Daily brief · 2026-09-04 to 2026-09-05

Daily brief: September 4, 2026

3 releases today: Nonfarm payrolls rose 162,000 in August; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.1 percent; H.15; and H.8. 16 figures below, each with the source it came from and whether it was found there.

Researched by Grok, checked against each source by an automated pass, edited by Clem Ziroli III. Published Sep 4, 2026, updated Sep 5, 2026.

Nonfarm payrolls rose 162,000 in August; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.1 percent

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent in August. Average hourly earnings of all private employees were $37.75, after $37.65 in July. The labor force participation rate was 61.6 percent, after 61.4 percent, and the employment-population ratio was 59.1 percent, after 58.9 percent. The Black or African American unemployment rate was 6.0 percent, after 6.3 percent in July. Total nonfarm payroll employment was 159.075 million, after 158.913 million in July. Government payroll employment was 23.323 million, after 23.288 million.

Nonfarm payroll employment, level: 159,075,000 2026-08 · prior 158,913,000 (2026-07)
Unemployment rate: 4.1% 2026-08 · prior 4.1% (2026-07)
Average hourly earnings, all private employees: $37.75 2026-08 · prior $37.65 (2026-07)
Labor force participation rate: 61.6% 2026-08 · prior 61.4% (2026-07)
Employment-population ratio: 59.1% 2026-08 · prior 58.9% (2026-07)
Black or African American unemployment rate: 6% 2026-08 · prior 6.3% (2026-07)
Government payroll employment, level: 23,323,000 2026-08 · prior 23,288,000 (2026-07)

Nonfarm payroll employment, level. BLS Employment Situation via FRED PAYEMS, July–August 2026, seasonally adjusted. Share card.

Source: The Employment Situation — August 2026 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also: Employment Situation Summary Table A. Household data, seasonally adjusted, All Employees, Total Nonfarm (PAYEMS), Unemployment Rate (UNRATE), Nonfarm Payrolls rise by 162K in August vs. 56K forecast.

all 7 figures found at the source

found Nonfarm payroll employment, level = 159,075,000 — via FRED PAYEMS
found Unemployment rate = 4.1% — via FRED UNRATE
found Average hourly earnings, all private employees = $37.75 — via FRED CES0500000003
found Labor force participation rate = 61.6% — via FRED CIVPART
found Employment-population ratio = 59.1% — via FRED EMRATIO
found Black or African American unemployment rate = 6% — via FRED LNS14000006
found Government payroll employment, level = 23,323,000 — via FRED USGOVT

H.15: 10-year yield at 4.77 percent, 30-year at 5.25 percent on September 3

The Federal Reserve's H.15 selected interest rates release dated September 4 listed Treasury constant-maturity yields for September 3 at 4.34 percent on the 2-year note, 4.77 percent on the 10-year note, and 5.25 percent on the 30-year bond. On September 2 the 2-year yield was 4.39 percent, the 10-year yield was 4.79 percent, and the 30-year yield was 5.27 percent. The effective federal funds rate on September 3 was 3.63 percent.

2-year Treasury yield: 4.34% 2026-09-03 · prior 4.39% (2026-09-02)
10-year Treasury yield: 4.77% 2026-09-03 · prior 4.79% (2026-09-02)
30-year Treasury yield: 5.25% 2026-09-03 · prior 5.27% (2026-09-02)
Effective federal funds rate: 3.63% 2026-09-03

Source: H.15 Selected Interest Rates (Daily), September 4, 2026 — Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

all 4 figures found at the source

found 2-year Treasury yield = 4.34% — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
found 10-year Treasury yield = 4.77% — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
found 30-year Treasury yield = 5.25% — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
found Effective federal funds rate = 3.63% — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

H.8: commercial-bank assets $25,629.5 billion in the week ending August 26

The Federal Reserve's H.8 release dated September 4 showed commercial-bank total assets of $25,629.5 billion in the week ending August 26, after $25,648.7 billion in the week ending August 19. Loans and leases in bank credit were $14,033.9 billion. Commercial and industrial loans were $2,956.9 billion. Deposits were $19,559.5 billion. Securities in bank credit were $5,796.3 billion.

Commercial-bank total assets: $25,629.5B 2026-08-26 · prior $25,648.7B (2026-08-19)
Loans and leases in bank credit: $14,033.9B 2026-08-26
Commercial and industrial loans: $2,956.9B 2026-08-26
Deposits: $19,559.5B 2026-08-26 · prior $19,532.1B (2026-08-19)
Securities in bank credit: $5,796.3B 2026-08-26

Source: Assets and Liabilities of Commercial Banks in the United States (H.8), September 4, 2026 — Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

all 5 figures found at the source

found Commercial-bank total assets = $25,629.5B — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
found Loans and leases in bank credit = $14,033.9B — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
found Commercial and industrial loans = $2,956.9B — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
found Deposits = $19,559.5B — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
found Securities in bank credit = $5,796.3B — at Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Items summarise what the named sources published in the window; they are not this site's own findings. Figures are as those sources printed them. The methodology says how this page is made and what is checked.