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Economics Daily
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
02-20-2026 - Do you like to lead? Are you good at helping others achieve goals by mentoring them, offering direction, building teams, and taking charge? In recognition of Leadership Day, February 20, let’s look at some occupations with large projected job growth for which leadership skills are especially important. Of the 10 leadership occupations that are projected to add the most jobs over the 2024–34 decade, 5 are management occupations and 2 are nursing occupations. The job gains projected for these 10 occupations range from 166,100 for registered nurses to 59,800 for managers, all other. Many of the 10 leadership occupations projected to add the most jobs are projected to grow faster or much faster than the 3.1-percent average growth projected for all occupations. These fast-growing occupations include nurse practitioners (40.1 percent) and medical and health services managers (23.2 percent). General and operations managers (4.4 percent) and managers, all other (4.5 percent) are projected to grow about as fast as the average over the decade.
Nine of the 10 leadership occupations with the largest projected job growth had annual mean wages above the U.S. average of $67,920 in May 2024, including computer and information systems managers ($187,990) and financial managers ($180,470). These high wages may reflect high educational requirements. One of the nine occupations with above-average wages, nurse practitioners, typically requires a master’s degree for entry. Seven of the nine typically require a bachelor’s degree, including management analysts, and one, electricians, typically requires a high school diploma or the equivalent. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers, which had an annual mean wage of $44,900, typically requires a high school diploma or the equivalent for entry.
This TED highlights occupations with the largest projected job growth for which leadership skills are "very important" or "extremely important"', based on skills data from the Employment Projections program. See our video on Using Skills Information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Projected 2024–34 employment change and typical entry-level educational requirements are from Employment Projections and wage estimates are from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
02-19-2026 - In July 2024, 30.7 million people ages 16 to 75 had a work-limiting health condition or difficulty, representing 12.4 percent of the civilian noninstitutional population in this age group. Of those with a work-limiting health condition or difficulty, about one-half had a disability (15.8 million). Among people ages 16 to 75 with a work-limiting health condition or difficulty, 27.1 percent participated in the labor force in July 2024, compared with 74.7 percent of people with no work-limiting health conditions or difficulties. This participation difference occurred among men and women and persisted across all age groups and by educational attainment. People with a work-limiting health condition or difficulty who had a disability were less likely to participate in the labor force, at 17.8 percent, compared with 37.1 percent for people in this group who did not have a disability. These data are from the Current Population Survey. For more information, see “People with Health Conditions or Difficulties that Limit Work — July 2024.” The July 2024 supplement collected information about people ages 16 to 75 with a work-limiting health condition or difficulty, changes workers requested or made to do their job better, and challenges in finding and maintaining employment.
02-18-2026 - The all items Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 2.4 percent over the 12 months ending January 2026, after rising 2.7 percent for the year ending December 2025. A year earlier, in January 2025, the 12-month change in the all items index was 3.0 percent. Overall, food prices increased 2.9 percent from January 2025 to January 2026. Prices for food away from home increased 4.0 percent, including full service meals away from home, which rose 4.7 percent, and limited service meals, up 3.2 percent. Prices for food at home were up 2.1 percent over the year. Nonalcoholic beverages (including coffee and juices) were up 4.5 percent. Prices of cereals and bakery products increased 3.1 percent. In contrast, consumer prices for dairy and related products decreased 0.3 percent. Energy prices decreased 0.1 percent as prices for gasoline fell 7.5 percent. Prices were up 6.3 percent for electricity and 9.8 percent for natural gas. Excluding food and energy, prices rose 2.5 percent. The shelter index increased 3.0 percent. Other notable price increases over the year included household furnishings and operations (3.9 percent) and personal care (5.4 percent). These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted.
02-17-2026 - The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, also called involuntary part-time workers, decreased by 453,000 to 4.9 million in January 2026, but increased by 410,000 over the year. These individuals would have preferred full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs. Slack work or business conditions was the primary reason for the over-the-year increase in the number of people working part time for economic reasons. The number of people whose hours were reduced due to slack work or business conditions was 3.2 million in January 2026, up 325,000 from one year ago. The number of people who could only find part-time work changed little over the month and over the year at 1.4 million. These data are from the Current Population Survey and are seasonally adjusted.
