JUNE JOBS REPORT - The employment numbers for the month of June are in for Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. And total employment in the Lone Star State hit another record high last month. According to the Texas Workforce Commission’s June Jobs Report the state added nearly 83,000 jobs last month, pushing total employment to new high for an eight month in a row. That includes nearly 28,000 new jobs in education and health services. Leisure and hospitality also hired an additional 12,700 workers. Meanwhile, Texas' jobless rate fell again in June, down a tenth of a point to 4 point 1 percent. That's still above the national rate at 3 point 6 percent.
Arkansas labor market conditions for June were basically unchanged as the unemployment rate was at 3.2%, Job numbers for Louisiana were a bit better than last month as it posted a 3.8% unemployment rate which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics was its lowest June rate since 1976. This number shows a slow but steady decline in unemployment for Louisiana over the past 3 months. The United States Unemployment Rate is unchanged from last month as it is currently 3.6%.
GAS PRICES - The average U.S. price of regular-grade gasoline plunged 32 cents over the past two weeks to $4.54 per gallon. Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey says Sunday that the continued decline comes as crude oil costs also fall. The price at the pump is down 55 cents over the past six weeks, but it’s $1.32 higher than one year ago. Nationwide, the highest average price for regular-grade gas was in Los Angeles, at $5.65. The lowest average was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at $3.90. The survey says the average price of diesel dropped 22 cents, to $5.55.
