Latest news with #May2024
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Job openings hit highest level since November 2024
Job openings unexpectedly rose in May to hit the highest level since November 2024, according to government data released Tuesday. The report comes as investors closely watch for any signs of slowing in the labor market amid a debate over when the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates again. New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed 7.76 million jobs open at the end of May, an increase from the 7.39 million seen the month prior. The April figure was revised higher by 4,000 openings. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected Tuesday's report to show 7.3 million openings in May. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) also showed that 5.5 million hires were made during the month, down from the 5.61 million made during April. The hiring rate ticked lower to 3.4% from the 3.5%. In one sign that workers remain cautious about labor market conditions, the quits rate, a sign of confidence among workers, moved up to 2.1% from 2% in April. Still, both the hiring and quits rates are hovering near decade lows, reflecting what economists have described as a labor market in "stasis." "Hiring remains depressed, but that is less worrisome than it would be otherwise because layoffs continue to be low," Oxford Economics lead US economist Nancy Vanden Houten wrote in a note to clients. The latest JOLTS data comes as investors continue to watch economic data for any signs of impact from President Trump's tariffs. In May, the labor market showed some signs of cooling with the US labor market adding 139,000 jobs while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. Tuesday's data comes ahead of another update on the labor market expected for release on Thursday morning. Consensus expects the June jobs report to show hiring slowed further, with nonfarm payroll additions projected to fall to 110,000 and the unemployment rate expected to tick higher to 4.3%. As of Tuesday, markets were pricing in a roughly 23% chance the Fed will cut interest rates at its July meeting and a 96% chance that at least one cut happens by the end of its September meeting, per the CME FedWatch Tool. Josh Schafer is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on X @_joshschafer. Sign in to access your portfolio
ABC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Inflation eases back more than expected in May, trimmed mean at lowest since 2021
Inflation eased further last month, with consumer prices rising 2.1 per cent over the year to May, down from 2.4 per cent the previous month. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the monthly Consumer Price Index was at its lowest level since October 2024. The annual trimmed mean, a measure of underlying inflation, was down to 2.4 per cent in May, from 2.8 per cent in April, which the ABS said was its lowest rate since November 2021. Ahead of the data release, market pricing put the chance of an interest rate cut in July around 81 per cent, according to LSEG. The Reserve Bank next meets to consider interest rates in just under a fortnight's time.
Russia Today
24-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
China sets new solar record
China set a new record for monthly installed solar power capacity in May, according to official data. The National Energy Administration reported on Monday that China installed 93 gigawatts of solar panels in May – more than any other country did over the whole of 2024, according to Bloomberg. The figure is more than quadruple the capacity added during the same month last year and surpasses the previous monthly high of 71 gigawatts set last December. The surge comes as developers rush to complete projects ahead of new regulatory changes that are expected to significantly reduce renewable energy prices. May's record followed strong installations in April, bringing China's total solar additions for the first five months of the year to 198 gigawatts (GW) – averaging more than 1GW per day. China typically sees a spike in solar installations in December, but developers accelerated activity this year ahead of anticipated policy changes. A regulation that took effect on May 1 made it more difficult to connect rooftop solar systems to the grid, while another policy starting June 1 removed pricing protections that had previously ensured profits for solar projects. Analysts expect the new policies to moderate the pace of installations over the summer which would increase pressure on Chinese solar manufacturers, who have been grappling with overcapacity and falling prices for more than a year. All major Chinese solar equipment firms posted losses in the first quarter of 2025, citing weak prices and rising trade tensions following the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House. Trump imposed broad tariffs on imports from over 90 countries, including China, in early April. Beijing retaliated, leading Trump to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, while China responded with duties of up to 125% on US products. The two sides reached a tentative truce in Geneva on May 12, agreeing to a 90-day pause on further hikes and to maintain a 10% baseline tariff. However, tensions resurfaced earlier this month amid mutual accusations of violating the deal. Earlier, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association called for urgent consolidation in the sector, warning that unchecked expansion and price wars were driving the industry into a 'race to the bottom.'
Wall Street Journal
22-06-2025
- Health
- Wall Street Journal
Republican's Life-Threatening Pregnancy Collided With Florida's Abortion Politics
Rep. Kat Cammack arrived at the emergency room in May 2024 terrified by what she had just learned: Her pregnancy could kill her at any moment. It would only get worse. The Florida Republican needed a shot of methotrexate to help expel her ectopic pregnancy, in which there is no way for the embryo to survive. Her state's six-week abortion ban had just taken effect. She said doctors and nurses who saw her said they were worried about losing their licenses or going to jail if they gave her drugs to end her pregnancy.
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Beef, oils, and vegetables lead rise in food costs despite stable inflation
Consumer price inflation was 2,8% in May, unchanged from 2,8% in April. The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0,2% between April and May reveals Stats SA. Food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) is the only category that contributed to the monthly increase in the CPI. The monthly change in food & NAB was 1,1%, following a 1,3% rise in April. The annual rate for the category increased to 4,8% from 4,0% in April, the highest print since March 2024 when the rate was 5,1%. Beef continues to push meat inflation higher Meat, specifically beef, is a key factor behind the rise in food inflation. The annual rate for meat jumped from 3,0% in April to 4,4% in May. In April, monthly increases for beef products ranged from 6,2% to 11,9%. In May, notable monthly increases were recorded for beef steak (up 4,5%), stewing beef (up 2,5%) and beef mince (up 1,7%). A widespread outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, combined with higher feed prices, contributed to the rise in beef inflation. The fish and other seafood category recorded an annual increase of 4,9% in May, up from 4,8% in April. Hake is 9,1% and fish fingers 6,1% more expensive than a year ago. Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay The annual rate for oils & fats was 5,6%, the highest since April 2023 (10,0%). Sunflower oil recorded an annual increase of 7,6% and brick margarine 7,9%. Vegetable prices tend to be highly volatile, depending on seasonal factors. The annual rate for the category was 10,3% in May, up from a recent low of -2,6% in November 2024. The rate in May is the highest since January 2024, when it was 12,6%. High annual increases were recorded for beetroot (64,0%), lettuce (20,9%) and carrots (13,4%). Maize meal and samp continue to record high price increases. The annual rate for cereal products was 4,5% in May, with double-digit inflation registered for maize meal (14,2%) and samp (20,6%). Most wheat-based products are experiencing low inflation rates, aside from biscuits. Savoury biscuits witnessed a monthly increase of 2,2%, taking the annual rate to 12,5%. Sweet biscuits saw a monthly rise of 1,5% and an annual increase of 6,4%. Stubbornly high inflation rates for hot beverages may be subsiding. This index was unchanged between April and May. The annual increase slowed to 12,4% from 15,2% in April. This is the lowest year-on-year rate since April 2024 when it was 11,4%. The graphs below show food and beverage products that registered notable price changes in May. Other notable price changes Services provided by electricians are surveyed twice a year in May and November. These services recorded a monthly and annual increase of 7,9%. Fuel prices dropped by 1,1% between April and May, pulling the annual rate down to ‑14,9%. This is the largest annual decrease for fuel since October 2024 when the rate was -19,1%. Petrol is 15,9% and diesel 12,6% cheaper than a year ago. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
