Morning Business Report: Job openings fall, Dollar General warns of price hikes, mortgage rates dip

Unemployed workers are remaining out of work for longer periods, even as layoffs remain low, according to the latest labor data.

(LILAMAX)- Unemployed workers are remaining out of work for longer periods, even as layoffs remain low, according to the latest labor data. That trend has pushed the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed workers down to its lowest level since spring 2021.

Job openings totaled 7.18 million in July, missing the 7.38 million expected by economists and falling below the 7.36 million vacancies recorded in June, Bloomberg reported.

Meanwhile, Dollar General is warning customers of potential price increases as tariffs push up costs. The discount retailer says some—but not all—items are affected. A GlobalData “tariff sentiment” survey, cited by Investment Monitor, found that 39% of companies have already raised prices and another 10% plan to do so.

On Wall Street, stocks closed higher Wednesday, with tech companies leading gains while energy stocks lagged behind.

In housing, buying a home got slightly more affordable as mortgage rates fell to an 11-month low. Freddie Mac reports that average rates now sit at 6.5%.

And in the media world, NBCUniversal has sold 90% of its ad inventory for the upcoming NFL season, with the 2026 Super Bowl already fully booked. Live sports have become increasingly valuable for broadcasters as more viewers shift to streaming services for films and television. The next Super Bowl is scheduled for February 8, 2026.