US jobless claims edge lower, continuing claims remain elevated
Initial claims decreased by 3,000 to 224,000 in the week ended Aug 9, which was about in line with economists' forecasts.
Businesses have pared back on hiring new employees amid economic uncertainty driven by President Donald Trump's policies, particularly tariffs. However, the relatively low level of initial filings indicates that employers aren't widely cutting workers.
Continuing claims, a proxy for the number of people receiving benefits, fell to 1.95 million in the previous week, according to Labor Department data released on Thursday (Aug 14). That figure has been hovering around the highest since 2021 for the last few months, indicating many out-of-work Americans are finding it difficult to find employment.
Investors expect the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates at their September policy meeting. Recent data point to a cooling labour market, while the impact from tariffs on prices has been limited.
Separate data has shown a significant slowdown in job creation over the past three months after sizeable downward revisions to May and June figures. Following that report, Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
He has since announced EJ Antoni as his pick to lead the agency – an appointment that is subject to Senate confirmation. Economists on both sides of the political aisle have raised concerns about Antoni's political views and work history.
The four-week moving average of new applications, a metric that helps smooth out volatility, was little changed at 221,750. Before adjusting for seasonal factors, initial claims rose last week, led by Massachusetts and California. BLOOMBERG
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Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
In Michigan's cherry country, the federal safety net is fraying
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Maria Pascual, who came to the U.S. from Guatemala at 17 to work picking fruits and vegetables and became a citizen two years ago, sorts cherries with other workers at King Orchards, in Central Lake, Michigan, U.S., July 15, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein CENTRAL LAKE, MICHIGAN - The frost came in late April, sliding across the hills before dawn. Juliette King McAvoy stepped into the orchard, hoping the cold had spared the cherry buds. But they glittered in the morning sun like glass, just as dead. Weather had damaged much of the family orchard's crop for the third time in five years. The blow landed on a farm and an industry already squeezed by the Trump administration's changes to government services, immigration and trade policies. King Orchards' harvest crew from Guatemala arrived in mid-July, short-handed and weeks late after delays in securing the H-2A seasonal farmworker visas they rely on each year. They paid more to ship fresh cherries by private carrier after a U.S. Postal Service reorganization left fresh fruit sitting a bit too long. A U.S. Department of Agriculture grant request for funding a cold-storage unit remained in limbo, as Washington cut spending on farm programs and agricultural research. And Jack King, Juliette's brother and the farm's agronomist, kept searching for fertilizer cheap enough to haul and untouched by President Donald Trump's trade wars. "It all slows us down," King McAvoy, the farm's business manager, said during a brief pause in July's harried harvest. Farmers in the hills near Grand Traverse Bay, where the fruit of their labor has filled pies and fed generations, said they are caught in the crosshairs of Trump's reshaping of government, with sharp cuts and increasing delays hitting the $227 million U.S. tart cherry industry hard. From weather, plant disease and pest woes, USDA forecast Michigan will lose 41% of its tart cherry crop this year, compared to 2024. Northwest Michigan, where the King farm is located, faces the steepest drop — about 70%, according to the Cherry Industry Administrative Board. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students World Trump advises Ukraine's Zelensky to 'make a deal' with Russia after meeting Putin World Did Putin just put one over on Trump at the US-Russia summit on Ukraine? Singapore 3 truck drivers injured after chain collision on ECP, including one rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Pakistan rescuers recover bodies after monsoon rains kill more than 320 Singapore Nowhere to run: Why Singapore needs to start protecting its coasts now Opinion Revitalise nightlife? Let's get the crowds out first After the April freeze, King McAvoy's phone rang. It was her friend and fellow grower, Emily Miezio, in Suttons Bay, Michigan. "What are you seeing?" Juliette stared at the trees. "I'm not sure. But it's not good." South of the Kings, the cold snap left farmer Don Gallagher's trees sparse. "We can grow leaves," he said, as his family hunted for fruit in the branches. "We just can't grow cherries." POLITICS AND TARIFFS Michigan's cherry roots run deep, from French settlers bringing the fruit to the Midwest. The Montmorency, ruby-red and mouth-puckering, became the region's signature, in pies, juice, dried fruit and the syrup Midwesterners spoon over cheesecake. When John King bought the farm in 1980, cherries were a Michigan birthright, like cars. He grew up in a General Motors family in Flint, working summers picking fruit. "It felt pure," said King, now 74. He secured 80 acres of land with help from a