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Join the Longest-Running U.S. Economic Discussion: 13 Yrs Strong!
“Fiscal & Economic
September Review”
September Review — 13 Years Running! Jobs, Wars,
Tariffs, ICE & Deportations, Affordability, & Inflation
Tuesday, October 20th, @7:00pm Central / 8:00 Eastern – Zoom
Join us for a timely discussion of September’s employment report, the latest inflation numbers, and what they mean for working people in Illinois and across the country.
#### The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September employment report, released October 2, shows:
• U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 29,000 jobs in September, compared with an average monthly gain of 45,000 over the prior 12 months.
• The unemployment rate was 4.2%, with approximately 7.1 million people unemployed.[bls]
• Labor-force participation stood at 61.8%, and the employment-to-population ratio was 59.2%.
• Average hourly earnings for private-sector workers rose 5 cents to $37.81—an increase of 0.1% for the month and 3.0% over the past year.[bls]
• July and August job growth was revised downward by a combined 60,000 jobs. July now shows a loss of 10,000 jobs, while August’s gain was revised from 162,000 to 133,000.[bls]
Where Jobs Grew—and Where Workers Face Strain
Employment changed little across all major industries. Health care continued to trend upward, adding 17,000 jobs, while construction added 11,000 and manufacturing added 9,000. Financial activities declined by 7,000 jobs.[bls]
Behind the headline numbers, many workers continue to face significant challenges:
• Approximately 1.9 million people had been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer, accounting for 27.1% of all unemployed people.[bls]
• Another 4.5 million people were working part time for economic reasons but wanted full-time work.[bls]
• About 5.8 million people outside the labor force said they wanted a job. Of those, 1.5 million were marginally attached—available for work and having searched within the past year, but not during the most recent four weeks.[bls]
• The unemployment rate for Black workers increased to 7.0% in September.[bls]
Affordability & Inflation: The Pressure on Household Budgets
The latest available Consumer Price Index report, covering August, showed overall prices rising 0.4% for the month and 3.4% over the year. Annual increases included:
• Food: 2.7%
• Shelter: 3.0%
• Energy: 16.3%
• Gasoline: 27.4%
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, was 2.4% over the year.
The September CPI report is scheduled for release Wednesday, October 14, at 7:30 AM CDT. We’ll include those new September inflation numbers in our October 20 discussion.
Let’s Dig Into the Numbers—and the Policy Choices
We’ll unpack September’s jobs report, the downward revisions to earlier months, and the latest inflation data. We’ll also discuss the Trump administration’s policies on war, tariffs, immigration enforcement and deportations, health care, and federal spending—and examine how those choices intersect with jobs, household costs, affordability, and debt.
What do these developments mean for working families? What is happening here in Illinois? And what can we do together?
Join us on Zoom to dig into the numbers, cut through the spin, catch up on this year’s U.S. and Illinois economic news, and share your thoughts. Bring your questions and your perspective
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