April 14, 2011 — The unemployment rate falls as jobs increase and retail sales grow, fueling the economy to take a positive spin. Despite previous expectations, many signs point to economic improvement.
Brushing off the higher gas prices, averaging more than $3.50 per gallon in most states, consumers continue to shop. Major retailers, including Costco and Victoria Secret have seen an increase in sales as the year rolls forward. According to Washington economists, retail sales rose 0.5 percent last month, the ninth consecutive monthly gain. Consumer spending makes up 70 percent of the economy, a crucial part of recovery. When consumers spend more money; production demand increases, which results in the need for new job openings.
The increase in retail sales also coincides with the best two months of employment growth since 2006, prior to the recession. Companies added more than 400,000 jobs in February and March, yet another first since 2006. Even though unemployment applications currently average 395,750 (peaked during the recession at 659,000), the application rate has dropped about 6 percent over the past two months. The government states that the number of people collecting benefits fell to 3.68 million during the week ending April 2, the lowest total since late September 2008. However, this total does not include the millions of people receiving aid under the emergency unemployment benefit programs, making the total number of people receiving unemployment benefits 8.5 million in the week ending March 26 – still a decrease from the previous week. According to The Department of Labor, the unemployment rate has now fallen to a two-year low of 8.8 percent, a full percentage point since November 2010.
During this stage of economic recovery, companies need to be prepared for a brighter future. VoiceNation, the leader in innovative technology, can take your business to new heights. VoiceNation moves beyond the traditional PBX and cell phone, enabling businesses of all sizes to handle high call volume through a customized solution with voicemail, virtual PBX and live answering service.
Hiring is picking up. Many businesses, small and large have announced plans to increase hiring. Government officials reported that in February 2011, businesses posted the largest number of job openings in more than two years, advertising 3.1 million available jobs. Preparation is key to accommodating new business, so let VoiceNation assist you in your growth.
About Voice:
VoiceNation, America’s leader in virtual PBX and voicemail was founded in 2002 by President Jay Reeder and opened their Next Generation call centers in 2009. The company has grown to serve more than 40,000 customers including FEMA, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Dell, AIG and the U.S. Coast Guard. They leverage the very latest in proprietary technology solutions in order to deliver quality call answering services at the lowest cost to their customers. To learn more about VoiceNation and their services, please visit http://www.voicenation.com/.
For more information, contact:
Graham C. Taylor
Media Relations
1.866.766.5050, ext. 150