JOLTS Job Openings on 5.7 million in March

On the last business day of March, there were 5.7 million job openings, little changed from February.  The job openings rate was 3.8 percent in March. The number of job openings was little changed for total  private and edged up for government.

USD - Major events in the week ahead

Events that marked the week:

On Monday Manufacturing PMI figures were released. The April PMI registered 54.8 percent, a decrease of 2.4 percentage points from the March reading of 57.2 percent. The New Orders Index registered 57.5 percent, a decrease of 7 percentage points from the March reading of 64.5 percent. The Production Index registered 58.6 percent, 1 percentage point higher than the March reading of 57.6 percent. The Employment Index registered 52 percent, a decrease of 6.9 percentage points from the March reading of 58.9 percent. Inventories of raw materials registered 51 percent, an increase of 2 percentage points from the March reading of 49 percent.

US Unemployment Rate fell to 4.4%

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 211,000 in April. Employment rose in leisure and hospitality, health care and social assistance, financial activities, and mining. In April, leisure and hospitality added 55,000 jobs. Employment in food services and places continued to trend up over the month (+26,000) and has increased by 260,000 over the year.

Unemployment Claims decreased to 238,000

In the week ending April 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 238,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 257,000. The 4-week moving average was 243,000, an increase of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 242,250. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4 percent for the week ending April 22, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate.