Seeking Alpha
Seeking Alpha Portfolio App for iPad
Finance
(1)
Market Currents

January Nonfarm Payrolls: +157K vs. consensus +160K, 196K previous (revised from 155K)....

  • Friday, February 1, 8:30 AM ET
    January Nonfarm Payrolls: +157K vs. consensus +160K, 196K previous (revised from 155K). Unemployment rate 7.9% vs. consensus 7.8%, 7.8% previous.
Track new comments on this story

This news story has 60 comments:

  • Unemployment tics up!! OOPS....

    Only created 157K non payroll jobs...Healthy economy though..

    What a joke..
    1 Feb, 08:33 AM Reply Like
  • @IT: I understand where you're coming from. Also note though that the previous two months were revised significantly higher.

    "The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised from +161,000 to +247,000, and the change for December was revised from +155,000 to +196,000."
    1 Feb, 08:39 AM Reply Like
  • 2MUCH

    To me it's just another rule they use to maipulate the numbers..Thats all..It carrys no weight with me!!
    1 Feb, 08:42 AM Reply Like
  • Interesting times your analysis is off....good luck...
    1 Feb, 08:49 AM Reply Like
  • Nov Dec revised upward due to holiday hiring, plus Hurricane Sandy added jobs. The new norm 8.0% unemployment, look for eternal QE
    1 Feb, 08:49 AM Reply Like
  • stuck at 7.9%

    QE4eva
    1 Feb, 08:50 AM Reply Like
  • With revisions 865,000 private sector jobs added...December was
    112.096 mill January 112.961 mill
    1 Feb, 08:55 AM Reply Like
  • bbro

    Then why is gold on the rise today?? Seems the markets are downplaying your analysis..Time will tell..
    1 Feb, 09:56 AM Reply Like
  • Gold is another story....me I trade Gold on technicals....not on economic analysis
    1 Feb, 09:58 AM Reply Like
  • I know you look at not seasonally adjusted....it was a terrible report. the B-1 NSA shows a huge hemorrhage of jobs. Employment to population ratio continues to decline.

    110.9 Million private in Jan vs 113.3 million in Dec.. That is a big drop. We are treading water after literally $trillions thrown at the economy.
    1 Feb, 08:20 PM Reply Like
  • You must look at NSA year over year for a proper analysis...month
    to month has very little predictive value
    2 Feb, 02:52 AM Reply Like
  • Year over year the employment picture is nearly the same. Considering the amount of money thrown at the economy, there doesn't seem to be a very good return.
    The employment to population ratio is now flat Y/Y:
    http://1.usa.gov/pLdc0Y
    ..and Not In Labor Force continues to rise:
    http://1.usa.gov/11xOOIS

    ..There is increased support demand (those not working) on the workforce. Additionally, the quality of new jobs seems to be rather weak, with temp and part time accounting for an ever growing number of jobs.
    http://bit.ly/VB682B

