Americans applied for fewer unemployment benefits at the end of 2019, the Labor Department announced Thursday. The number dropped by 2,000 to 222,000 in the seven days up until December 28, although the four-week average ticked up by 4,750 to 233,250.
The report beat expectations that had predicted 225,000 new claims, according to Reuters. The result marks the third consecutive weekly decline.
“I think we’re definitely going to see slightly smaller growth month by month than what we saw in 2019 and that’s consistent with economists expectations’ of the macroeconomy weakening slightly,” in the labor market, Beth Akers, Manhattan Institute senior fellow, told Cheddar.
She will be keeping an eye on manufacturing trends and changes in policy regarding trade for indications about how job numbers will grow (or shrink) in 2020.
“If you’re looking to something to be concerned about, you can look at the four-week moving average, which is up from what it’s been over the course of the year,” Akers said. “But, by and large, these are really strong, positive numbers for the labor market.”
Venus Aerospace is joining the space tourism race in a nonconventional way. Instead of taking passengers to Mars or the Moon, the startup’s goal is to take passengers around the Earth — in less than an hour. Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby, CEO and co-founder, joined Cheddar News to talk about her company's innovative approach to travel and when she expects to carry passengers. "We would hope in the next five years we'll have our plane fully developed and then start entering into all the FAA certifications and qualifications in order to get to commercial flights," she said.
Prices at the pump have soared in recent months, and House Democrats pointed the finger at Big Oil on Wednesday during an adversarial congressional hearing.
Ron Carson, CEO and Founder of Carson Wealth, sits down with Cheddar's Hena Doba to share how he uses physical fitness as one of the pillars of his formula for success.
Julie Simon, the founder of Julie Simon Cakes, joined Cheddar News to discuss her transformation from media executive to confectionary artist, building her company, the inspiration behind her designs, and why so many celebrities love buying her cakes. “I'm looking to create a sense of wonder, that feeling you had when you were a child and you're watching fireworks and you just thought, 'is this the grand finale?'” she said.
Ride-hailing service Uber has unveiled its plans to become a travel super app, which will include options for users to make plane and train arrangements directly.
If you've sold or exchanged any crypto in 2021, the IRS wants to know. Henry Yoshida, Co-founder & CEO, OF Rocket Dollar joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss which crypto activities are taxable and how to best spend your tax refund.
Andy Challenger, Senior Vice President of Outplacement and Executive Coaching at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, talks about the challenges employers face in hiring skilled workers and how easing requirements could impact the labor market.
Rishabh Bhandari, Managing Director, and Senior Portfolio Manager at Capstone Investment Advisors, discusses the Feds approach of aggressively tapering the balance sheet and how the energy market could fair amid top oil executives' testimony before Congress.
