For the 45th consecutive month, the U.S. economy added jobs, but could the streak be at risk?
In September, there were 254,000 new positions created, about 100,000 more than analysts had expected, and the previous two months were revised higher. The results put the three-month job creation average at 185,000.
The unemployment rate edged lower to 4.1 percent and annual wages were up by 4%, well-ahead of the inflation rate, which has slowed to about 2.5%.
Unless the economy starts to wobble, the strength of the jobs report means that the Federal Reserve will take its time on future rate cuts. Those who were hoping for another 0.50% reduction in the fed funds rate will have to be satisfied with quarter points at the November and December meetings. After that, the pace and timing of rate cuts is “data dependent.”
There is a caveat to the solid jobs market: The September results do not include the impact from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Job creation could take a breather, when the Labor Department releases the October numbers. But whatever output or jobs that are lost due to a natural disaster is usually made up in subsequent months, as the cleanup and rebuilding process proceeds.
Impact of storms,and how to manage insurance claims
Notably, for people on the ground who are waiting for insurance payments and whose jobs are on hold, the bounce back will take longer.
If you are impacted by the storm, the first priority is to bookmark the FEMA website, disasterassistance.gov, which will provide real time updates of resources available on the ground for those with and without insurance.
The next thing to keep in mind is that the homeowner’s or renter’s insurance claiming process can be onerous, which means that you will need to be patient and detail oriented.
Begin by locating your policy and determine what kind of coverage you have. If your documents were damaged in the storm, immediately send an email or call the company to notify them that you are a victim of Helene. If your car was damaged, you’ll need your auto policy too.
Next, take pictures or video of the damage before you move anything and make a list of damaged or lost items and include their date of purchase, value, and receipts, if possible.
Then contact your insurer, contact the adjuster, and submit your claim quickly. Don’t make permanent repairs until the insurance company has inspected the property and you’ve made an agreement on the cost of repairs. Let the insurance company know if you need to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage to your property. Remember that all settlement offers from insurance companies can be negotiated.
Lessons for everyone else
Homeowner’s insurance was once seen as a small slice of housing costs, but post-COVID, costs have jumped by more than 20% and some insurers are pulling out of certain regions altogether.
Those rising costs have caused some to forego home insurance or to choose skinnier policies, but that is a risk that financial advisors caution against. The reason is that very few households can fork over tens of thousands of dollars to replace what is lost in a home, let alone the steep price to rebuild.
If you are shopping for new homeowners or renters’ coverage, be sure to compare apples to apples and be wary of under-insuring to save on premiums. Finally, if you are on the hunt for a house, be thoughtful about moving to disaster-prone areas and factor in rising costs of insurance into your calculations of what you can afford.
Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is a CBS News business analyst. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, she welcomes comments and questions at [email protected]. Check her website at www.jillonmoney.com.
