California Economy and Taxes
 



Annual Revision to Monthly Jobs Survey Shows Far Fewer Job Gains in 2024 March 21, 2025

Each year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revises the state's jobs numbers to match actual payroll records from businesses. The latest revisions updates the survey data through September 2024 and lowered California job gains from 260k to 60k over the year. The corrected data show the state's labor market grew just 0.3 percent between September 2023 and September 2024, while the preliminary monthly reports had showed the labor market roughly in line with the rest of the country (about 1.5 percent) over that period.


U.S. Retail Sales Update: October 2024 November 15, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 1.1 percent over the last 3 months and 2.8 percent over the last 12 months. Retail sales growth has outpaced inflation substantially over the last 3 months, but only slightly over the last 12 months. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: September 2024 October 17, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 1.7 percent over the last 3 months and also 1.7 percent over the last 12 months. Retail sales growth has outpaced inflation over the last 3 months, but not over the last 12 months. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: August 2024 September 17, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 0.9 percent over the last 3 months and 2.1 percent over the last 12 months. Retail sales growth has outpaced inflation over the last 3 months, but not over the last 12 months. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: July 2024 August 16, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 1 percent over the last 3 months and 2.7 percent over the last 12 months. Retail sales growth has outpaced inflation over the last 3 months, but not over the last 12 months. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: June 2024 July 16, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 0.1 percent over the last 3 months and 2.3 percent over the last 12 months. Over both periods, sales have grown more slowly than inflation. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: May 2024 June 18, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 0.4 percent over the last 3 months and 2.3 percent over the last 12 months. Over both periods, sales have grown more slowly than inflation. 


Newest Early Jobs Revision Shows No Net Job Growth During 2023 June 17, 2024

A newly released "early benchmark" of the official state jobs figures shows that payroll jobs declined by 32,000 from September 2023 through December 2023, whereas the official state tally showed growth of 117,000 jobs over that period. With the fourth quarter early revision, calendar year 2023 shows essentially no net job gains. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: March 2024 April 15, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 0.8 percent over the last 3 months and 4 percent over the last 12 months. Retail sales growth has outpaced inflation over the last 12 months, but not over the last 3 months.


U.S. Retail Sales Update: February 2024 March 14, 2024

U.S. retail sales have dropped 0.4 percent over the last 3 months and grown 1.5 percent over the last 12 months. The 12-month growth rate was below the rate of inflation. 


Annual Revision Shows State Added Few Jobs Last Year March 13, 2024

Each year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revises the state's jobs number to match actual payroll records from businesses. The latest revision lowered its count of California jobs by 1.5 percent. The corrected data show that the state added just 50,000 jobs between September 2022 and September 2023, while preliminary monthly reports had showed the labor market growing by more than 300,000 jobs. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: January 2024 February 15, 2024

U.S. retail sales have dropped 0.5 percent over the last 3 months and grown 0.6 percent over the last 12 months.  The 12-month growth rate was well below the rate of inflation. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: December 2023 January 17, 2024

U.S. retail sales have grown 0.7 percent over the last 3 months and 5.6 percent over the last 12 months. Both of these growth rates outpaced inflation. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: November 2023 December 14, 2023

U.S. retail sales have grown 0.9 percent over the last 3 months and 4.1 percent over the last 12 months. Both of these growth rates outpaced inflation. 


U.S. Retail Sales Update: October 2023 November 15, 2023

U.S. retail sales have grown 1.5 percent over the last 3 months and 2.5 percent over the last 12 months. Retail sales growth has outpaced inflation over the last 3 months, but not over the last 12 months.