A monthly snapshot of North Carolina's economy.

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

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYED Jan 2016 4.58m Jan 2017 4.67m 2.1% CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE Jan 2016 4.83m Jan 2017 4.93m 2.0% UNEMPLOYED Jan 2016 258,370 Jan 2017 260,150 0.69% COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES HIGHEST Hyde 16.30% Tyrrell 14.2 Dare 13.0 Graham 10.6 Scotland 9.7 LOWEST Buncombe 4.3% Alexander 4.5 Orange 4.5 Granville 4.5 Wake 4.6 N.C. statewide rate 5.3% U.S. rate 4.8% Source: N.C. Department of Commerce Labor & Economic Analysis Division TAXABLE RETAIL SALES (MILLION) Jan 17 Jan 16 % change Mecklenburg $2,171.1 $2,005.1 8.3% Wake 1,564.7 1,445.0 8.3 Guilford 715.8 644.6 11.1 Durham 688.4 641.1 7.4 Forsyth 557.6 506.1 10.2 Buncombe 516.2 461.3 11.9 Cumberland 422.3 378.5 11.6 New Hanover 402.9 366.1 10.1 Cabarrus 349.7 323.1 8.2 Alamance 241.0 219.6 9.7 TOTAL RETAIL SALES...