SHORT HILLS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--D&B (NYSE:DNB), the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses, today announced an estimated 208,000 new non-farm jobs were added to U.S. payrolls in April, according to D&B’s May U.S. Economic Health Tracker. This report provides a monthly, multi-dimensional perspective on the U.S. economy, including small business health, total job growth, and overall U.S. business health.
U.S. businesses added jobs at a stronger pace in April 2014 compared to March, driven by significant employment gains in the retail and manufacturing segments. At the same time, the decline in D&B’s Small Business Health Index slowed considerably, indicating strengthening in the small business sector. Additionally, overall U.S. business health continued to improve in April, according to the U.S. Business Health Index, signaling a lower risk of overall business failure.
“Although small business activity began to stabilize in April, it still warrants attention as the expansion moves into the second quarter,” said Paul Ballew, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, D&B. “On the plus side, small business owners are showing resilience through improved payment performance, particularly in light of the winter storms that plagued the Northeast and Midwest throughout the first quarter. In addition, improvements in balance sheet and financial health of the business sector are pluses for the US economy. However, slower growth in housing coupled with headwinds from abroad may be taking some wind out of the economic sails and may be appearing in D&B’s leading indices.”
Ballew will host a briefing webinar and conference call to discuss D&B’s monthly economic perspective at 8:30 AM EDT on April 29, 2014. The briefing includes an examination of the health of small businesses in anticipation of National Small Business Week, May 12-16.
April 2014 Highlights
View the D&B U.S. Economic Health Tracker Infographic at www.dnb.com/tracker.
| Small Business Health Index | Small business performance declined modestly, although credit card and bill payments remain strong. | |||
| U.S. Jobs Health | An estimated 208,000 new non-farm payroll jobs were added to U.S. payrolls in April 2014, with strong gains in retail and manufacturing. | |||
| U.S. Business Health | Overall U.S. business health strengthened by 8.6 percent year-over-year in April 2014, the highest recorded level since the index began in December 2010. | |||
About D&B’s U.S. Economic Health Tracker
This forward-looking perspective on the U.S. economy offers insights and monthly data using three macro indicators:
- D&B Small Business Health Index, the foremost leading indicator on the overall health of this critically important sector. The index is based on a number of proprietary indicators including credit usage and overall business performance.
- D&B U.S. Jobs Health Indicator, utilizing D&B’s comprehensive proprietary measures, we are providing a forecast of new, non-farm payroll jobs added across key verticals such as manufacturing, retail, real estate, construction, business services, transportation, and utilities.
- D&B U.S. Business Health Index, a comprehensive measure on the overall health of businesses in the US. The index leverages three D&B advanced analytic products (D&B’s Viability Score™, D&B Delinquency Predictor™, and D&B Total Loss Predictor™) and provides a holistic view of the current and future health of all active businesses.
D&B publishes its monthly U.S. Economic Health Tracker on the first Tuesday morning of most months, issuing a public advisory one week in advance to confirm pending announcement date. Reporting periods will reflect the most current information that we have available at the time we publish our report. For example, information contained in the April 29, 2014 report is based on data available as of April 25, 2014.
Other information, including the 2014 planned publishing schedule, FAQs, and archived reports can be accessed at www.dnb.com/tracker. Follow D&B Economic Insight daily on Twitter at @DnBEconomy.
About Dun & Bradstreet® (D&B)
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation is the world's leading source of commercial data, analytics and insight on businesses, or “content.” Our global commercial database contains more than 235 million business records. We transform commercial data into valuable insight which is the foundation of our global solutions that customers rely on to make critical business decisions.
D&B provides solution sets that meet a diverse set of customer needs globally. Customers use D&B Risk Management Solutions™ to mitigate credit and supplier risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability, and D&B Sales & Marketing Solutions™ to provide data management capabilities that provide effective and cost efficient marketing solutions to increase revenue from new and existing customers. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com or follow @DnBUS.
