Full text of U.S. Financial Data : July 5, 2002

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July 5, 2002

USFinancialData
THE WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS:
■ In June, nonagricultural payroll employment rose 36,000, as a
46,000 increase in service-producing employment more than offset
a 10,000 decline in goods-producing employment. After falling
813,000 during the fourth quarter of 2001 and 371,000 during
the first quarter of 2002, nonfarm payrolls declined only 51,000
during the second quarter. The civilian unemployment rate rose
0.1 percentage points in June to 5.9 percent. The unemployment
rate averaged 5.9 percent during the second quarter of 2002, the
highest level since the third quarter of 1994.
■ Measured in current dollars, the value of new orders to manufacturers
for durable and nondurable goods rose 0.7 percent in May. Factory
orders have risen in five of the past six months. New orders for
nondefense capital goods less aircraft, which is a key barometer of
business fixed investment, rose 1.2 percent in May after rising 5.3
percent in April. Measured from a year earlier, total factory orders
are down 2.8 percent.
■ June sales of total light vehicles (domestic plus imported cars and
light trucks) hit an annual rate of 16.5 million units according to
the Autodata Corporation. Light vehicle sales totaled 15.6 million
units in May.
■ In May, real construction spending fell 0.9 percent, which followed
a 0.3 percent rise in April. Private construction spending fell 1.6
percent in May, while public construction increased 1.6 percent.
Year-to-date, real construction spending has risen at a 2.4 percent
annual rate. Over the same period in 2001, real construction had
risen at a 1 percent rate.
All data are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise indicated.
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