federal loan. The roadside stand came with a preacher's warning painted on the sign: Repent lest you perish in the fires of hell. He covered it with a rainbow and his dream: King Orchards. Today, it's a full family operation: In addition to John's daughter Juliette and son Jack, John's wife Betsy runs the market with Jack's wife, Courtney. John's brother Jim manages the harvest; Jim's wife Rose is chief baker; and their son-in-law Mark Schiller runs the hand-pick crews. Antrim County, where the farm sits, has long leaned Republican. The Kings, who are progressives, say the past few years have shown how national politics can ripple through their orchards. Trump's sweeping tax-and-spending law expanded safety nets for large commodity crop operations, such as corn and soybeans, for feed and biofuels. But nutrition and local food programs fruit and vegetable growers depend on were slashed, and his trade policies chilled demand from top export partners, according to government data and academic researchers. While USDA did not answer Reuters' specific questions regarding challenges facing the cherry industry, a spokesperson said Trump's law boosts the farm safety net, and includes increased funding for programs that support specialty crops and fight plant pests and diseases. The Kings and nearly a dozen other farmers across party lines told Reuters they expected tariffs to return if Trump won, but they hoped for a more surgical approach. About one-third of the Kings' concentrate goes overseas, mostly to Taiwan and New Zealand. But Michigan's crop loss will play a bigger role in diminished tart cherry exports than tariffs this year, the Kings and other growers said. The White House did not comment on questions about the administration's trade policy. Asked about delivery delays, the USPS said it had a plan to save $36 billion over 10 years that would mean slightly slower delivery for some mail, but faster service for other customers. SHRINKING EXPORTS AND BUDGETS While Michigan orchards struggle to fill bins, branches are bending in the West, with Washington State's sweet cherry production 29% bigger this year due to favorable weather, USDA forecasted. But growers there face different woes: fewer places to sell and low prices. In 2024, the U.S. exported nearly $506 million in fresh cherries worldwide - up 10% in value and 3% in volume from the year before, U.S. Census Bureau trade data shows. In the first half of this year, as Trump's trade wars reignited, U.S. fresh fruit exports fell 17% in volume and 15% in value. U.S. shipments to China never fully recovered after Trump's 2018 trade war. Sales to Canada also fell 18% by volume in the first six months. "There's little appetite for U.S. products in Canada," said Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, said wholesale sweet cherry prices are slumping, and many Northwest farmers are losing money. Back in Michigan, sideways rain lashed Suttons Bay. Emily Miezio hunched in the downpour in her family and business partners' orchard, watching the storm-lit sky. A worker steered a low-slung tree shaker to the trunk, clamping its arms tight. Tart cherries fell like red hail into a catching frame, funneled into bins, as another worker scooped out twigs and leaves, moving fast, racing the dawn. At the chilling station, a Michigan State University intern logged each truck with fruit to be cooled and processed by morning. Miezio, whose farm spans about 2,500 acres, leads the Cherry Marketing Institute, the tart cherry industry trade group. For years, they'd tried to claw back into China. "That door's pretty much slammed shut," she said, since the 2018 trade wars. Now they're courting Mexico and South Korea. USDA HELP On Traverse City's northern edge, the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center is a 137-acre test farm. Run by Michigan State University and funded by USDA grants and grower money, it's where Dr. Nikki Rothwell has spent more than two decades helping orchards survive. She's got the sun-creased skin of someone who lives outdoors and a laugh like a cracked whip. Farmers lean on her, especially now. On a sticky summer morning, she walked the rows with interns and researchers, testing hardier trees and better fruit. When they fired up the tree shaker — a grumbling relic older than some of the scientists — a rust-colored cloud of brown rot spores rose in the heat and settled on their sleeves. Tree by tree, they logged bruised fruit and powdery mold. "This kind of research doesn't have corporate backers," Rothwell said. "It's always been the government and the growers." This month, she's submitting the last paperwork for a $100,000 USDA grant awarded under the Biden administration for a disease study — money that's part of a federal review of climate-related research. She's not sure if the money will come through. Colleagues at other land-grant schools haven't been paid, she said. LABOR SQUEEZE Money isn't the only thing held up. So are the people needed to bring in the crop. The labor squeeze stretches coast to coast. In Oregon, grower Ian Chandler watched half a million pounds of cherries rot on trees. He began harvesting with 47 workers on June 10. He needed 120. Fear that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in California would spread north kept some people away, he said. "We are bleeding from a thousand cuts," said Chandler, 47, an Army veteran with two sons in uniform. "It's an untenable position." White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said