Wall Street Journal (09/03/15) James Freeman

Hiring at small businesses increased in August, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. The report found that NFIB members added a net 0.13 workers per firm in recent months, marking a better level than July’s 0.05 reading. The numbers represent “a large improvement in hiring activity,” according to NFIB’s William Dunkelberg. Despite the volatility on Wall Street this month and the fact that business conditions may not be large enough to pull the economy out of “the same old 2-2.5% rut” for gross domestic product growth in the second half of the year, Dunkelberg says he expects the U.S. Department of Labor’s August employment report to show job gains of 250,000 or more.

MarketWatch (09/03/15) Jeffry Bartash

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits rose by 12,000 to 282,000 in the week ended Aug. 29, its highest level in two months, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast new claims of 271,000. The four-week average of new claims rose by 3,250 to a seasonally adjusted 275,500.

Reuters (09/02/15) Lucia Mutikani

Orders for U.S. factory goods increased for a second consecutive month in July on robust demand for automobiles. New orders for manufactured goods rose 0.4% after an upwardly revised 2.2% increase in June, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast factory orders would increase 0.9% in July after rising 1.8% in June. Orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft rose 2.1%.