Summary Box: Housing starts, jobless claims reports signal fragile recoverySeptember 17th, 2009 Summary Box: Mixed reports on housing and jobsGOOD NEWS: Housing construction rose in August, while fewer laid-off workers sought jobless aid last week, more evidence that the recession is over. BAD NEWS: The housing gain was due solely to an increase in apartment-house building, while construction in the much-larger single-family-home segment fell for the first time in six months.
Summary Box: Unemployment rate jumps to 26-year high, though job cuts slowSeptember 4th, 2009 Summary Box: Unemployment reaches 26-year highTHE BAD NEWS: The jobless rate jumped to 9.7 percent in August, the Labor Department said Friday, from 9.4 percent in July. That's the highest rate since June 1983.
Summary Box: New jobless claims dip less than expected, weak labor market may hinder recoverySeptember 3rd, 2009 Summary Box: Jobless claims dip less than expectedJOBLESS CLAIMS ELEVATED: The Labor Department said the number of laid-off workers applying for benefits dipped to 570,000 from an upwardly revised 574,000 the previous week. The number of Americans continuing to receive benefits rose unexpectedly to 6.23 million.
Summary Box: July unemployment rises in 44 percent of metro areas, was 90 percent in JuneSeptember 1st, 2009 Summary Box: Metro jobless rates improve in JulyGLASS HALF-FULL: About 44 percent of the nation's 380 largest metro areas saw their unemployment rates rise in July, a sharp improvement from June, when more than 90 percent reported an increase. Another 44 percent saw their rates drop.
First-time jobless claims, total benefit rolls fall as companies lay off fewer workersAugust 27th, 2009 New jobless claims and total benefit rolls dropWASHINGTON — The government says the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for jobless benefits dropped last week, and the number of people remaining on the rolls also fell, evidence that layoffs have eased. Still, both figures remain above levels associated with a healthy economy, and analysts expect the unemployment rate to keep rising.
Summary Box: Plunge in GDP slows in spring while jobless claims dip slightly last weekAugust 27th, 2009 Summary Box: Economists encouraged by GDP activityECONOMY SHRINKS: The gross domestic product, the total output of goods and services, dropped at an annual rate of 1 percent in the April-June quarter. The number of newly laid-off workers filing for unemployment benefits dropped slightly to 570,000 last week.
Summary Box: Weak job market could dampen consumer spending and hamper recoveryAugust 21st, 2009 Summary Box: Jobless claims bad sign for recoveryWHAT HAPPENED?: New jobless claims rose for the second straight week, disappointing analysts who were expecting a drop. At the same time, an index of leading economic indicators and a regional manufacturing index rose, providing more evidence that the economy may be recovering.
Summary Box: 17 states report lower unemployment rates; 26 see increasesAugust 21st, 2009 Summary Box: 17 states see lower jobless ratesWHAT HAPPENED: Seventeen states saw their unemployment rates decline in July, while 26 reported increases. Though joblessness is still widespread, that's an improvement from June, when only five saw a drop.
Summary Box: Retail sales drop unexpectedly as consumers keep wallets closedAugust 13th, 2009 Summary Box: Unexpected drop in retail salesWHAT HAPPENED?: Retail sales fell unexpectedly in July, while first-time claims for jobless benefits rose slightly last week. The reports raised concerns about the ability of consumers to fuel a broad economic recovery.
New jobless claims rise unexpectedly to 558,000, while continuing claims drop to 6.2 millionAugust 13th, 2009 New jobless claims rise unexpectedly to 558,000WASHINGTON — The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week, while the tally of continuing claims fell. Despite the increase in new claims, they remain below peak levels above 600,000 where they were stuck for most of this year.
Initial jobless claims and continuing claims fall, evidence that layoffs are easingJuly 2nd, 2009 Initial and continuing jobless claims fallWASHINGTON — The government says the number of newly laid-off workers filing for unemployment insurance dropped last week, a sign job cuts are easing. The Labor Department said Thursday that initial jobless benefit claims fell by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 614,000.
Total unemployment insurance rolls drop for first time since early JanuaryJune 18th, 2009 Total jobless rolls drop sharply to nearly 6.8MWASHINGTON — The total number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls has dropped for the first time since early January, while first-time claims for benefits rose slightly. The Labor Department says the total unemployment insurance rolls fell by 148,000 to 6.76 million, the largest drop in more than seven years and a sign that layoffs are easing.
Summary Box: Layoffs slow, but jobless rate rises to 9.4 percent and will move higherJune 6th, 2009 Summary Box: Layoffs slow as recession easesJOB CUTS SLOW: Employers cut 345,000 jobs last month, the fewest since September and the fourth straight month that the pace of layoffs slowed. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES: The jobless rate rose to 9.4 percent, from 8.9 percent in April.
Summary Box: Jobless claims dip, but unemployment rate expected to keep risingJune 4th, 2009 Summary Box: Jobless claims dip, but work scarceJOBLESS CLAIMS EASE: The number of newly laid-off workers filing initial claims for unemployment insurance fell Thursday, and so did the total number of people on the jobless benefit rolls. JOBS STILL SCARCE: Still, the drops were small and there is little indication companies are hiring.
Treasury prices mixed after decline in jobless claims, drop in personal spendingApril 30th, 2009 Treasurys mixed after data on jobless claimsNEW YORK — Treasurys ended mixed Thursday after data showed a surprise decline in jobless claims but also a drop in personal spending. In a positive sign for the economy, the Labor Department said initial jobless claims fell by 14,000 last week to 631,000.