U.S. worker productivity slid in the first quarter, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department, as the coronavirus pandemic suppressed both output and hours worked. --Nonfarm labor productivity declined at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.9% in the first quarter from the fourth quarter of 2019. --The productivity decline was smaller than the preliminary estimate of -2.5% for the first quarter largely because revised numbers reveal sharper declines in hours worked than...

Americans' view of the economy improved in early June as the country continued to reopen while trying to contain the coronavirus pandemic, according to a University of Michigan survey released Friday. The survey's index of consumer sentiment rose to 78.9 in the two weeks ended June 10, from 72.3 for the previous four weeks. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected a reading of 75.0. The index's rise showed that a growing share of U.S. consumers expected the economy to...

A measure of U.S. home-builder confidence jumped in June, the National Association of Homebuilders said Tuesday. --The association's housing market index climbed to 58 in June, from 37 in May. Readings above 50 indicate more builders believed conditions were good than poor. --Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected an index reading of 46 for June. --"Inventory is tight, mortgage applications are increasing, interest rates are low and confidence is rising," said NAHB...

Why More Women Have Lost Jobs During the Pandemic You may also likeCreated with sketchtool.Up NextCreated with sketchtool.Created with sketchtool.Created with sketchtool.0:00 / 3:49Created with sketchtool.Why More Women Have Lost Jobs During the Pandemic Nearly all U.S. states added jobs last month as business reopenings allowed most areas of the country to start recovering from huge employment losses endured earlier in the coronavirus pandemic. Texas added the largest number of workers in...

Nearly all U.S. states added jobs last month as business reopenings allowed most areas of the country to start recovering from huge employment losses endured earlier in the coronavirus pandemic. Texas added the largest number of workers in May, the Labor Department said Friday, followed by Pennsylvania and Florida. The nation as a whole added about 2.5 million jobs in May, though employment was still down by about 20 million jobs since February. Unemployment rates fell in 38 states and the...