A monthly snapshot of North Carolina's economy.

• Position: NC TREND: Vital signs - Brief article - Statistical data

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYED

July 2015 4.49m

July 2016 4.60m

2.5%

CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE

July 2015 4.76m

July 2016 4.83m

1.4%

UNEMPLOYED

July 2015 273,088

July 2016 225,934

(17.2)%

COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES HIGHEST Scotland 9.0% Edgecombe 8.5 Wilson 8.4 Halifax 8.1 Vance 7.6 LOWEST Buncombe 3.8% Wake 4.1 Henderson 4.2 Chatham 4.2 Dare 4.2 Note: Table made from bar graph. N.C. statewide rate 4.9% U.S. rate 4.7% Source: N.C. Department of Commerce, Labor & Economic Analysis Division, July 2016 Note: Table made from bar graph. [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

TAXABLE RETAIL SALES (MILLION) July 16 July 15 % change Mecklenburg $1,844.5 $1,646.6 12.0% Wake 1,329.3 1,203.9 10.4 Guilford 672.2 583.5 15.2 Durham 585.8 540.5 8.4 Forsyth 451.1 390.2 15.6 Buncombe 451.1 406.4 11.0 New Hanover 397.9 376.6 5.7 Cumberland 348.4 326.5 6.7 Cabarrus 279.5 253.6 10.2 Iredell 196.5 184.4 6.5 TOTAL RETAIL SALES $12.1 BILLION Source...