Jeff Kearns, Author at Providence Business News

62 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

THE INSTITUTE for Supply Management manufacturing index slid to 50.1 in February. A value above 50 indicates expansion and a value below 50 indicates contraction. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT

U.S. manufacturing nearly stagnates with virus hitting suppliers

Manufacturing 03/02/2020

WASHINGTON – A key gauge of U.S. manufacturing retreated to near-stagnation in February amid mounting concern that the world’s largest economy won’t be able...

U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS declined 9,000 to 214,000 last week. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY

U.S. jobless claims decrease to lowest level in 5 weeks

Economic Activity 01/09/2020

WASHINGTON – Filings for United States unemployment benefits fell to a five-week low, the latest indication that the labor market remains solid just ahead...

U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE increased to its highest level since June. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/ARIANA LINDQUIST

U.S. consumer comfort rises to five-month high on economic views

Economic Activity 01/02/2020

WASHINGTON – Confidence among United States consumers climbed to the highest level in five months as Americans grew more optimistic about the economy and...

U.S. JOB CUTS totaled 32,843 in December, a 25% decline year over year. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY

U.S. job cuts at lowest since July 2018 as labor market...

Economic Activity 01/02/2020

WASHINGTON – United States employers last month announced the fewest job cuts since July 2018 as the labor market remained tight, though 2019 still...

THE NATIONAL Federation of Independent Business optimism index rose 2.3 points in November to a four-month high of 104.7. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/LUKE SHARRETT

U.S. small-business sentiment climbs most in more than a year

Economic Activity 12/10/2019

WASHINGTON – Sentiment among small United States businesses climbed by the most in more than a year as more owners said profit trends are...

U.S. jobless claims unexpectedly drop to lowest in 7 months

Economic Activity 12/05/2019

WASHINGTON – Filings for United States unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell to the lowest level since April, signaling resilience in the labor market ahead of...

THE U.S. GOODS TRADE deficit decreased to $66.5 billion in October from $70.5 billion the prior month. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/TIM RUE

U.S. goods trade deficit narrowed in Oct. as imports plunged

Economic Activity 11/26/2019

WASHINGTON – The United States merchandise-trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed to the lowest in more than a year as imports plummeted, signaling the impact of...

UNTIED STATES gross domestic product expanded at a 1.9% annualized rate in the third quarter. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL NAGLE

U.S. economy holds up with 1.9% growth on consumer strength

Economic Activity 10/30/2019

WASHINGTON – A resilient American consumer helped the United States economy expand more than forecast in the third quarter, assuaging concerns for now of...

U.S. JOBLESS CLAIMS declined by 10,000 to 210,000 last week. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY

U.S. jobless claims unexpectedly decline to a three-week low

Economic Activity 10/10/2019

WASHINGTON – Applications for unemployment benefits in the United States unexpectedly declined to a three-week low despite a strike by General Motors Co. workers...