02-13-2026 - Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in January 2026, after changing little in 2025 (+15,000 per month on average). Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, and construction, while federal government and financial activities lost jobs in January. Health care added 82,000 jobs in January, with gains in ambulatory health care services (+50,000), hospitals (+18,000), and nursing and residential care facilities (+13,000). Employment in social assistance increased by 42,000, primarily in individual and family services (+38,000). Construction added 33,000 jobs in January, reflecting an employment gain in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (+25,000). Federal government employment continued to decline in January (-34,000) as some federal employees who accepted a deferred resignation offer in 2025 came off federal payrolls. Since reaching a peak in October 2024, federal government employment is down by 327,000, or 10.9 percent. Financial activities employment also declined, down 22,000 in January and down by 49,000 since reaching a recent peak in May 2025. Within the industry, insurance carriers and related activities lost 11,000 jobs over the month. These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. The most recent two months are preliminary.
02-12-2026 - Total annual household expenditures in the United States averaged $78,535 in 2024, equivalent to an average of $6,545 per month. The two largest expenditures, for housing and transportation, accounted for over 50 percent of this total. Spending for housing averaged $26,266 per year ($2,189 per month), or 33.4 percent of total spending. Households spent an average of $13,318 ($1,110 per month), or 17.0 percent, on transportation. Spending on food accounted for 12.9 percent of total household spending. Food expenditures averaged $10,169 per year ($847 per month). Within the food category, spending on food at home averaged $6,224, while spending on food away from home, which includes restaurant as well as delivery and takeout meals, was $3,945 per year. Households allocated 12.5 percent of household expenditures for personal insurance and pensions, 7.9 percent for entertainment, and 2.0 percent for cash contributions (donated to religious organizations, charities, etc.). Apparel and services (which includes clothing, footwear, and dry cleaning) accounted for 2.5 percent of household spending, while personal care products and services (such as cosmetics, skincare, hair care, oral hygiene, haircuts, and manicures) was 1.2 percent. Among the major components of total expenditures, the only statistically significant increase from 2023 to 2024 was in housing. Average annual expenditures on housing increased 3.3 percent in 2024. These data are from the Consumer Expenditure Surveys. To learn more, see “Consumer Expenditures — 2024.” Households are defined as consumer units, which consist of families, single persons living alone or sharing a household with others but who are financially independent, or two or more persons living together who share major expenses.
02-11-2026 - The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 3.0 percent in 2025 after rising 3.5 percent in 2024. Producer prices for goods rose 2.5 percent in 2025, while prices for services increased 3.2 percent. Within the goods category, food prices increased 1.0 percent, which included increases in the cost of processed turkeys (65.5 percent) and roasted coffee (24.9 percent) and a decrease in the price of eggs for fresh use (-48.3 percent). Energy prices decreased 0.3 percent in 2025, with increases in residential electric power and natural gas (6.1 percent and 11.0 percent, respectively) and a decrease in gasoline prices (-9.6 percent). Producer prices for goods less foods and energy rose 3.7 percent. Within services, producer prices for trade services, which includes retail and wholesale trade, rose 2.6 percent. Producer prices for transportation and warehousing services rose 2.4 percent. Producer prices for services less trade, transportation, and warehousing rose 3.6 percent. These data are from the Producer Price Indexes program and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "Producer Price Indexes — December 2025." Producer price indexes measure prices that U.S. producers receive for goods, services, and construction. All producer price data are subject to revision each month after initial publication before becoming final after 4 months.
02-10-2026 - With flu season in full swing, let’s examine how many U.S. workers had access to paid leave benefits last year. Eighty percent of private industry workers had access to paid sick leave in 2025. In the Pacific census division, 98.0 percent of workers had access to paid sick leave benefits, followed by 89.0 percent of workers in the New England division, and 88.0 percent of workers in the Middle Atlantic division. Sixty-three percent of workers in the East South Central census division had access to paid sick leave in 2025. In 2025, 81.0 percent of private industry workers in the United States had access to paid holidays, and the average number of paid holidays was 8 days. These data are from the National Compensation Survey — Benefits program.
02-09-2026 - On average, workers spent 44.9 percent of the workday sitting and 55.1 percent standing in 2025. Some workers have more opportunities to sit than others. For instance, software developers spent 97.1 percent of their day sitting. Marketing managers (93.2 percent), lawyers (86.4 percent), and fundraisers (85.6 percent) also spent more time sitting than standing at work. At the other end of the sit-stand scale were four food related occupations with workers that averaged more than 98.0 percent of the workday on their feet: bakers, waiters and waitresses, bartenders, and dishwashers. Dental assistants split their workday a bit more evenly between standing (50.4 percent) and sitting (49.6 percent). These data are from the Occupational Requirements Survey. Sitting estimates includes time spent sitting, lying down, and when workers have the choice between sitting and standing. Standing estimates includes time spent standing, walking, and in low postures.
