MMAC: Milwaukee-area economy still sluggish - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

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Only three of 20 April indicators registered improvemen tfrom year-ago levels, matching the number of upward-pointing indicators recordexd in March, the MMAC said in its Economic Trendsw report. "The employment situation continued to deteriorate with deepening job declines and unemployment indicators over doubles what they were one year saidBret Mayborne, economic research director for the MMAC. "Bu metro area existing homeds sales rose for only the second time in nearly three yearsx giving some hopefor near-term improvement in a stagnant local housinh and real estate market." Nonfarmk employment in the metro area fell 4.
8 percent in Aprill to 812,300, down from March’s 4.3 percent decrease. Employmen t levels have now declined compare dwith year-ago levels in each of the past 12 with April’s decline being the steepest registered in this period, the MMAC said. Only two of 10 majorr industry sectors registered April job gains comparedr with oneyear ago, whil e eight registered declines. Unemployment indicators for the metr o area both measured more than twicetheir year-earliefr levels. The number of unemployed in metr o Milwaukeerose 117.6% against year-agp levels, to 70,300 compared with 32,300o in April 2008. Likewise, new unemployment compensation claimsz rose ata 104.
6 percent rate in April to this indicator’s third consecutive year-over-year increase of 100 percent or On the positive side, existing homex sales for the metro area rose 5.6 percen t in April, the firsft year-over-year increase in this indicator in seven months and only the secons such gain in nearly three years.