• September 1, 2017
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The U.S. economy added 156,000 net new jobs in August, missing expectations for 180,000 jobs. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.4% from 4.3%, while the labor force participation rate stayed flat at 62.9% during the month. Average hourly earnings meanwhile increased by 3 cents, or 0.1%. Economists polled had predicted a 170,000 increase

• August 31, 2017
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The employment subcomponent fell below 50 in August for the first time since March. This is the sixth contraction in the employment indicator in the last 12 months, with fewer firms expecting an increase in hiring. Inflation pressures also eased slightly in August and have been on a downward trend this year.

• August 31, 2017
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A gauge of Chicago-area economic activity held steady in August, after retreating from a 3-year high in the prior month. The Chicago PMI remained at 58.9 for the second straight month, MNI Indicators said Thursday. Any reading above 50 indicates improving conditions. Economists had expected a slight pull back in August. The index slowed a

• August 31, 2017
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The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits in late August remained close to a postrecession low, pointing to another solid monthly employment report near the end of summer. Initial jobless claims in the period running from Aug. 20 to Aug. 26 rose by 1,000 to 236,000, the government said Thursday. New claims count

• August 31, 2017
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Helped by higher incomes and low inflation, Americans bought more furnishings for their homes in July and also ratcheted up spending at hotels and restaurants. Consumer spending rose 0.3% last month, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. That was a tick below the 0.4% forecast of economists polled.

• August 30, 2017
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Q2 GDP revised up from initial estimate of 2.6% on stronger consumer spending This is the fastest quarterly growth rate in more than two years. Somewhat stronger consumer spending and business investment were behind the upward revision.

• August 30, 2017
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Private payrolls for August jumped at their fastest pace in five months thanks in part to strong gains in construction and manufacturing jobs, according to the latest release from ADP and Moody’s Analytics. Employers added a seasonally adjusted 237,000 jobs during the month, payroll processor ADP said. That was a big gain from the 178,000

• August 29, 2017
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U.S. home price growth picked up steam in June as strong demand continued to buoy the market. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index rose a seasonally adjusted 5.7% in the three-month period ending in June, compared with a year ago, the same rate of change as in May. The national index rose 5.8%, compared with a year

• August 28, 2017
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An early look at U.S. trade patterns in July points to a wider trade deficit. The advanced trade gap in goods — services are excluded — widened by 1.78% to $ 65.1 billion in July, the Commerce Department said Monday. Both exports and imports declined, but exports dropped at a faster pace in the month.

• August 25, 2017
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Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan said that he supports a move to shrink the balance sheet as soon as possible. The Dallas Fed president signaled that another rate hike at the end of the year was not a given. He said the central bank could afford to be “patient” and see if inflation pressures pick