The Kansas City Fed Labor Market Conditions Indicators (LMCI) suggest the level of activity increased modestly and momentum remained high in February. The level of activity indicator increased in February from 0.63 to 0.66, while the momentum indicator accelerated from 1.16 to 1.58.
The table in the current release shows the five labor market variables that made the largest contributions to the increase in the activity indicator over the last six months and the five variables that made the largest positive contributions to the momentum indicator in February 2018. The activity indicator increased 0.27 over the last six months. The largest contribution came from an increase in job flows from unemployment to employment. Twenty-one variables made a positive contribution, one variable made no contribution, and two variables made a negative contribution. The momentum indicator was 1.58 in February, where the largest contributor to momentum was expected job availability (University of Michigan). Sixteen variables made a positive contribution, and eight variables made a negative contribution.