02-06-2026 - National Periodic Table Day, recognized on February 7 each year, commemorates contributions to chemistry including publication of an early table of elements by John Newlands on that date in 1863. It also happens to land 1 day before the February 8 birthday of Dmitri Mendeleev, the scientist known for creating the periodic table of chemical elements. At BLS, we created our own periodic table. In place of elements, we highlight wages and projected employment growth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. On our STEM periodic table, information security analysts, actuaries, and computer and information systems managers are among the fast-growing occupations that typically require a bachelor’s degree for entry. Employment for information security analysts is projected to grow 28.5 percent from 2024 to 2034. Actuary employment is projected to increase 21.8 percent over the same period. Information security analysts and actuaries earned median annual wages of around $125,000 each in 2024. Employment of computer and information systems managers is expected to grow 15.2 percent over the decade and the median annual wage in 2024 was $171,200. Wage estimates are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, and typical entry-level educational requirements and projected employment change over the 2024–34 decade are from Employment Projections.
02-05-2026 - Big games, big prices: Admissions for sporting events up 123 percent since 2000 - February 05, 2026 - Professional sporting events continually make the news, with Americans following their favorite individual and team sports through regular season competitions, playoffs, and championships. Also often discussed are the prices fans pay to attend professional sporting events, a large part of which is the cost of tickets for admission. Of course, prices for many things have increased over the years, leading us to ask: how do rising ticket prices for sporting events compare? From 2000 to 2025, prices for admission to sporting events more than doubled, increasing by 123 percent. Prices consumers paid to see movies, theatrical performances, and concerts also went up over this 25-year period, but by somewhat less, increasing by 105 percent. Prices for recreation, a larger category that includes televisions, pets, sporting goods, toys, games and hobbies, and recreational reading materials, as well as admissions, increased only 37 percent. In comparison, the all items index of consumer prices, which includes housing, transportation, food, apparel and more, increased 87 percent from 2000. These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted.
02-04-2026 - In December 2025, Hawaii and South Dakota had the lowest unemployment rates, 2.2 percent each. North Dakota, Vermont, and Alabama also had unemployment rates below 3.0 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 6.7 percent. The next highest rates were in California and New Jersey, 5.5 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively. In total, 19 states had unemployment rates lower than the national U.S. rate of 4.4 percent, 5 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 26 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. From December 2024 to December 2025, unemployment rates decreased in 8 states. The largest decrease was in Indiana (down 0.9 percentage point to 3.5 percent). Jobless rates increased in 21 states and the District of Columbia over the year. The largest of these were in Delaware (up 1.6 percentage points to 5.2 percent) and the District (up 1.4 points). Jobless rates were not notably different from a year earlier in 21 states. These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary.
02-03-2026 - No Economics Daily was published for this date.
02-02-2026 - No Economics Daily was published for this date.
01-30-2026 - In October 2025, federal government employment fell by 179,000 to its lowest level since July 2014 as some federal employees who accepted a deferred resignation offer came off federal payrolls. Federal employees on furlough during the government shutdown were counted as employed in the establishment survey because they received pay, even if later than usual, for the pay period that included the 12th of the month. Federal government employment fell by 274,000 in 2025—the largest decline in any calendar year since 1946. Through November (the latest data available for most government agencies), the Department of Defense shed 68,000 jobs in 2025, federal hospitals shed 16,000 jobs, the U.S. Postal Service lost 6,000 jobs, and employment in other Federal agencies fell by 185,000. Note that federal government employment spikes every 10 years because of temporary hiring associated with the constitutionally mandated decennial census. These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for November and December 2025 are preliminary.
01-29-2026 - Have you ever made a bauble, a bangle, or maybe a beaded bracelet? Across the country a wide variety of things fill our spare time, not the least of which is arts and crafts as a hobby. Hobbies sometimes require certain skills and, like most human endeavors, get easier with practice. Some people even take classes and do homework to learn about their personal interests and improve their skills. In recognition of World Hobby Month, let’s look at the time spent on a few hobbies and activities. Participants in many hobbies spent well over an hour enjoying their elected task on days they chose to participate in 2024. People doing arts and crafts as a hobby spent over 2 hours (125 minutes) on days they engaged in some creative time. For hobbies other than arts, crafts, and collecting, participants spent over 2 hours and 30 minutes (151 minutes) on days they participated in their chosen activity. Counted together, taking a class (119 minutes) and doing research or homework for a personal interest (96 minutes) clocked in at 3 hours and 34 minutes, approximately the length of two feature-length films. Of course, not every hobby needs to involve special expertise or training. Arts and crafts could be as simple as dyeing some eggs or as complex as painting a landscape. These data (and many more) are from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS).
