The September economic reports showed signs of continued strength to end the quarter. Hiring picked up during the month, with additions to nonfarm payrolls surpassing expectations and the unemployment rate ticking down to 4.1 percent. Service sector and consumer confidence showed mixed signals and have remained volatile over recent months. Finally, the yield curve inversion narrowed modestly, with both long- and short-term yields falling during the month.    

The economic reports showed signs of improvement in August. Hiring picked up, compared to a downwardly revised hiring report for July. Service sector and consumer confidence improved in August but remained volatile over recent months. The yield curve inversion remained relatively stable, with long- and short-term yields falling during the month.

The July reports indicated slowing economic growth during the month. Hiring slowed notably, which could signal potential weakness for the labor market. Service sector and consumer confidence both improved in July, and the yield curve inversion widened modestly due to falling long-term interest rates.

June’s reports indicated signs of continued economic growth with signs of a potential slowdown ahead. Hiring remained solid, with 206,000 jobs added during the month. Service sector and consumer confidence both fell in June, while the yield curve inversion widened modestly.

May’s reports showed signs of continued economic growth. Hiring accelerated during the month, with 272,000 jobs added. Service sector and consumer confidence both improved in May, while the yield curve inversion widened.

April’s reports showed signs of continued slowing economic growth. Hiring slowed during the month, with 175,000 jobs added. Service sector and consumer confidence both fell in April, while the yield curve inversion narrowed.

March’s reports showed signs of continued economic growth. Hiring accelerated, with a strong 303,000 jobs added during the month. That said, service sector and consumer confidence both fell modestly in March, while the yield curve inversion widened.

February’s reports showed signs of continued economic growth. Hiring accelerated, with a strong 275,000 jobs added during the month. That said, service sector and consumer confidence fell modestly.

January’s reports showed solid economic growth to start the year. Hiring accelerated, as 353,000 jobs were added in January following an upwardly revised 333,000 new jobs in December. Consumer confidence and service sector confidence also improved to start the year.

The reports released in December showed solid economic growth to finish the year. Hiring accelerated, as 217,000 jobs were added in December against 179,000 jobs in November. Consumer confidence also improved notably, but service sector confidence fell. The yield curve inversion widened again in December, marking two consecutive months of an increasing inversion.