The latest Conference Board report suggests that high gasoline prices and broader cost-of-living pressures, alongside a slowdown in hiring, are weighing on American households.

With fewer staff and less inflation-adjusted funding, agencies have less capacity to modernize surveys, invest in statistical research, or respond to growing demand for federal data.

Overall, retail purchases rose 1.7% last month, following a revised 0.7% gain in February.

The continuing claims figure indicates stabilization in the labor market, but initial claims in late March and early April were higher than expected.

Wall Street firms predict inflation closer to 3% than 2%, a rising unemployment rate, and a 30% chance of an economic downturn.

The 200,000 initial jobless claims suggest employers are still in a pattern of limited layoffs.

Despite a spate of layoff announcements, today’s data suggests that layoffs remain limited, helping to allay concerns about a rapid deterioration in the labor market.