July 5, 2011 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Metropolitan area unemployment rates, May 2011

Metropolitan area unemployment rate comparisons, May 2011, versus prior year and U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Metropolitan area unemployment rates compared to prior year unemployment rate (May 2010)	Total number of areas ^(p)
Higher	85
Lower	274
Unchanged	13
Metropolitan area unemployment rates compared to U.S. unemployment rate of 8.7 percent (May 2011)	Total number of areas ^(p)
Below	214
Above	149
Equal	9
Footnotes: (p) preliminary

Inflation Experiences for Lower and Higher Income Households Presents consumer price indexes for the lowest and highest household incomes to examine how different spending patterns change measures of inflation.
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Urban and Rural Spending Habits
Explores how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the spending behaviors of urban and rural consumers.
Workplace Injuries and Job Requirements for Construction Laborers
Examines typical physical requirements for construction laborers, exposures they experience on the job, and nonfatal and fatal injuries they incur.
Housing Leases in the U.S. Rental Market
Summarizes responses to two new survey questions about leasing.
Spotlight on State Productivity Statistics
Looks at short- and long-term trends in labor productivity, output, hours worked, and labor compensation in each state.