How is AG going to read this? The key is probably in the unadjusted 45,989 new claims number -- we hope. Remember, he has said many times that these are the numbers he watches to read the inflationary tendencies.
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U.S. Economy
01/18 08:29
U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Fell 37,000 to 306,000 Last Week
By 24 states and territories reported an
Washington, Jan. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for state unemployment
benefits unexpectedly fell last week to the lowest level since the end of September, government figures
showed today.
Initial jobless claims fell by 37,000 to a level of 306,000 for the week ended Jan. 13 from a revised
343,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said. The four-week moving average of claims, a less
volatile indicator, fell to 350,000 last week from 362,250.
The decrease in claims last week may have been due to seasonal factors associated with temporary layoffs
or the return of workers after weather conditions kept them from performing their jobs, said Esther
Johnson, a Labor Department official.
Even with the decline last week, claims have averaged 336,000 a week since 301,000 at the end of
September. That's ``consistent with a slowing labor market,'' said Ryan Brecht, an economist at Standard &
Poor's MMS in Belmont, California, in a report.
Unadjusted for seasonal factors, jobless claims surged 45,989, Labor Department figures showed.
Last week's claims were the lowest since 301,000 in the week ended Sept. 30. Analysts surveyed by
Bloomberg News expected initial claims to rise by 10,000 to a level of 355,000 last week from the previous
week's originally reported 345,000.
The total number of people receiving unemployment benefits nationally fell 201,000 to 2.373 million in
the week ended Jan. 6. The Labor Department also said:
quote.bloomberg.com |
