Political Economy category archive

Status quo ante.

Jobless claims held at 276,000 in the week ended Nov. 7, a Labor Department report showed Thursday.

(snip)

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, climbed to 267,750, the highest since the end of September, from 262,750 in the prior week.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits rose by 5,000 to 2.174 million in the week ended Oct. 31.

Still well under 300k.

Applications increased by 16,000 to 276,000 in the week ended Oct. 31, a Labor Department report showed Thursday.

(snip)

The four-week average of jobless claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, rose to 262,750 from 259,250 the week before, which was the lowest since December 1973.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits increased by 17,000 to 2.16 million in the week ended Oct. 24.

Still not bad.

Jobless claims increased by 1,000 to 260,000 in the week ended Oct. 24, less than the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey, a Labor Department report showed Thursday. The four-week average of applications dropped to the lowest level since December 1973, while the number of Americans on benefit rolls shrank.

(snip)

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, fell to 259,250 from 263,250 the week before.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits decreased by 37,000 in the week ended Oct. 17 to 2.14 million, the fewest since November 2000.

The really big news is that Bloomberg’s “experts” were in the ballpark. I think the last time that happened was sometime in the spring.

Not bad.

Initial unemployment claims dropped by 7,000 to 255,000 in the week ended Oct. 10, a Labor Department report showed Thursday. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 270,000 applications. The decline brought the monthly average to its lowest level since December 1973.

(snip)

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, decreased to 265,000 from 267,250 in the prior week.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits declined by 50,000 to 2.16 million in the week ended Oct. 3, the lowest level since November 2000.

Still not bad.

Jobless claims fell by 13,000 to 263,000 in the week ended Oct. 3, the fewest since July 18, a Labor Department report showed Thursday.

(snip)

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, dropped to 267,500, the lowest since first week of August, from 270,500.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits rose by 9,000 to 2.2 million in the week ended Sept. 26. The unemployment rate among people eligible for benefits held at 1.6 percent.

Still not bad.

Jobless claims climbed by 10,000 to 277,000 in the week ended Sept. 26, a report from the Labor Department showed Thursday. The median forecast of 48 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 271,000. The four-week moving average fell to the lowest level in almost two months and the total number of people receiving benefits was the smallest in 15 years.

Hmmmmm. What happened 15 years ago?

Gin and Tacos points out that the term, “churls,” is not just about classy (or not). It’s also about class.

Follow the link and read the post.

Still not bad, according to Northjersey.com

Weekly applications for jobless aid rose 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 267,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week average, a less volatile figure, declined to 271,750.

(snip)

Employers have added an average of 221,000 jobs a month in the past three months, a solid pace and above the average of 189,000 in the preceding three months. The unemployment rate has fallen to 5.1 percent, a seven-year low.

(I just couldn’t face Bloomberg’s caterwauling about how its “experts” were wrong yet again.)

Still not bad.

Applications for unemployment benefits decreased by 11,000 to 264,000 in the week ended Sept. 12, a Labor Department report showed Thursday in Washington.

(snip)

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, dropped to 272,500 from 275,750 the week before.

(snip)

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits declined by 26,000 to 2.24 million in the week ended Sept. 5.

The Republican Party is convening to determine how to counter this trend.

A North Carolina school board member explains what it would take to run schools “like a business.” Here’s how he starts (emphasis added):

I am often challenged by constituents to run the school system like a business. Of course, what they mean is to run the school system like a successful business.

Success in every business I have worked in or read about starts with leadership, especially leadership at the top. And a common trait of successful business leaders is to insure that the business is properly funded before the beginning of each year.

Follow the link for the rest.

Via Job’s Anger.

Still pretty good.

Claims for unemployment insurance fell by 6,000 to 275,000 in the week ended Sept. 5, from a revised 281,000 in the prior period, a report from the Labor Department showed Thursday.

(snip)

In the report on jobless claims, the four-week moving average was little changed at 275,750 last week.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits edged up by 1,000 to 2.26 million in the week ended Aug. 29.

The most stunning development is that Bloomberg’s “experts” got it right. Time to buy that lottery ticket . . . .

One more time, with Republicans, watch what they do, not what they say.

Via Job’s Anger.

Still under 300k.

Jobless claims increased by 12,000 to 282,000 in the week ended Aug. 29, a Labor Department report showed Thursday.

(snip)

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, climbed to 275,500 from 272,250 in the prior week.

The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits fell by 9,000 to 2.26 million in the week ended Aug. 22.

The number went up more than Bloomberg’s “experts” predicted, so Bloomberg’s headline writer is having the vapors. All this proves is that Bloomberg needs new “experts.”

Remember what an “expert” is: “X” is the mathematical symbol for an unknown quantity. A “spurt” is a drip under pressure. An “expert” is thus an unknown drip under pressure.