First-time claims for unemployment benefits declined to 310,000 for the week ending Sept. 4, down from 345,000 the week before and well below the 13-week moving average of 377,000. Continuing claims increased to 2.783 million for the week ending Aug. 28. … READ MORE >
initial jobless claims
Jobless claims: After the deluge
First-time jobless claims decreased to 340,000 for the week ending Aug. 28, from an upwardly revised 354,000 the week before, while continuing claims fell to 2.75 million, according to government data released on Thursday. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims still elevated at 385,000 as the economy expands
First-time jobless claims decreased by 15,000 to 385,000 for the week ending July 31 while continuing claims for the week ending July 24 stands at 2.9 million, according to government data released Thursday. … READ MORE >
Jobless claims continue choppy descent
There remain 13.1 million people who are receiving some form of unemployment benefits. Of those, 3.2 million—or 25%—are receiving traditional unemployment benefits while 9.8 million—or 75%—are receiving some form of pandemic assistance set to expire on Sept. 5. … READ MORE >
GDP expands by 6.5% in second quarter as expansion takes hold
The composition of the growth was nothing short of virtuous. Household consumption rose by 11.8%, outlays on equipment grew by 13%, intellectual property by 10.8% and software investment increased by $13.8 billion – all of which helped drive the growth. … READ MORE >
Jobless claims back above 400,000 for the first time in four weeks
First-time jobless claims increased by 51,000 to 419,000 for the week ending July 3, according to government data released Thursday. … READ MORE >
Why the housing market is not in a bubble
Not only are inventories below their historical averages, but buyers are also more credit-worthy – two significant differences from the housing bubble of the years before the Great Recession. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Improving labor market signals increased consumer confidence and spending
The steady drop in unemployment claims this year coincides with a steady increase in consumer confidence, as seen in the Langer Research Consumer Comfort Index. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims imply that ending benefits does not improve employment numbers
First-time claims inched higher by 2,000, to 373,000, for the week ending July 3 from an upwardly revised 371,000 for the week ending June 26, according to the Labor Department. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims resume their downward trend, falling to 364,000
Initial jobless claims declined to 364,000 for the week ending June 26, resuming their downward trend following a few weeks of flat to down readings. … READ MORE >