Houston Business Journal (05/27/15) Suzanne Edwards

Houston-based staffing firm Cenergy International Services LLC has acquired Louisiana-based Control Zone Solutions. The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Bloomberg (05/28/15)

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the week ended May 23 increased by 7,000 to 282,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It was the 12th consecutive week that jobless claims remained below 300,000. The 51 economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast claims of 270,000. The four-week moving average of new claims rose by 5,000 to 271,500.

CNNMoney (05/27/15) Matt Egan

Recent indicators show signs of an economic rebound, with improvements in the second quarter prompting some to believe temporary factors and the weather caused the weakness in the first quarter. In addition to gains in the housing market, business investment is picking up steam, with a jump in orders of nontransporation durable goods in April for the second straight month.

Meanwhile, consumer spending may be lackluster, but consumer confidence posted a bigger-than-anticipated increase in May due to the stronger jobs market. However, concerns remain for the rest of the second quarter and beyond, particularly when it comes to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s expected hike in interest rates.

Wall Street Journal (05/27/15) Greg Ip

The economy is relatively weak, despite high stock prices and strong hiring. The U.S. is dealing with cyclical and structural headwinds that could result in more poor quarterly performance and recessions. Some observers are wondering if the economy currently is in recession or headed that way. As unemployment approaches 5%, a level usually associated with full employment, the gains associated with using up idle capacity and labor are fading.

That said, business cycles typically end because of an economic shock such as higher oil prices or a financial crisis that curbs demand. Few signs of recession currently exist. Inflation is too low, oil prices are low, and there is adequate spare labor when involuntary part-time workers are included. Most critically, the unemployment rate continues to fall, which historically has correlated with an expanding economy. Still, the correlation isn’t absolute. As the population ages, the labor force may contract, so a loss of output that results in fewer jobs is less likely to translate into a higher unemployment rate.