    $Trillions thrown at the economy and this is where we are...treading water in very weak condition.
    2 Feb, 07:40 AM Reply Like
  • I thought we'd see an uptick...
    1 Feb, 08:36 AM Reply Like
  • A tick up? Oh yeah, that pesky election thing is safely behind us now. Honestly, the BLS has zero credibility left; I don't believe their numbers, whether good, bad or indifferent. And they shouldn't expect anyone to trust their numbers, not after they (happily) turned themselves into a political tool instead of a legitimate agency supposedly interested in facts and accuracy.
    1 Feb, 08:45 AM Reply Like
  • Sorry Eli, isn't this more proof of the New Normal?
    1 Feb, 08:45 AM Reply Like
  • Its kind of like holding real gold in their hand....versus printing by the way of the computer...real numbers vs "Seasonal Adjustments"
    1 Feb, 08:47 AM Reply Like
  • Revisions gentlemen...
    1 Feb, 08:49 AM Reply Like
  • Revisions up, GDP negative. The Shrodinger's cat economy continues.
    1 Feb, 08:55 AM Reply Like
  • GDP will be moved to positive...
    1 Feb, 08:59 AM Reply Like
  • OF COURSE, would not expect anything else from this administration..Good luck with your old thoughts!!!
    1 Feb, 09:59 AM Reply Like
  • Alive or dead?
    2 Feb, 12:09 AM Reply Like
  • I agree it will be, especially since the meme being reported that govt spending dropped when it actually was higher by $30 Billion from Q3. If +$320 Billion in new debt cannot generate a positive GDP influence via the govt (spent a total of over $907 Billion in Q4) then we are much worse off than I thought.
    2 Feb, 07:48 AM Reply Like
  • In Sept of 1983, NFP was over 1 million for just that one month.
    1 Feb, 08:54 AM Reply Like
  • No cell phones...hell no personal computers....different world...
    1 Feb, 09:00 AM Reply Like
  • I was wondering how long it would take for the excuses to start flying.
    1 Feb, 09:05 AM Reply Like
  • Absolutely OK with me that you think this is a bad number
    1 Feb, 09:15 AM Reply Like
  • I am sorry, but the U3 rate was 9.2% in that month...down from 10.8% from 12/82. If your trying to praise Reagan, don't use his first 3 years to do it. When he took office the U3 rate was 7.5%

    http://bit.ly/VswUVz
    1 Feb, 09:28 AM Reply Like
  • First you talke about how great it is. Then you make excuses for why its not so great compared to what it should be. Make up your mind. Are you going to help give Obama cover or not?

    Compared to what it could be, it is lousy (as you agreed to above). Considering what it will do for fiscal and monetary policy to keep transferring wealth my way, its not. It means the wealth transfer will continue. However, we would all be far better off if we had more enlightened fiscal and monetary policies. So its always good to keep in mind what we should have, and not accept a peasant mindset that we should be thankful for whatever the overlords dane to give us.

    I care about the millions that are suffering, because if they weren't suffering, I could trade with them and make my standard of living even higher.

    If you are OK with their suffering, then that is your loss.
    1 Feb, 09:28 AM Reply Like
  • JH

    You know the old saying.."Can't teach an old dog new tricks'??

    Some just bury their heads in the sand!! Pretty funny..

    Differnt world, sure is!! Manipulation more exposed today...
    1 Feb, 10:01 AM Reply Like
  • Funny to see markets looking for direction when revisions and actual numbers are contradicting. My silver got a nice bump up, thanks to this.
    1 Feb, 08:56 AM Reply Like
  • Total non-farm payroll 4 years ago - 133.6 mil
    1 Feb, 09:12 AM Reply Like
  • Again..aw never mind...
    1 Feb, 09:16 AM Reply Like
  • Market is getting crazy, that's the effect of QE.
    I can hardly see much fundamental improvement, still a long run ahead.
    Hopefully with good weathers, they can do it.
    1 Feb, 09:20 AM Reply Like
  • forget GDP - look at incomes, weekly jobless, PMI and this. You are foolish if you do not see nominal GDP north of 4% either now or very soon. Just foolish.
    P
    1 Feb, 09:25 AM Reply Like
  • That could quite possibly become true if "core" inflation matches that. Don't quite know what benefit that might have.
    1 Feb, 09:31 AM Reply Like
  • Shhh...don't tell them...
    1 Feb, 09:34 AM Reply Like
  • P

    Wow, now calling for a 4% GDP !!! Thats going out on a big limb....Kindly back it up without insults would be nice..

    When the fed last month annouced it might stop QE i soon the markets did a complete 180 within minutes...You really think these markets aren't being fed steroids??

    I guess that 2% payroll tax won't have any effect on spending either??

