Data behind the headlines

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Earlier edition

Published May 8, 2026

Jobs and hiring

How are job openings, hiring, payroll growth, and unemployment claims changing over time?

The most recent available data for the United States shows that job openings peaked at 12.1 million in March 2022 and have since trended downward, with a 5% decrease from the year prior as of February 2026.

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Inflation and consumer prices

How fast are consumer prices and fuel costs rising, and how do they compare with past periods?

The most recent available data for the United States shows the overall inflation rate was 3.3% as of March 2026.

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In 2022, the annual inflation rate reached its highest point since the early 1980s. chart from Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis