The company's worldwide payroll dropped by nearly half, to a low point of 217,000 in the mid-1990s.
The Mets believe they can afford Matsui's asking price, expected to be around $21 million for three years, but with their payroll dropping to as low as $90 million from $120 million, they are considering using that money to fill their outfield needs.
(See: "Payroll Drop, Stocks Follow").
On employment, the Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls dropped 17,000 in January.
If payrolls drop significantly, will high-price crude oil begin to cause pain in a way that it hasn't in nearly three decades?
While factory payrolls dropped by 19,000 and construction jobs stayed steady during May, the service sector more than made up for it by adding 176,000 jobs.
The U.S. jobless rate rose to 10.2% in October, a higher-than-expected rate, with non-farm payrolls dropping by 190,000, which was also above forecast.
Wednesday's economic data was mixed leading into Thursday's big day, as the ADP employment survey showed the private-sector payrolls dropped 79,000 jobs in June, and the Commerce Department said factory orders increased by 0.6% in May, as expected.
Wednesday's economic data were mixed, as the ADP employment survey showed that private sector payrolls dropped 79,000 jobs in June, and the U.S. Commerce Department said factory orders increased by 0.6% in May, as expected.
