Platinum Rally Leaves Other Metals in the Dust

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® improved by 2.0 points in July to 97.2 (1985=100), from 95.2 in June (revised up by 2.2 points). The Present Situation Index—based ...

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.4 million in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, both hires and total separations were little changed at 5.2 million and 5.1 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) were little changed while layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) were unchanged. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month. Job Openings The number and rate of job openings were little changed at 7.4 million and 4.4 percent, respectively, in June. The number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-308,000), health care and social assistance (-244,000), and finance and insurance (-142,000). The number of job openings increased in retail trade (+190,000), information (+67,000), and state and local government education (+61,000). (See table 1.) Hires In June, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.2 million and 3.3 percent, respectively. The number of hires decreased in arts, e - Prior month revised to 7.712m from 7.769m - Job openings rate was 4.4% in June vs 4.6% prior - 3.142m people quit a job in June vs 3.27m prior - Quits rate at 2% vs 2% - 1.604m workers were fired or laid off in June vs 1.611m prior - Layoffs and discharges rate at 1% vs 1%