President Trump is committed to ensuring farmers have the workforce they need, but that there will be no safe harbor for criminal illegal immigrants. In Michigan, the King Orchards crew was short two people, whose H-2A visa paperwork in Guatemala cleared too late, said Schiller, who runs the farm's hand-pick harvest crew. A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters that H-2 visa applicants should apply early and anticipate additional processing time, as U.S. embassies and consulates work to process them quickly without compromising U.S. national or economic security. Inside the barn, one of the farm's long-time workers named Maria Pascual stood at the sorting line, head wrapped against the heat, hands moving with quiet precision. She came to the U.S. from Guatemala at 17 with her father. They picked peppers and cucumbers in Florida, then followed the harvest north. She met her husband on the road. For a while, they lived the migrant rhythm — cherries in Michigan, oranges in Florida — until 1990, when they stayed for good. "When you have kids…" she said and let the sentence hang. She and her husband earned legal permanent residency under Ronald Reagan's 1986 immigration law, which helped millions of immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally to secure legal status. Two years ago, Maria became a U.S. citizen. "I just wanted to be a citizen," she said. "I feel like… just normal." Now, Trump's immigration policies hang over her family like a brewing storm. One brother was picked up by ICE this summer in Florida and deported. Others back home hope to come on H-2A visas. There have been no major ICE raids on Michigan farms this year. But the fear lingers, sharpened this summer by the opening of the Midwest's largest ICE detention center — up to 1,810 beds set deep in the forest in Baldwin, Michigan, where birdsong drifts over the Concertina wire. REUTERS
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Heat waves a boon for China's 'cooling economy'
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox GUANGZHOU — As scorching heat waves grip the globe this summer, air conditioners are fast becoming essential household appliances, fueling a boom in sales both domestically in China and abroad. A local resident of Panjin in north-east China's Liaoning province, surnamed Dong, described the summer as a relentless 'sweat bath', despite it already being August. 'This summer is just too hot. Even electric fans can't provide enough relief,' Mr Dong said, noting that he held out all summer but finally gave in and ordered air conditioners a few days ago. This sentiment is shared across coastal cities in Northeast China and Shandong province in East China, where temperatures have climbed above 35 deg C, turning air conditioners from an optional comfort for northerners into an almost essential refuge from the heat. Data from Chinese e-commerce giant JD reveal a telling trend. Starting from June, overall transactions for air conditioners on the platform increased by over 60 per cent year-on-year, with the number of customers placing orders surging by nearly 90 per cent. In the first half of July, purchases of air conditioners in north-east China's Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang — provinces renowned for ice and snow tourism — soared by 25 times, 10 times and eight times, respectively. Notably, the number of first-time buyers in these northeastern provinces has jumped by over 800 per cent year-on-year. Similar spikes are evident across north, central, north-west and south-west China. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students World Trump advises Ukraine's Zelensky to 'make a deal' with Russia after meeting Putin World Did Putin just put one over on Trump at the US-Russia summit on Ukraine? Singapore 3 truck drivers injured after chain collision on ECP, including one rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Pakistan rescuers recover bodies after monsoon rains kill more than 320 Singapore Nowhere to run: Why Singapore needs to start protecting its coasts now Opinion Revitalise nightlife? Let's get the crowds out first At the Ouya Shopping Center in Changchun, capital of north-east China's Jilin province, customers flocked to the home appliance section to learn about the various air conditioner models and inquire about prices. To meet the high demand, Hisense's production bases in Shandong, Zhejiang and Guangdong are operating at full capacity. Some popular air conditioner models have even sold out in physical stores in north and north-east China. As regions that once relied on fans switch to air conditioners, the industry is responding with innovative solutions and strategic supply chains to keep up with the escalating demand. To ensure timely installations, companies have launched a 'south-to-north workforce transfer', dispatching after-sales service teams to the northern regions for emergency support. The 'cooling economy' is also powering air conditioner exports at a pace that has exceeded expectations. In July, temperatures soared above 40 deg C across much of Europe, upending the long-held belief that summers could be endured without air conditioning. Data from the General Administration of Customs show that in the first seven months of this year, China's air conditioner exports amounted to 46.81 billion yuan ($6.52 billion), up 4.9 per cent year-on-year, with exports to Europe surging 28.9 per cent to 12.92 billion yuan. This year, Hisense air conditioners have seen strong demand in many key overseas markets, such as south-east Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. 