    Good Luck with that prediction..
    1 Feb, 10:07 AM Reply Like
  • Yeah why include food and energy in an inflation number...Don't want anything that has inflation in it...Dow at 14k is a joke...Now well get the dumb money coming in and BANG, the smart money will pull out!!

    Just playing musical chairs!!
    1 Feb, 10:09 AM Reply Like
  • 4% or higher growth?

    Break it down. How did you get to that number?
    1 Feb, 11:48 AM Reply Like
  • population growth plus productivity plus closing the output gap - we are closing it at an accelerating clip now and getting back to trend - likely in 2014 - at which point Fed takes its foot of the gas and in 2015 the rates rise - once trend is back and safely established. the weird paradox is that he will raise rates once growth slows a little. It wil be delicate but the Bernanke Fed is up to it. That's what is happening. The latest QE has done the trick and Bernanke the genius with a strong assist from the energy sector has saved the Republic.

    In a 2% Ten year world - +4% nominal is pretty good number - my guess is we see closer to 5% this year and unemployment starts to slide

    the data tells the story you just have to understand what you are looking at or follow BBro - either one will do.

    P
    1 Feb, 12:51 PM Reply Like
  • Petrarch - you have some different conclusions from the author below:

    “For the 50 years from 1951 through 2000, U.S. GDP growth averaged 3.3% per year. We can attribute this historical growth to three primary components: 1.4% from population growth, 0.3% from a rising employment rate, and 1.6% from growth of output per person employed (productivity). In the coming 20 years, all three components of growth will be much lower.

    Births and fertility rates are declining. Immigration has slowed to a trickle in response to harsh immigration policies and a dimmed growth outlook. For the next two decades, the U.S. population will grow by only 0.7% per year, half the rate of growth witnessed in the late 20th century.

    The total employment rate will continue to decline as boomers move from their 50s into their 60s and 70s. Whereas a rising employment rate added 0.3% per year to GDP growth from 1950 through 2000, the demographic effect on the employment ratio will subtract 0.2% for the next two decades. The population will be growing by 0.7% per year, but the employable work force will be growing by only about 0.5% per year.

    Productivity growth faces severe headwinds from both demography and fiscal contraction. If the productivity growth of our aging labor force is 0.5%, then future GDP growth will be centered around 1%.”

    http://bit.ly/UwGEh6
    1 Feb, 12:56 PM Reply Like
  • "Productivity growth faces severe headwinds from both demography and fiscal contraction."

    And then there is Obamacare and Dodd Frank, and if people think they are done with "taxing the rich" they better think again. BB is working hard to get fed notes into the system, but fiscal policy is set to take them out or render them much less effective in bidding up asset prices. As those forces kick in and cause more unemployment, the reaction will be even more intervention. What we are probably looking at is 2013 the S&P reaches 1600 and the 10 year sees 2.30 or maybe 2.50. Then the regulatory costs (taxes) and more expropriation taxes kick in. The extra cost mitigate the subsidies BB is providing by lower rates and higher stock prices, and then earnings don't really justify the prices, and a risk-off mode kicks back in. Then we could see the S&P go back to 1450 and the 10 yr back to 1.50. The question then, will be if BB can produce another risk-on by ramping up QE even more.

    The economic data suggest malaise, and fiscal policy is set to add to production costs, thus the big picture suggests headwinds for growth. As such, malaise seems the likely course, with swings between risk-on and risk-off provide trading opportunities as monetary and fiscal policy battle it out over which one will allow Fed notes to stay in the system allowing for assets to be bid up and to create inflation expectations.
    1 Feb, 01:13 PM Reply Like
  • I find the media's response the most interesting. It reminds me of 2008 when G.W.Bush was always appearing in press conferences saying we are not in recession. Now the media is heralding the new recovery. In the morning when GDP numbers were announced it was defense spending cuts, in the afternoon Bernanke says it's weather. The Obama administration says we're seeing steady improvement in job creation. All of this cheerleading weeks before a wicked downturn. Seems strange.
    2 Feb, 12:17 AM Reply Like
  • Incomes rose due to lump SS payments and bonuses brought forward. Weekly jobless is solidly in the +300,000 new claims each week.
    Notice the bottoming trend:
    http://bit.ly/Xeyry2
    Higher bottom each time...and we seem to be approaching that again.
    Just ask yourself if you think we are getting a good return for the amount of debt we are piling on. Due to the amount of debt, the Fed can not allow interest rates to rise, we have painted ourselves into a corner.
    2 Feb, 08:00 AM Reply Like
  • 10.8% smells a good bit more like reality...

