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The nation's unemployment rate retreats to 3.6% in April
In April, the U.S. economy added 263,000 jobs, rising from March’s 196,000, according to the latest Employment Situation Summary report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the report, the unemployment rate retreated to 3.6%. Overall, the number of unemployed persons declined by 387,000 to 5.8 million in April.
The jobless rates for men at 3.4%, whites at 3.1%, Hispanics at 4.2% and women at 3.1% all experienced a decrease. However, other groups, including teenagers at 13% and blacks at 6.7%, showed little or no change over the month.
Notably, the change in total non-farm payroll employment in February was revised to 56,000 jobs, up from 33,000. Additionally, the change for March was revised down from 196,000 to 189,000.
With these revisions, employment gains in February and March combined were 16,000 more than previously reported.
The average hourly earnings for all employees on private non-farm payrolls rose six cents to $27.77. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 3.2%.
The majority of job gains in April can be attributed to an increase in jobs in professional and business services, health care, construction and social assistance.
Here are some of the areas that showed notable changes in April:
·Employment in professional and business services increased 76,000
·Employment in health care increased 27,000
·Employment in construction increased by 33,000
·Employment in social assistance increased by 26,000
The average workweek for all employees on private non-farm payrolls inched backward 0.1 hour to 34.4 hours in April.
Mortgage Bankers Association Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said once again, job growth was stronger than expected in April, and even with a weaker showing in February, there have been almost 170,000 jobs per month added over the past three months.
“With hiring so strong, the unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1969, and wages continue to grow at a strong pace,” Fratantoni continued. “A healthy job market is the most important support for the housing market. With mortgage rates still low, more households may consider buying a home, which is great news for the housing market and overall economy.”
Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a weeklong vacation, domestic travel in 2019 will not disappoint. From hot restaurant scenes to trendy art exhibits, traveling within the United States has never been so exciting. Ranging from up-and-coming municipalities to well-known metropolitan areas, here’s a list of the ten cities you need to visit in 2019.
Fort Collins, Colorado
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There’s no doubt that Denver has recently become the darling of Colorado, but visitors to the Centennial State should not discount its up-and-coming neighbor, Fort Collins. Only an hour’s drive from Denver, Fort Collins is a fun city — plain and simple. Beer aficionados can take a tourof the city’s original craft brewery, New Belgium Brewing, before choosing between 27 other brewpubs. Gamers will love the arcade games at Pinball Jones, while foodies can grab a bite at one of the city’s many farm-to-table restaurants. And if the outdoors are calling your name, hike up Horsetooth Rock or spend an afternoon by the Cache la Poudre River at Picnic Rock.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
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After the devastation brought on by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the city of San Juan is once again thriving and open for tourists. Vacationers looking to escape the monotony of everyday life will be entranced by the colorful streets of Old San Juan, a vibrant district filled with shopping, restaurants and bars. Beach-goers and sun-worshipers will enjoy Condado Beach, an urban playa with plenty of sand and a strong current for surfing. A visit will pour some much-needed tourism dollars into the country and some much-needed tropical love into your soul.
Sitting in the shadow of Mount Bachelor, Bend is a dream city for anyone who loves the outdoors. With easy access to a national forest, and a river running right through town, Bend’s motto boasts “it's where you go to play.” Depending on the season, visitors can fish, paddle, ski and bike in the glorious rivers, mountains and woods of Oregon. After a day in the great outdoors, make sure to stop at Deschutes Brewery for a Mirror Pond Pale Ale or grab a bite at the Airstream-converted food truck, Spork. And with only 12 inches of rain a year, the sunny weather in Bend is a refreshing respite from the rain and fog along Oregon’s coast.
Asheville, North Carolina
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An eclectic and vibrant city nestled between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is an epicenter for artists and art-lovers. From nightly live music to talented street performers, the town’s energy is buzzing with creativity. The city is an art piece in itself, with visual art decorating the streets of downtown and several art galleries showcasing new and talented artisans. Every Friday night the city hosts a drum circle, a free event that embodies the true essence of Asheville, with locals and tourists gathering to dance, drum and enjoy the rhythm of the city.
Santa Cruz, California
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If you have just one California city to visit in 2019, then Santa Cruz should be it. A surfer’s hamlet tucked along the stunning coast of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz offers the best of California — gorgeous beaches, delicious food and a beach boardwalk amusement park. What more could one ask for? In one weekend you can visit the wharf to look for sea lions, watch the sunset at Natural Bridges Beach State Park and kayak around the bay. Plus, the mountains around Santa Cruz have 62 wineries for wine-tasting galore, and the small downtown is filled with casual restaurants and breweries.
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas
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Kansas City — one city, two states and a whole lot of stuff going on. While Kansas and Missouri may often be overlooked as “flyover states,” Kansas City is in the midst of a resurgence. Season Three of the wildly popular Netflix show, Queer Eye, was recently shot in Kansas City, a maneuver that is sure to put this overlooked metropolis on the map in 2019. According to the Kansas City Star, the cast of Queer Eye recently gushed about the city’s welcoming locals and interesting sites. Among other things, the Fab Five noted the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, KC’s first-rate barbecue and the nightlife downtown.
Chicago, Illinois
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Long heralded to be at the forefront of foodie trends and hot restaurants, Chicago is a place you go to eat. From Grant Achatz’s Alinea to Stephanie Izard’s The Girl and the Goat, Chicago is home to some of the food industry's biggest names. And while these restaurants are undoubtedly exceptional, the heart of the city’s food scene lies within Chicago’s diverse ethnic backgrounds. Whether you’re grabbing a late night snack from the tamale guy, eating pierogis that could rival a Polish grandmother, or chowing down on shwarma, you are guaranteed to have a good meal in Chicago. Even better? Many Chicago restaurants have BYOB policies, making your night out delicious and easy on the wallet.
