Conference Board's Help-Wanted Index Drops

By: E&P Staff The Conference Board's help-wanted advertising index dropped two points in March to 39. It was at 39 during the same month last year.

Over the latest three-month period, only one of the nation's regions measured by the organization showed a decline. However, this month signals a slowdown. Only three regions experienced positive growth: Mountain (36%), West South Central (7.4%), and Middle Atlantic (6.2%).

"Clearly something has changed sharply and suddenly," said Ken Goldstein, an economist with the Conference Board, in a statement. "What appears to have developed is a renewed business caution on stepping up investing and hiring plans. With [costs] increasing in 2005 for materials and labor, the key question has been whether executives can push prices up enough to keep pace with costs. Fears that they may not be able to accomplish that have turned hiring plans very cautious again."

The Conference Board surveys help-wanted advertising volume in 51 major newspapers across the country.