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Economic Numbers
Unemployment Rate 
| Nationally: |  7.5% in Apr 2013 |
| Oklahoma: |  5.0% in Mar 2013 |
| Arkansas: | 7.2% in Mar 2013 |
| Kansas: |  5.6% in Mar 2013 |
| Missouri: | 6.7% in Mar 2013 |
| Texas: | 6.4% in Mar 2013 |
Payroll Employment
+ 165,000 in Apr 2013
Average Hourly Earnings
+ $0.04 in Apr 2013
Employment Cost Index (ECI) +0.5% in 4th Qtr of 2012
Productivity
–2.0% in 4th Qtr of 2012
Producer Price Index (PPI)
–0.6% in Mar 2012
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
–0.2% in Mar 2013
U.S. Import Price Index
–0.5% in Mar 2012
U.S. Export Price Index
–0.4% in Mar 2012
Historical 
Release
SOURCE: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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EmployerLINC is a publication of the law firm of McAfee & Taft. It is intended for informational purposes only. It does not provide specific legal advice and it is not intended to create a lawyer-client relationship. The authors featured on this website include (but are not limited to) attorneys with McAfee & Taft, and the views expressed by the authors, including comments posted by guest authors and registered visitors, solely reflect the opinions of those authors and not those of the firm or its clients. The authors assume no liability for the dissemination of attorney-client or confidential information posted on this website by registered or unauthorized visitors. This website is not intended to be advertising of legal services or any other service. The publisher and authors assume no responsibility for inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the right to remove any posted content for any reason with or without notice. Content that is illegal, obscene, defamatory, threatening, infringing of intellectual property rights, invasive of privacy, or otherwise injurious or objectionable will be removed.
Disclaimer and Privacy Statement
EmployerLINC is a publication of the law firm of McAfee & Taft. It is intended for informational purposes only. It does not provide specific legal advice and it is not intended to create a lawyer-client relationship. The authors featured on this website include (but are not limited to) attorneys with McAfee & Taft, and the views expressed by the authors, including comments posted by guest authors and registered visitors, solely reflect the opinions of those authors and not those of the firm or its clients. The authors assume no liability for the dissemination of attorney-client or confidential information posted on this website by registered or unauthorized visitors. This website is not intended to be advertising of legal services or any other service. The publisher and authors assume no responsibility for inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the right to remove any posted content for any reason with or without notice. Content that is illegal, obscene, defamatory, threatening, infringing of intellectual property rights, invasive of privacy, or otherwise injurious or objectionable will be removed.
LEGAL COMMENTARY
Misguided claims of ‘hostile’ work environment
All too often — and it seems to be increasing — I am asked to defend employers against charges or lawsuits alleging “hostile work environment.” Nothing more. Something is missing from these claims — the allegation that the hostility was caused by the plaintiff’s legally protected trait or activity.
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