Menu

Employers in the private nonfarm sector initiated 1,226 mass layoff events in the third quarter of 2011 that resulted in the separation of 184,493 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Total extended mass layoff events decreased over the year from 1,370 to 1,226, and associated worker separations fell from 222,357 to 184,493. Events and separations reached their lowest third quarter levels since 2007. Both events and separations have decreased over the year for eight consecutive quarters. Third quarter 2011 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision.

There were 3.4 million job openings on the last business day of September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The hires rate (3.2 percent) and separations rate (3.2 percent) were little changed over the month. The job openings rate has trended upward since the end of the recession in June 2009 (as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research). This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by geographic region.

Which Member States are the main producers of cereals? Which Member State produces the most drinking milk and the most cheese and where is the most beef, pork and poultry meat produced? Answers to these questions can be found in the 2011 edition of the Pocketbook on Agriculture and fishery statistics issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) increased in October to 101.92, up from the revised figure of 101.20 in September. The October figure is up 5 percent from the same month a year ago.

In September 2011, compared with August 2011, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.7% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.3% in the EU27. In August retail trade rose by 0.1% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27. In September 2011, compared with September 2010, the retail sales index decreased by 1.5% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27.

In September 2011 compared with August 2011, the industrial producer price index rose by 0.3% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.4% in the EU27. In August prices fell by 0.2% in both zones. In September 2011 compared with September 2010, industrial producer prices gained 5.8% in the euro area and 6.9% in the EU27.

Online advertised vacancies dipped slightly by 13,600 in October to 3,933,400, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series. The October drop follows a decline of 44,000 in September and a decrease of 164,000 in August. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 3.54, indicating there were 3.5 unemployed for every online advertised vacancy in September, the latest monthly data available for unemployment.

Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 249 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 102 areas, and unchanged in 21 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Seven areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 17 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred twenty-nine metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 140 reported decreases, and 3 had no change. The national unemployment rate in September was 8.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 9.2 percent a year earlier.

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.2% in September 2011, compared with 10.1% in August. It was 10.1% in September 2010. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.7% in September 2011, compared with 9.6% in August. It was 9.6% in September 2010.

In the second quarter of 2011, compared with the first quarter of 2011, the business investment rate remained almost unchanged in the euro area (EA17), while it increased in the EU27. In the euro area, the business profit share was unchanged as value added and wage costs grew at the same pace.