Economy

California added 67,000 non-agricultural jobs in April, enough to account for about one-fourth of the jobs created nationwide that month, according to data released Friday. Despite that increase, the state’s unemployment rate was up slightly month-over-month, from 4.4 percent in March to 4.5 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported. …

The Inland Empire office market enjoyed a solid first quarter, with vacancy, net absorption, and lease rates all moving in the desired direction, according to data released today. The region’s vacancy rate during the first three months of 2023 was nine percent, down from a revised 9.4 percent in the …

U.S. retail sales are expected to grow four to six percent this year, with total sales expected to reach $5.1 trillion, according to the National Retail Federation. That forecast compares with seven percent growth and $4.9 trillion in sales in 2022, the Washington, D.C.-based trade association reported recently. “While we …

California’s labor market withstood COVID-19 better than first believed, according to data released this month. A lot better, in fact. Originally, job growth in the state between December 2020 and December 2021 was believed to have increased by 6.5 percent compared with the previous.12 months, according to Beacon Economics in …

The Inland Empire recorded a 4.5 percent unemployment rate in February, adding 6,700 non-agricultural jobs during the month, according to data released today. That was below California’s unadjusted 4.8 percent jobless rate but above the national 3.9 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported. Total non-farm employment in the two-county …

The Inland Empire manufacturing sector is keeping its head above water, but just barely. The region’s purchasing managers index in February was 50.8, up from 50.4 in January, according to data released this week by the Institute of Applied Research and Policy Analysis at Cal State San Bernardino. If the …