Economy

Business activity in the Inland Empire grew 2.2 percent annualized rate during the first quarter of this year, according to a report released Friday. That virtually matched the growth of the gross domestic product during the same period – 2.3 percent – the UC Riverside School of Business Center for …

The national unemployment rate hit 3.9 percent in April as employers added 164,000 jobs, according to data released Friday. That was the lowest monthly employment rate since 2000, and it ended a string of 4.1 percent unemployment that dated back to October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ …

San Bernardino County’s economy received a ringing endorsement Tuesday from one of the Inland Empire’s better-known economists. Like the U.S. economy, the county’s economy is enjoying a solid run of growth that shows no sign of slowing down, said Chris Thornberg, director of the UC Riverside School of Business Center …

Manufacturing in the Inland Empire continued to sizzle in April. The region’s purchasing managers index last month was 62.4, virtually unchanged from March, according to data released Tuesday by the Institute of Applied Research and Policy Analysis at Cal State San Bernardino. That’s the 16th consecutive month the index has …

California’s unemployment rate remained at a record-low 4.3 percent in March, despite the loss of 7,200 non-agricultural jobs, according to data released Friday. Eight of the state’s 11 economic sectors lost jobs last month, including construction, which lost 4,400 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities, which dropped 1,900 jobs, the …

The sector has been growing for 15 consecutive months, one of its longest streaks ever. One reason might be President Trump’s tax cuts, which appear to have increased the business community’s confidence in the economy. Earlier this month, the Institute for Applied Research and Policy Analysis at Cal State San …