Quikrete Industry Dashboard

The latest version of the Quikrete Industry Dashboard includes updates on the national unemployment rate and Consumer Confidence. And both updates show improvements.

As for Consumer Confidence, the Index rose above for the first time since March and the outbreak of the coronavirus. The September reading came in at 101.8, up from 86.3 in the prior month, according to the New York-based Conference Board, which produces the figures.

“A more favorable view of current business and labor market conditions, coupled with renewed optimism about the short-term outlook, helped spur this month’s rebound in confidence,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board.

The unemployment rate also showed improvement. It declined from 8.4% in August to 7.9% in September, according to data released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

In September, notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in retail trade, in health care and social assistance, and in professional and business services.

Construction employment increased by 26,000 in September, with growth in residential specialty trade contractors (up 16,000) and construction of buildings (up 12,000). However, construction employment is below its February level by 394,000, the bureau reported.