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US employers add about 216,000 jobs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s employers added a robust 216,000 jobs last month, the latest sign that the American job market remains resilient even in the face of sharply higher interest rates. Friday’s report from the Labor Department showed that December’s job gain exceeded the 173,000 that were added in November. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7% — the 23rd straight month that joblessness has remained below 4%. The latest data reflect an economy and a job market that are decelerating back to pre-pandemic norms. Hiring remains steady, and while employers are ...

Hope Enterprises Inc. recognizes 3 on board

Hope Enterprises Inc. and The Hope Foundation recognized three long-standing board members for their service and commitment to Hope’s mission of enhancing the lives of those with disabilities at the enterprises’ December holiday party at the Williamsport Country Club. Dean Muller joined ...

New executive director for state economy league

Vincent Cannizzaro, founding director of York College’s Arthur J. Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy and the Master of Public Policy and Administration program, will serve as the new executive director for Pennsylvania Economy League Central LLC, based in Harrisburg. According to a news release, the league, a non-partisan, nonprofit public policy organization founded over 85 years ago, has regional membership in York, Lancaster, Williamsport, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Reading, Altoona and Allentown, and conducts work statewide. “We are thrilled to bring a leader with such ...

A mixed year for broadband expansion

At the end of 2022, Pennsylvania released its plan to bring “robust high-speed broadband infrastructure” to unserved and overlooked parts of the commonwealth. Powered by $400 million from various federal pots of cash, the public learned in 2023 that the state will receive close to $2 ...

Companies more confident about initial public offerings

NEW YORK (AP) — The signs of life shown by the IPO market, especially in the second half of the year, are giving analysts hope that more companies will be enticed to go public in 2024. Overall, 108 initial public offerings raised proceeds of about $19.4 billion in 2023, according to Renaissance Capital. That’s up from a dismal 71 IPOs for proceeds of $7.7 billion in 2022, when high inflation and rising interest rates discouraged companies from hitting the market. This year’s big IPOs included healthcare products company Kenvue in May, U.K. chip designer Arm Holdings in ...

Mortgage rates dip for 9th straight week

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate retreated for the ninth straight week to reach its lowest level since May. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dipped to 6.61% from 6.67% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.42%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also inched down this week, with the average rate falling to 5.93% from 5.95% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.68%, Freddie Mac said. “Heading into the new year, the economy remains on firm ground with solid ...