Free Trial

US DATA: Strong Household Survey Behind Surprise U/E Rate Decline

US DATA
  • On the household survey, the unemployment rate was far lower than expected at 4.05% after 4.22% in Aug and 4.25% in July. It almost rounded down to 4.0%, vs consensus was 4.2 and with some analysts looking for 4.3.
  • It's a swift move away from the Fed's recently upward revised 4Q24 forecast of 4.4% (revised from 4.0% in its June SEP).
  • It came as employment surged 430k, it’s most since March after some softer months, easily outpacing the 150k increase in the labor force.
  • That saw the number of unemployed fall by 281k for its largest monthly decline since Mar 2022, and more encouragingly the only aspect that increased was those on temporary layoffs (+22k).
  • 16-19yr olds were the only group that saw higher u/e rates, +0.2pps to 14.3% to extend a sharp increase in Aug for their highest since early 2021.
  • The prime age (25-54) group on the other hand saw a 0.2pp decline to 3.4% for its lowest since May.
  • It was less of a surprise but the number working part-time for economic reasons also pulled back after two strong increases ,with -206k after two months averaging +305k. That helped the underemployment rate drop two tenths to 7.7% after those prior increases had helped it catch-up a lagged increase vs the standard unemployment rate.
  • The participation rate meanwhile was as expected, holding steady at 62.7% with conflicting forces as the 25-54 rate dropped a little further off multi-year highs (to 83.8% from 83.9 in Aug and 84.0 in Jul) but was offset by continued noise for 16-24 (bounced 0.7pts to 55.5% to fully reverse the prior dip).
262 words

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.
  • On the household survey, the unemployment rate was far lower than expected at 4.05% after 4.22% in Aug and 4.25% in July. It almost rounded down to 4.0%, vs consensus was 4.2 and with some analysts looking for 4.3.
  • It's a swift move away from the Fed's recently upward revised 4Q24 forecast of 4.4% (revised from 4.0% in its June SEP).
  • It came as employment surged 430k, it’s most since March after some softer months, easily outpacing the 150k increase in the labor force.
  • That saw the number of unemployed fall by 281k for its largest monthly decline since Mar 2022, and more encouragingly the only aspect that increased was those on temporary layoffs (+22k).
  • 16-19yr olds were the only group that saw higher u/e rates, +0.2pps to 14.3% to extend a sharp increase in Aug for their highest since early 2021.
  • The prime age (25-54) group on the other hand saw a 0.2pp decline to 3.4% for its lowest since May.
  • It was less of a surprise but the number working part-time for economic reasons also pulled back after two strong increases ,with -206k after two months averaging +305k. That helped the underemployment rate drop two tenths to 7.7% after those prior increases had helped it catch-up a lagged increase vs the standard unemployment rate.
  • The participation rate meanwhile was as expected, holding steady at 62.7% with conflicting forces as the 25-54 rate dropped a little further off multi-year highs (to 83.8% from 83.9 in Aug and 84.0 in Jul) but was offset by continued noise for 16-24 (bounced 0.7pts to 55.5% to fully reverse the prior dip).