It was an up-and-down month for the Massachusetts Lottery in March, where sales were down compared to a year ago but the agency’s profit — a crucial source of the state aid the Legislature distributes to cities and towns — was up and closing the gap with last year’s historic high.

Executive Director Mark William Bracken reported to the Lottery Commission that March sales of $507.1 million represented a decrease of $11.9 million or 2.3% compared to March 2023. He said the Lottery’s monthly estimated profit was $105.6 million last month compared to $102.7 million a year ago.

Bracken’s report said the month’s showing was due “primarily to a $43.1 million decrease in Instant Ticket sales, a combined $30.7 million increase in Mega Millions and Powerball sales, and a $13.4 million decrease in prize payouts compared to March of 2023.”

Thanks in part to jackpots that approached or exceeded $1 billion in March, Powerball sales were up $17.1 million or nearly 300% and Mega Millions sales were up $13.6 million or about 184%, according to Bracken’s report.

Job openings slide to 3-year low

U.S. jobs openings slid in March to the lowest level in more than three years, but stayed at historically high levels in a sign that the job market remains resilient in the face of higher interest rates.

The Labor Department reported Wednesday that employers posted 8.5 million vacancies in March, down from 8.8 million in February and the fewest since February 2021.

The number of Americans quitting their jobs fell to the lowest level since January 2021 — a sign of diminishing confidence in their ability to find something better. But layoffs fell.

Monthly job openings are down sharply from a peak of 12.2 million in March 2022 but remain at a high level.