Equilon FXThe revision
bridge.
A new observation can arrive alongside a rewritten picture of the previous period.
+50k
Change in the three-month cumulative total relative to the two previously published months.
The new month adds 120k, while earlier revisions subtract 70k.
Two different questions
The newest month’s change is 120 thousand in the starting example. The change in the cumulative total relative to what was previously reported is only 50 thousand: 120 + (−40) + (−30). Both statements can be true. Do not relabel the 50 thousand as the newest month’s growth.
Why earlier estimates move
Reports arrive after the first estimate, and seasonal factors or benchmarks can be revised. The example isolates arithmetic across three months and does not reproduce the full US payroll estimation process. The BLS employment-report FAQ explains the actual surveys and revisions.