Summary Box: 42 states lose jobs in August, up from 29 in the previous monthSeptember 18th, 2009 Summary Box: 42 states lose jobs in AugustSTATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT: Forty-two states suffered net job losses last month, up from 29 in July, the Labor Department said. Twenty-seven states saw their unemployment rates rise in August; 16 reported a drop.
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.
New jobless claims dip less than expected, sign that weak labor market will hinder recoverySeptember 3rd, 2009 Jobless claims show labor market may slow recoveryWASHINGTON — New claims for jobless aid fell less than expected last week, and the number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits rose — further signs that any economic recovery will be hindered by a weak job market and flat incomes. Most economists think the recession is over, but they say the jobless rate will keep rising until at least next summer as the economy struggles to mount a sustained recovery.
Economy flashing more signals that recovery is beginning but worries remain over durabilitySeptember 2nd, 2009 Further evidence points to recession bottoming outWASHINGTON — Productivity and factory orders are up as the economy continues to flash signals that the longest recession since World War II is coming to an end. However, worries remain about how durable the rebound will be given lingering problems in the labor market.
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.
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: 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: 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.
Summary Box: Jobless claims drop in positive sign for economyAugust 6th, 2009 Summary Box: Jobless claims drop as layoffs slowWHAT HAPPENED: The government said Thursday that initial jobless claims fell to 550,000 last week from 588,000 the previous week. While still high, new claims have dropped by about 50,000 in the past month.
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.
New jobless claims jump unexpectedly to 627,000; continuing claims rise to 6.74 millionJune 25th, 2009 New jobless claims rise unexpectedly to 627KWASHINGTON — The number of people filing new jobless claims jumped unexpectedly last week, and the total unemployment benefit rolls rose to more than 6.7 million. The Labor Department data released Thursday show jobs remain scarce even as the economy shows some signs of recovering from the longest recession since World War II.
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.
Wall Street opens modestly higher despite worse-than-expected unemployment reportMay 14th, 2009 Stock market brushes off poor jobs claims numbersNEW YORK — A worse-than-expected report on weekly jobless claims wasn't enough to dampen the stock market early Thursday. The Labor Department's weekly jobless claims report showed more workers filed last week for unemployment benefits than anticipated.
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.