Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Nov 07 2016

U.S. Labor Market Conditions Index Improves

Summary

The Labor Market Conditions Index (LMCI) from the Federal Reserve Board includes 19 indicators of labor market activity, covering the broad categories of unemployment and underemployment. These include jobs, workweeks, wages, [...]


The Labor Market Conditions Index (LMCI) from the Federal Reserve Board includes 19 indicators of labor market activity, covering the broad categories of unemployment and underemployment. These include jobs, workweeks, wages, vacancies, hiring, layoffs, quits and other surveys of consumers and businesses. Because the trends in the index are slow-moving, Haver presents only the changes in the index. All are measured monthly and have been seasonally adjusted.

During October, the index returned to positive territory. The index value of 0.7 followed two months of decline, both of which were lessened following revision. Contributing positively to the index change was a lower unemployment rate, a quicker gain in average hourly earnings and improvement in government sector hiring. Offsetting these gains was slower growth in nonfarm payroll employment, a lower labor force participation rate and a lessened rise in temporary help employment.

The LMCI data are available in Haver's SURVEYS database.

Assessing the Change in Labor Market Conditions by the Federal Reserve can be found here.

Labor Market Conditions Index (SA) Oct Sep Aug Oct'15 2015 2014 2013
Monthly Index Change 0.7 -0.1 -0.3 3.0 2.1 5.5 3.8
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

    More in Author Profile »

More Economy in Brief