U.S. Jobs Picture Improved, Covid Variant Risk Declined, And Stocks Closed Week At Record
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Published Friday, August 6, 2021 at: 6:18 PM EDT
The total number of U.S. employees grew by 943,000 in July, a blockbuster number, and the risk of the Covid variant stopping the economic recovery grew less ominous this past week. In addition, the numbers on vaccinations improved markedly and behavioral economic factors kicked in, decreasing the likelihood that the Covid variant would end the recovery or even materially slow it down. The stock market closed at an all-time high.
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 943,000 in July, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage points to 5.4 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
The unemployment rate declined by one-half of a percentage point to 5.4% in July, and the number of unemployed persons fell by 782,000 to 8.7 million.
These measures are down considerably from their highs at the end of the February-April 2020 recession. However, they remain well above their levels prior to the coronavirus pandemic of 3.5% and 5.7 million, respectively, in February 2020.
The U.S. has recovered about 75% of the 22.4 million full-time employee positions lost at the bottom of the Covid recession of March and April 2020.
As of August 5, the seven-day average number of administered vaccine doses reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) per day was 699,261, a 13.6% increase from the previous week.
Meanwhile, behavioral economics kicked in. “We’re going to start to see that if you want to insist on your right to be unvaccinated, you will lose some other rights,” economist Richard Thaler said in an interview on CNN earlier this week, “If you’re told you can’t work here unless you’re vaccinated, or that you can work here if you’re unvaccinated, but you have to get tested twice a week, and those tests may not be free, then I think a lot of people are going to start changing their minds.”
Dr. Thaler was awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize for his work in “building a bridge between the economic and psychological analyses of individual decision-making.”
The Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index closed today at an all-time high, at 4,436.52. The index gained +0.17% from Thursday and +0.93% from last Friday’s. The index is up +65.9% from the March 23, 2020, bear market low and has been breaking records for nearly a year.
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This article was written by a veteran financial journalist based on data compiled and analyzed by independent economist, Fritz Meyer. While these are sources we believe to be reliable, the information is not intended to be used as financial advice without consulting a professional about your personal situation. Indices are unmanaged and not available for direct investment. Investments with higher return potential carry greater risk for loss. Past performance is not an indicator of your future results.
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