Celebrating July 4th
Celebrate the 250th anniversary marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a fun look at the holiday’s impact on spending, travel, and activities. This year, consumer spending is projected to top $9.4 billion, as 87 percent of people plan to celebrate Independence Day. That is an average of $94.41 per person on festivities such as cookouts, fireworks, travel, parades and other activities.
Job Comparison May 2025 to May 2026
Job postings increased 11.6 percent from May 2025 to May 2026. In May 2026, there were 69,660 online job postings compared to 62,430 in May 2025. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers had the largest increase (113%) in job postings over the year, while Registered Nurses had the largest decrease (-14%). Postings for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver have been increasing over the last three months.
Videos
Click on the following link to view instructional videos on how to use and view reports and data on the MERIC website.
