Quikrete Industry Dashboard

The latest Quikrete Industry Dashboard shows a slowdown in the rise of the national average for the price of a gallon of regular. The latest latest tally from the American Automobile Association ($4.15) is ahead of last month, and well ahead of the same day last year ($2.87). But compared to a week ago, gas is down 8 cents per gallon.

Also updated on the latest dashboard is the Unemployment rate, which came in at 3.6 percent for the month of March.

The employment situation report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explained: “Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 431,000 in March, as job gains continued in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade, and manufacturing.”

Construction employment continued to trend up, the USBLS said. It was up 19,000 jobs in March and has returned to its pre-pandemic, February 2020 level.

The Quikrete Industry Dashboard also shows updated Consumer Confidence.

“Consumer confidence was up slightly in March after declines in February and January,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “The Present Situation Index rose substantially, suggesting economic growth continued into late Q1. Expectations, on the other hand, weakened further with consumers citing rising prices, especially at the gas pump, and the war in Ukraine as factors.”

# # #

Coming next: Monthly sales for NAICS 444 and NAICS 44413 will be updated April 14.