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United States Department of Labor
Consumer Price Index: 2020 in review
January 15, 2021
From 2019 to 2020, consumer prices for all items rose 1.4 percent. Over that period, food prices increased 3.9 percent, a larger percentage increase than the 12-month increase of 1.8 percent in 2019. Food at home prices increased 3.9 percent in 2020, the largest over-the-year increase since 2011.
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View All »January 14, 2021
Hires up in professional and business services over the year, November 2020
Overall, the number of hires in November 2020 was little changed from a year earlier. There were a total of 5,439,000 hires in November 2019, compared with 5,590,000 in November 2020. Hires increased in professional and business services; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and nondurable goods manufacturing. Hires decreased in accommodation and food services.
January 13, 2021
28.4 percent of unemployed were on temporary layoff in December 2020
In December 2020, 28.4 percent of the unemployed were job losers on temporary layoff. These are people who lost their jobs and were given a date to return to work or who expect to return to work within 6 months. This compared with 77.9 percent in April 2020. In December 2020, the largest share of the unemployed, at 38.9 percent, were job losers not on temporary layoff. These are people who permanently lost their jobs or completed temporary jobs.
January 12, 2021
Payroll employment down 140,000 in December 2020
Total nonfarm payroll employment declined by 140,000 in December 2020, following seven consecutive months of increases. In December, nonfarm employment was below its February level by 9.8 million, or 6.5 percent.
January 11, 2021
12 metro areas had unemployment rates of 10 percent or higher in November 2020
In November 2020, 12 metro areas had unemployment rates of 10 percent or higher. El Centro, California, and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii, had the highest unemployment rates, 16.4 percent and 16.0 percent, respectively. Ames, Iowa, had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.0 percent. A total of 272 areas had jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 6.4 percent, 110 areas had rates above it, and 7 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.
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Recent editions of Spotlight on Statistics
- Occupational Employment and Wages in Metro and Nonmetro Areas
Examines similarities and differences in employment and wages between metro and nonmetro areas. - Gulf War Era Veterans in the Labor Force
Examines the demographic, employment, and unemployment characteristics of civilians who served in the U.S. military during Gulf War era. - Using BLS Data to Match People with Disabilities with Jobs Presents data that can help increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities in the nation’s labor market.
- How Women and Aging Affect Trends in Labor Force Growth Examines how women’s labor force participation and the aging of the U.S. population affect trends in labor force growth.