    http://bit.ly/VswJtb
    1 Feb, 09:26 AM Reply Like
  • Fantastic!! This is great news! The unemployment rate ticked up, more people out of work. Yes, the higher the unemployment rate, the better it is for the markets. Wall street loves this. This means we do not have to worry about the government turning the printing presses off any time soon.
    1 Feb, 09:28 AM Reply Like
  • Unfortunately you are right.
    1 Feb, 11:48 AM Reply Like
  • At least not until the power company turns off their lights...
    1 Feb, 12:09 PM Reply Like
  • A market on steroids only lasts so long..They all get caught!!

    Only 150k jobs created is great news huh, Unemployment tics up is good news for our country ?

    Just give it time....this will explode !!
    1 Feb, 10:10 AM Reply Like
  • If we cannot get to 3.5% to 4.0% growth the UE rate will stay high. If we had a Rep in office the news media would be all over this issue and it would be a national obsession but not with a Dem in office. As long as they have their guy the country could burn to the ground.

    Bunch of lap dogs. No independent thought, no integrity and no loyalty to their profession or the public.
    1 Feb, 11:51 AM Reply Like
  • The loss of journalistic integrity - at least by the mainstream - is our most significant problem, by far.

    No one is left to ask the intelligent, obvious questions. No one vets the explanations provided by people who have a vested interest in spinning a story line. Everyone suffers as a result.

    Thomas Carlyle: "Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all."

    Sadly, those who would occupy that Gallery have sold out.
    1 Feb, 12:19 PM Reply Like
  • I guess the main stream media didn't bang the war drum for a pointless nation-building exercise?

    Also, it was during the Reagan-era that I learned that debts/ deficits don't matter.
    1 Feb, 03:18 PM Reply Like
  • But, as Hillary says, 'What difference does it make'
    1 Feb, 05:11 PM Reply Like
  • cat

    Don't retard yourself intentionally.
    1 Feb, 08:07 PM Reply Like
  • The media follows the popularity. They were Bush cheerleaders when Bush was president. Now their Obama cheerleaders. But once Bush's popularity waned, the media began to be more critical. I'll bet you once this market crashes and reflects economic reality that Obama will not be a media darling.
    2 Feb, 12:21 AM Reply Like
  • The spin were seeing now regarding the economy is reminiscent of Iraq War spin and 2008 recession spin before the crash.
    2 Feb, 12:22 AM Reply Like
  • Which made the headlines today: unemployment rises to 7.9% or DOW 14K? Which has more impact on the average person?
    1 Feb, 05:45 PM Reply Like
  • Not going to hold 14k come monday
    2 Feb, 02:06 AM Reply Like
  • Most News Papers , Tomorrow's headlines, "D O W 14,000 " !?
    3 Feb, 05:04 PM Reply Like
  • that is almost 600000 jobs in 3 months... the real people who got those jobs don't think it is nothing... and the comments about qe... have you looked at your stock portfolio ..have you looked at the value of your home... there are not foreclosures being talked about every day killing our home values... why don't we start analyzing the facts instead of being like congress and no matter what happens your job is to criticize the other side... we already have a congress that does that... we are americans ...can't we start recognizing good and work for better...how about some original thought
    5 Feb, 09:13 AM Reply Like
Other date
DJIA (DIA) S&P 500 (SPY)