What to watch for.
Better to be informed than ignorant.
Data is useful indeed, but its also very helpful to monitor the news to assess what is - or isn’t - happening in various sectors of the economy.
Increases and decreases in activity indicate likely trends in payroll, premium, claims and re-employment opportunities.
A few examples.
Reports of significant drop-offs in hospitality, tourism, air travel into the US and cross-border trips indicate slowing activity in border states - and at major tourist destinations.
From Dean Blundell:
Las Vegas, a city synonymous with excess and international allure, is reeling. Canadians, the largest foreign visitor group, have all but vanished, leaving casinos eerily quiet.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported a 4.8% decline in gaming win on the Las Vegas Strip in March 2025.
Games favored by international players took the hardest hits: Baccarat dropped 34%, and Pai Gow plummeted 46%.
China, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and Portugal among other countries have updated their travel advisories for citizens heading to the US.
The trucking industry is anticipating a significant slow-down:
U.S. trucking is heading for a slowdown, with industry players fearing the “worst is yet to come” as tariffs start to crimp imports.
Trucking volumes have plunged to near pre-pandemic levels, according to Craig Fuller, founder of the logistics industry publication FreightWaves.
“With imports deteriorating, volumes are expected to fall by another 3-4% over the next month,” Fuller said
New home construction is looking shaky. New home construction slumped in March, down 11.4% from February.
What does this mean for you?
Success favors the prepared.