OpenSight News: Economy

US employers added 165,000 jobs in October, far more than expected

Ari — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

US employers added 165,000 jobs in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists had expected about 65,000. The unemployment rate held at four point one percent. Earlier months were also revised up by a combined 84,000 jobs. The strong report makes an interest rate rise by the Federal Reserve in December more likely.

Professional and business services added about 70,000 jobs and health care about 42,000. Transportation, warehousing and manufacturing also grew. Average hourly earnings rose by four tenths of a percent on the month and about three percent on the year. Labour force participation stayed just under 62 percent. After the release, traders priced in a high chance of a rate rise in December and Treasury yields moved higher. That pricing is a market expectation, not a decision.

Sources

The Employment Situation - October 2026 — US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 Nov 2026 (primary source)
US Jobs Report October 2026: Payrolls Jump 165,000 — Babypips, 6 Nov 2026

The Bank of England raises its key rate to four percent and warns more may follow

Ari — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Bank of England raised its key interest rate by a quarter point to four percent. It is the first increase since 2023. Eight of the nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted for the move, and Catherine Mann wanted a larger rise of half a point. The Bank said rising energy prices from the Middle East conflict are pushing inflation up again.

UK consumer price inflation was three and a half percent in September. The Bank now expects it to reach about five percent by the middle of 2027 before it falls back. Oil futures averaged about 108 dollars a barrel in late October, well above the Bank's summer assumptions. The committee said policy is not on a pre-set path, but markets read the statement as a signal that another rise is possible. It has seen little evidence so far that higher energy costs are feeding into wages, and it will watch next year's pay round closely. The next decision is due on 17 December.

Sources

Bank Rate increased to 4% - November 2026 Monetary Policy Summary and Minutes — Bank of England, 5 Nov 2026 (primary source)

US job openings rise to 7.5 million in September as more workers quit

Ari — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

US employers had about seven and a half million open jobs at the end of September. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the BLS, said the job openings rate was four and a half percent. That was little changed from August, but above what economists had expected. More workers quit their jobs, close to three and a half million, which usually means people feel confident they can find new work.

Hires were about 5.4 million and layoffs about 1.6 million, both little changed. The August figure for openings was revised up to 7.2 million. Treasury yields rose after the release, together with stronger factory orders data. For the Federal Reserve the report points to a labour market that is cooling only slowly, which makes a fast cut in rates less likely.

Sources

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, September 2026 — US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3 Nov 2026 (primary source)

US factory activity speeds up in October as output hits a five year high

Ari — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

US factories grew faster in October. The Institute for Supply Management, the ISM, said its manufacturing index rose one point to 55.5. Economists had expected 54.5. Any reading above 50 means activity is growing. Production rose to 59, its highest level since November 2021.

Inventories moved back into growth and order backlogs fell a little. Employment was roughly flat at 52.3. The prices index eased by almost three points but stayed high at 75.2, so factory input costs are still climbing quickly. Long term Treasury yields slipped on the day as lower oil prices softened the inflation outlook. For the Federal Reserve the report shows a strong goods economy with price pressure that has not yet gone away.

Sources

Stock market news for Nov. 2, 2026 — CNBC, 2 Nov 2026 (primary source)

US inflation picks up again in September with core prices up three point one percent

Ari — Sat, 31 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

US consumer prices rose faster in September. The price index for personal consumption expenditures, the PCE index, climbed half a percent in the month and three point six percent on the year. Core prices, without food and energy, rose three point one percent on the year. That is up from three percent in August. It is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, and it stays well above the Fed's two percent target.

Personal income grew only 0.2 percent in September while spending rose 0.5 percent, so the saving rate slipped to 3.8 percent. The data came a day after the Fed left its rates unchanged. It makes a quick return to target less likely and supports the case for keeping policy tight for longer.

Sources

Personal Income and Outlays, September 2026 — US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 29 Oct 2026 (primary source)

The ECB holds its deposit rate at two and a half percent as energy prices keep rising

Ari — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The European Central Bank, the ECB, left its three key interest rates unchanged on 29 October. The deposit rate stays at two and a half percent. The bank says energy prices have kept rising. That adds upside risk to inflation and downside risk to growth. Underlying inflation has been broadly stable so far and wages have not reacted much.

The main refinancing rate stays at 2.65 percent and the marginal lending rate at 2.90 percent. The Governing Council repeats that it decides meeting by meeting and does not commit to a path in advance. Its bond portfolios from the asset purchase programmes keep shrinking as securities mature. The Transmission Protection Instrument remains available if spreads move in a disorderly way.

Sources

Monetary policy decisions (29 October 2026) — European Central Bank, 29 Oct 2026 (primary source)

Fed holds rates at 3.75 to 4 percent, two officials vote for another hike

Ari — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:15:00 GMT

The Federal Open Market Committee kept the federal funds target range at 3.75 to 4 percent at its meeting ending on 28 October 2026. The vote was 10 to 2: Lisa Cook and Beth Hammack dissented, both preferring a further quarter-point increase. The pause follows a unanimous hike in September that lifted the range to its current level.

The statement describes economic activity as expanding at a strong pace, with solid productivity growth and business investment. Job gains have kept up with the growth of the labour force and unemployment has barely moved. Inflation is still described as elevated, and the Committee says it will use incoming data to judge how restrictive policy needs to be to bring inflation back to its 2 percent goal.

Sources

Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement (28 October 2026) — Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 28 Oct 2026 (primary source)
Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement (16 September 2026) — Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 16 Sept 2026