more people into the labor market.  The employment rate—or employment-to-population ratio (EPOP or the percentage of adults with jobs) rose 0.2 percentage points to 60.6, a new high for the recovery.  The increased EPOP showed particular strength for prime-age workers (ages 25-54) with a gain of 0.4 percentage points to 79.7 percent. 

The tighter labor market is showing some dividends in wage growth.  The average hourly wage is up 3.1 percent over the last year—topping 3 percent for the first time since the recession.  On a weekly basis, wages increased by an even stronger 3.4 percent. 

In sum, this is a positive jobs report.  The pace of job growth that began seven years ago is continuing, with the economy adding 2.1 million jobs during the first 10 months of the year.  This growth rate is pulling more workers into the labor market, which is now tight enough to produce wage gains. 

The full BLS press release on the October 2018 employment situation can be accessed in the link below:

The next employment situation report for November 2018 will be released on Friday, December 7, 2018. 

Mid-Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (Oct 2018)

10.31.2018

On October 26, 2018 Jeffrey Carr, President and Senior Economist at EPR, addressed the meeting of the Mid-Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association in Clearwater telephonically.  He spoke about the requirements of economic (job) impact studies and the importance of having a “Matter of Ho” compliant EB-5 project business plan in a petitioner’s filing documents.

Click the link below for a copy of his “practice points” summary on these two issues Click the pdf below for a copy of a recent article authored by Mr. Carr which speaks to what immigration lawyers should look for in EB-5 projects using construction expenditure activities to support their EB-5 Program-eligible job creation.  

BEA Releases Third Quarter GDP Estimate (Advanced) (Oct. 2018)

10.26.2018

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018, according to the advance estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  In the second quarter, real GDP increased 4.2 percent.  The second estimate for the third quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on November 28, 2018.

The increase in real GDP in the third quarter reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures, private inventory investment, state and local government spending, federal government spending, and nonresidential fixed investment that were partly offset by negative contributions from exports and residential fixed investment.  Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

The deceleration in real GDP growth in the third quarter reflected a downturn in exports and a deceleration in nonresidential fixed investment.  Imports increased in the third quarter after decreasing in the second.  These movements were partly offset by an upturn in private inventory investment.

View the full release at the pdf below.

The second estimate for the third quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on November 28, 2018.