01-28-2026 - Overall, 177.2 million people worked or looked for work in 2024, up by 2.8 million from the prior year. The number who experienced some unemployment increased by 978,000 to 14.7 million. The work-experience unemployment rate (those unemployed during the year as a percentage of those who worked or looked for work during the year) increased by 0.4 percentage point to 8.3 percent. In 2024, men continued to have a higher work-experience unemployment rate than women (8.7 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively). The rates for both men and women were up by 0.4 percentage point over the year. These data are from the Current Population Survey.
01-27-2026 - From November 2024 to November 2025, nonfarm employment increased in 4 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 51 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (+2.7 percent), followed by Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN (+1.7 percent), and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (+1.3 percent). The over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in Washington-Arlington Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-1.4 percent). These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program and are not seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary.
01-26-2026 - Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 1.1 percent from December 2024 to December 2025. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek resulted in a 1.1-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over the year. Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees increased 0.9 percent over the past 12 months. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek led to a 1.0-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period. These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Earnings for the most recent 2 months are preliminary.
01-23-2026 - Prices for U.S. imports increased 0.1 percent from November 2024 to November 2025 while U.S. export prices increased 3.3 percent over the same period. Fuel import prices decreased 6.6 percent from November 2024 to November 2025, the largest year-over-year drop since prices declined 9.8 percent for the year ended August 2025. Nonfuel import prices increased 0.7 percent over the year ended November 2025. Higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials and for capital goods more than offset lower prices for automotive vehicles; foods, feeds, and beverages; and consumer goods. Agricultural export prices increased 2.6 percent over the past 12 months, as higher prices for vegetables, nuts, and fruit drove the year-over-year increase. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 3.3 percent over the year, reflecting higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and consumer goods. These data are from the International Price program.
01-22-2026 - The Producer Price Index for final demand advanced 3.0 percent from November 2024 to November 2025. Prices for final demand goods increased 3.2 percent, while prices for final demand services rose 2.9 percent. The increase in producer prices for final demand goods over the year ended November 2025 included a 1.8-percent increase in prices for food and a 4.0-percent increase in energy prices. Within services, prices for trade rose 1.0 percent, while transportation and warehousing prices increased 3.8 percent. Prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services climbed 3.5 percent, the largest 12-month increase since rising 3.5 percent in March. These data are from the Producer Price Indexes program and are not seasonally adjusted.
01-21-2026 - The Consumer Price Index for all items rose 2.7 percent from December 2024 to December 2025. Food prices increased 3.1 percent, reflecting a 2.4-percent increase in prices for food at home and a 4.1-percent increase in prices for food away from home. Prices for five of the six major food at home groups increased from 2024 to 2025. Prices for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials increased 5.1 percent. Within this larger category, prices for juices and nonalcoholic drinks rose 2.3 percent and prices for beverage materials including coffee and tea rose 11.8 percent. Prices increased for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (3.9 percent); other food at home (2.7 percent); cereals and bakery products (1.5 percent); and fruits and vegetables (0.5 percent). Dairy and related products prices declined 0.9 percent, after rising 1.3 percent in 2024. Costs for energy increased 2.3 percent in 2025 after decreasing 0.5 percent in 2024 and 2.0 percent in 2023. Prices increased for utility (piped) gas service (10.8 percent), fuel oil (7.4 percent), and electricity (6.7 percent). Gasoline (all types) prices continued to decline, falling 3.4 percent in 2025, 3.4 percent in 2024, 1.9 percent in 2023, and 1.5 percent in 2022. These declines came after gasoline prices rose 49.6 percent in 2021.
Motor vehicle insurance prices rose 2.8 percent in 2025, their smallest December-to-December increase in the last 5 years. Prices for airline fares decreased 3.4 percent after rising 7.9 percent the prior year. Prices rose for used cars and trucks (1.6 percent) and new vehicles (0.3 percent). Medical care prices rose 3.2 percent in 2025, following an increase of 2.8 percent in 2024. Prices for hospital and related services rose 6.7 percent, their largest December-to-December increase since 2010. Prices increased for prescription drugs (2.0 percent), physicians’ services (1.9 percent), and nonprescription drugs (0.5 percent). These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted.
01-20-2026 - Both the unemployment rate, at 4.4 percent, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.5 million, changed little in December 2025. The long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) accounted for 26.0 percent of all unemployed people in December, and was up 397,000 over the year to 1.9 million. Over the past five years, this figure has ranged from 43.0 percent in March 2021 to 17.8 percent in February 2023. These data are from the Current Population Survey and are seasonally adjusted.