Athens, Georgia
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There’s something about a college town that breathes life into a place, and Athens is no different. Home to the University of Georgia, Athens has all the trappings of a fun college town — energetic co-eds, lots of live music and good food and drink. In addition to the lively downtown scene and the raucous football games, however, it’s the history and charm of Athens that make this city a stand-out. As one of seven cities that was spared burning from General Sherman during the Civil War, the stunning Antebellum architecture is sure to impress. On a nice day, visit The Tree That Owns Itself before strolling through the city’s Botanical Gardens, a 313-acre reserve that is every horticulturist’s dream.
It seems that every year, Americans fall in love with Music City a little bit more, and 2019 will be no different. Aside from being the go-to location for wild bachelorette parties, Nashville is the quintessential city for people looking to listen to music and have a good time. The city is packed with so many music venues it could make your head spin, so first-timers should plan a visit to the Grand Ole Opry and check out a show at the famous Bluebird Cafe. Tootsie’s and Second Fiddle are Nashville’s go-to honky-tonks, while the more relaxed 5 Spot offers Motown Mondays and $2 dollar Tuesdays.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Situated on Florida’s eastern coast, with Miami to the south and Palm Beach to the north, Fort Lauderdale feels like a hidden gem. With 23 miles of beaches that are virtually empty, craft breweries around every corner and a budding restaurant scene, Fort Lauderdale is seriously happening in 2019. Fat Village is a converted warehouse district that now houses art galleries, studios and street fairs, and hosts a monthly Saturday art walk to showcase new exhibitions. For a unique night on the town, visit the Wreck Bar for a live mermaid show or watch the moon rise at the Ritz-Carlton’s stylish full moon party.
Jersey Griggs is a writer and editor based in Portland, Maine. In addition to travel, Jersey covers topics ranging from outdoor recreation to alternative wellness. To learn more, follow Jersey on Twitter or check out her website.
By Zoe Eisenberg, RISMedia’s senior content editor
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Financially successful people are typically also financially organized people. You too can join their ranks, and it doesn’t need to take a ton of time, or include a finance pro.
Clear aside a weekend to tackle your finances, and come Monday, you’ll be a master of money organization. Below are a few starters.
Create a budget. This may be the largest item on the financial to-do list, so tackle it first. Your budget should look at incoming and outgoing expenses, with areas to track necessary spending (bills) and fun spending. Don’t just make a budget and forget it. Pull it up weekly and update it with weekly spending so come tax time, your expenses are easy to track.
Set up low-balance alerts. Most banks offer low-balance alerts, which you can set for a specific number, like $200 or $500. Every time your account hits your set number, your bank will let you know, so you can move money around and dodge overdraft fees.Create a list of bill due dates. Make an easy list or calendar of the dates your bills are due, and pay attention to it so you always have enough in your account and can avoid those overdraft fees—which brings us to…
Sign up for auto-pay and direct deposit. Signing up for auto-bill pay means you’ll never make a late payment again. This goes for depositing pay, too—use direct deposit wherever possible.
Create a place to stash receipts, bills, and more. If you still like to use paper receipts and bills, set yourself up for optimum organization. A tri-bill folder is a great way to do this, or a filing system or even simple envelopes.Set up a savings withdrawal. Your budget should give insight into how much of your monthly pay you can squirrel away. A great goal is 10 percent of your paycheck. Contact your bank or employee so that 10 percent of your income is automatically taken from your pay and put into a savings account.
Create a financial goal. A financial goal can help keep you on track for savings. This goal can be weekly (save $50 a week), monthly (save $200 a month) or annually (stash away $2,500 by year’s end).
Zoe Eisenberg is RISMedia’s senior content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at zoe@rismedia.com.
Spring has arrived! As the home-buying season heats up and you look to list your home, there's one thing you need to seriously consider: staging your home. According to the recent National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2019 Profile of Home Staging, 83 percent of buyers' agents agree that staging your home makes it easier for homebuyers to see themselves living in it.
Additionally, according to the NAR report, more than half of sellers say that staging your home will decrease the amount of time your home stays on the market.
"Buying a house is more than a financial decision; it is an emotional decision as well," says John Smaby, NAR president and broker at Edina Realty. "Buyers aren't just making an investment in a property. They are purchasing a place to call home; to raise their children; to begin a new chapter; or to retire to a new season of life."
Here are some key takeaways drawn from the report:
A full 25 percent of buyers' agents who responded note that staged homes saw an increase of between 1-5 percent in the dollar value offered. Although more respondents saw no impact on the dollar value or were unsure of the impact—29 percent and 28 percent, respectively—some 12 percent of buyers' agents note an increase of 6-10 percent in the dollar value offered.
A full time REALTOR with Watson Realty Corp. Specializing in Real Estate sales and service in Flagler County to include Palm Coast. I am e-PRO certified by NAR, I have been the Public Policy Committe Chair for our Association as well as Director for our Board, 2012 President of our Board, 2016 President of our MLS Service. I have been honored now by been elected 2009 REALTOR OF THE YEAR by my peers. I also hold certification of Florida Pest Control Operator in three different categories. .
Zoe Eisenberg is RISMedia’s senior content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at 
