Menu

Will escalating energy costs impact hiring in the back half of the year? Eighty-three percent of U.S. employers say no, according to CareerBuilder's 2011 Mid-Year Job Forecast. CareerBuilder's latest survey shows employers remain positive in their hiring expectations for the remainder of 2011 despite ongoing concerns over threats to economic growth. Nearly half of employers (47 percent) plan to hire new employees from July through December, up from 41 percent in 2010. The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive© from May 19 to June 8, 2011, included more than 2,600 hiring managers and human resource professionals.

As the economy falters amid recent market volatility and mixed labor reports, second quarter employee confidence related to job security, pay raises and the job market has retreated to levels last seen in the height of the recession. At the same time, nearly one-third (30 percent) of employees report they are more satisfied in their jobs today than one year ago compared to 26 percent in the second quarter of 2010 although one in four (25 percent) say their satisfaction is "worse," according to the Q2 Glassdoor® Employment Confidence Survey of 2,203 U.S. adults aged 18+ conducted online on its behalf by Harris Interactive®.

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in June for the 19th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

A new survey from Insite Security and IBOPE Zogby International found that the rich are more pessimistic than ever about the long term financial health of United States.

Small business jobs rose slightly in June as employers added 45,000 positions to their payrolls. Hours worked and compensation also both increased by 0.2 percent.

Salary increases are slowly trending upward toward pre-recession levels, according to the 38th Annual WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey. Participating organizations reported awarding at least some base salary increase to 88% of all employees in 2011 on average, compared to 86% of all employees in 2010, 80% in 2009 (all-time low), and 91% from 2006 to 2008. This year’s 88% figure shows not all organizations are fully recovered.

Mortgage rates increased for the second week in a row, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 4.79 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.32 discount and origination points.

comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending May 2011. The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 24.8 percent market share. Google Android led among smartphone platforms with 38.1 percent market share.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June for the 23rd consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 25th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

In its latest national, monthly report on consumer credit trends, Equifax reports that U.S. consumer credit continues to show signs of improvement as the recovery progresses, even with strong unemployment and housing headwinds.