Headlines discussed at LNWM’s Monday morning briefing:

— The Federal Reserve is using a new gauge to determine the health of the U.S. labor market, the 19-factor Labor Market Conditions Index, which could mean less focus on the usual measure, the U.S. unemployment rate.

— Canadian inflation dropped for the first time in five months, to 2.1% annualized, on lower gasoline prices.

— The price of ground beef hit a record high in the U.S., up nearly 81% since 2009.

— The United Nations’ refugee agency plans to aid more than 500,000 people displaced by fighting in Iraq.

— Steve Ballmer resigned from Microsoft’s board of directors, after buying the L.A. Clippers basketball team.

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