'With our continuous optimisation in local marketing, product adaptation and channel layout, Hisense's air conditioner export growth rate reached 17 per cent in the first half of 2025,' said Yang Xiangxi, brand director of the air conditioning division at Hisense. In the first half of this year, Midea's air conditioner sales in Europe increased by 35 per cent year-on-year. Zhu Zhou, director of the company's European air conditioner division, explained that Midea's Solstice model, featuring AI-powered Ecomaster technology, cuts unnecessary energy use by over 30 per cent, and has seen strong sales in Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Italy. To tackle high installation costs in Europe, Midea developed the innovative PortaSplit air conditioner, designed for easy self-installation. This summer, Google searches for 'Midea/PortaSplit' in Germany surged 20-fold year-on-year, with cumulative sales exceeding 80,000 units. China accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the world's air conditioning production capacity, supplying energy-saving, efficient and low-carbon products globally. With climate extremes worsening and demand rising in developing countries, China's air conditioning export potential looks strong for the future, said Zhou Nan, secretary-general of the home appliances branch at the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Earnings of heartland businesses up 50% on Saturdays with DBS PayLah cashback initiative
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Heartland merchants said that Saturdays have become much busier, with more customers and better sales thanks to the cashback initiative. SINGAPORE - Heartland businesses that are participating in an SG60 cashback initiative by DBS/POSB have experienced an increase in their earnings on Saturdays by an average of 50 per cent since its inception in July. The bank's Paylah! SG60 initiative was launched on July 12 , offering Singaporeans and residents up to $3 in cashback for the first 160,000 people who scan to pay with PayLah! every Saturday at over 22,000 participating heartlands shops, wet markets and hawker stalls. The promotion ends on Sept 27. The bank said on Aug 16 over 400,000 people have redeemed some 800,000 cashback rewards since the start of the initiative. The increase in earnings on Saturdays among participating merchants in 2025 surpasses the 40 per cent growth in takings through a similar scheme by the bank in 2024. Wet market stallholders saw the biggest uplift in earnings, with the number of customers paying via PayLah on Saturdays tripling and total spend nearly doubling. The bank said that the surge 'reflects sustained customer demand for digital payment options and growing support for neighbourhood merchants'. Market stallholder Allan Lee is one such merchant who has benefitted from the PayLah initiative. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students World Trump advises Ukraine's Zelensky to 'make a deal' with Russia after meeting Putin World Did Putin just put one over Trump at the US-Russia summit on Ukraine? Singapore 3 truck drivers injured after chain collision on ECP, including one rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Pakistan rescuers recover bodies after monsoon rains kill more than 320 Singapore Nowhere to run: Why Singapore needs to start protecting its coasts now Opinion Revitalise nightlife? Let's get the crowds out first 'In the past, it was mostly younger customers using PayLah, but with the recent cashback rounds, more older customers are giving digital payments a try,' said Mr Lee, who has been operating his stall in Tampines for 20 years. 'It is fast, convenient, and the cashback initiative has helped bring in both regulars and new shoppers. Each time DBS brings back the cashback, my customers and I are all very happy.' Bakery employee Amy Ang said her shop also benefitted from the scheme. 'On the first day of the cashback relaunch, the turnout was amazing. Some older customers even bring their kids along to teach them how to use PayLah,' said Ms Ang, who works in a bakery in Tampines. 'Overall, we're seeing more customers and better sales – the cashback initiative really makes a difference,' she said. The PayLah initiative is part of a slew of measures worth $23 million launched by DBS/POSB in 2025 to commemorate Singapore's 60th birthday, and to ease living and business costs. It also includes deals with brands such as Old Chang Kee and BreadTalk, and promotional rates for home loans. Bringing buzz to the heartlands Also, the bank has partnered with local gamification platform Sqkii to launch the #HuntTheMouse – DBS SG60 Edition game. Players embark on a quest to uncover 200 gold coins, worth a total of $120,000, hidden in heartland areas across Singapore from Aug 14 to Sept 25. Heartland businesses are integrated into the game – either as physical hunting stops or through in-game information pop-ups – providing them with greater visibility and footfall. The game has attracted over 30,000 players on the first day alone, said DBS/POSB, with Jurong, Toa Payoh and Bedok the most visited places so far. The rollout of the game was commemorated at a community event in Tampines on Aug 16 attended by Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli and Dr Charlene Chen, both MPs for Tampines GRC.
