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The Economics Daily Home page

Midland, Texas, had highest employment concentration of construction and extraction occupations in May 2025
Midland, Texas, had highest employment concentration of construction and extraction occupations in May 2025
May 27, 2026

Construction and extraction occupations had employment of 6.4 million in May 2025, representing 4.1 percent of total U.S. employment. This occupational group includes construction trades workers, such as carpenters and electricians; other construction-related occupations, such as construction and building inspectors; and occupations related to natural resource extraction, such as oil and gas derrick operators.

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May 26, 2026
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro metro area employment down 32,600 from March 2025 to March 2026
Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro metro area employment down 32,600 from March 2025 to March 2026

From March 2025 to March 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 8 metropolitan areas, decreased in 8 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 371 areas.

May 22, 2026
Import prices up 4.2 percent, export prices up 8.8 percent, over the year ended April 2026
Import prices up 4.2 percent, export prices up 8.8 percent, over the year ended April 2026

From April 2025 to April 2026, import prices increased 4.2 percent, the largest 12-month increase for U.S. import prices since October 2022. Export prices rose 8.8 percent over the year, the largest increase since September 2022.

May 21, 2026
Summer vacations: prices for gasoline and air travel each up more than 20 percent over the year
Summer vacations: prices for gasoline and air travel each up more than 20 percent over the year

With summer just around the corner, many people may be looking forward to a trip to the beach, the city, or another favorite locale. Let’s look at how prices for some common vacation essentials have changed from April 2025 to April 2026.

May 20, 2026
Real average hourly earnings decreased 0.3 percent from April 2025 to April 2026
Real average hourly earnings decreased 0.3 percent from April 2025 to April 2026

From April 2025 to April 2026, real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.3 percent. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek resulted in a 0.2-percent decrease in real average weekly earnings over this period.