For Week Ending June 20th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (Jun 20): 617K, pr. 615K, 621.7K,  631.2K, 626.7K,
628.5K, 630.5K, 623.5K, 637.2, 646.7K, 651K, 657.2K, 656.7K, 649K
Cont. Claims (Jun 13): 6.74M, pr. 6.69, 6.81M, 6.76M, 6.78M, 6.66M,
6.58M, 6.35M, 6.27M, 6.13M, 6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M, 5.47M,

Initial jobless claims rose 15K to 627K for the week ending June 20th. The increase surprised forecasts and shows that the labor market may not be stabilizing as quickly as the past several weeks of claims data suggested. The total number of people continuing to receive benefits rose to 6.74 million as well. Though the news disappointed, US stocks managed to brush off their initial morning decline. 

For Week Ending June 13th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (Jun 13): 615K, pr. 621.7K,  631.2K, 626.7K, 628.5K,
630.5K, 623.5K, 637.2, 646.7K, 651K, 657.2K, 656.7K, 649K, 654.7K
Cont. Claims (Jun 6): 6.69, pr. 6.81M, 6.76M, 6.78M, 6.66M, 6.58M,
6.35M, 6.27M, 6.13M, 6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M, 5.47M, 5.31M,

For Week Ending June 6th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (Jun 6): 621.7K, pr. 631.2K, 626.7K, 628.5K, 630.5K,
623.5K, 637.2, 646.7K, 651K, 657.2K, 656.7K, 649K, 654.7K, 650K
Cont. Claims (May 30): 6.81M, pr. 6.76M, 6.78M, 6.66M, 6.58M, 6.35M,
6.27M, 6.13M, 6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M, 5.47M, 5.31M, 5.10M, 5.11M

First time claims for unemployment benefits fell 24K to 601K in the week ended June 6, a better figure than was expected and the lowest level since January. The data implies that the deepest layoffs may be over, as the economy moves out of the deepest phases of the recession. However, the total amount of people continuing to receive benefits rose to 6.81 million a new record high. So, even as the pace of firing may be easing, those workers that have lost their jobs are finding it harder to land a new one. The unemployment rate rose to 9.4% in May as nearly 6 million jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007. There are still ongoing pressures on the labor market, mainly the restructuring of US car companies. 

For Week Ending May 30th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (May 30): 631.2K, pr. 626.7K, 628.5K, 630.5K, 623.5K, 637.2,
646.7K, 651K, 657.2K, 656.7K, 649K, 654.7K, 650K, 642K, 639K, 619K,
Cont. Claims (May 23): 6.73M. pr. 6.78M, 6.66M, 6.58M, 6.35M, 6.27M,
6.13M, 6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M, 5.47M, 5.31M, 5.10M, 5.11M, 4.98M

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell 4K to 621K in the week that ended May 30. Its a sign that the labor market's decline may be easing. The number of continuing claims fell to 6.73 million, the first time decrease in that indicator in almost five months. It also breaks a streak of 17 consecutive weeks where continuing claims hit fresh record highs. Claims had been hovering in the upper 600K range prior to April, as firms stepped up their firings in the wake of the recession. Tomorrow, the US will post its monthly nonfarm payroll report which will shed more light on the US labor market, though the economy is expected to shed another 500K jobs. 

For Week Ending May 23th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (May 16): 626.7K, pr. 628.5K, 630.5K, 623.5K, 637.2, 646.7K,
651K, 657.2K, 656.7K, 649K, 654.7K, 650K, 642K, 639K, 619K, 607K, 582K
Cont. Claims (May 9): 6.78M, pr. 6.66M, 6.58M, 6.35M, 6.27M, 6.13M,
6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M, 5.47M, 5.31M, 5.10M, 5.11M, 4.98M, 4.81M

The number of Americans filing first time claims for unemployment benefits fell more thane expected last week, though the total number of people continuing to collect benefits set a fresh record high for the 17th week in a row. Initial claims fell by 13K to 623K, while the total amount of continuing claims rose to 6.78 million. With laid off workers finding it hard to find new work, this month's nonfarm payroll report is expected to show the unemployment rate continuing to inch up following a rise to 8.9% in April. The figures are being heavily influenced by layoofs in teh auto sector as General Motors creeps clsoet towards bankruptcy following in the footsteps of Chrysler. 

For Week Ending May 16th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (May 16): 628.5K, pr. 630.5K, 623.5K, 637.2, 646.7K, 651K,
657.2K, 656.7K, 649K, 654.7K, 650K, 642K, 639K, 619K, 607K, 582K
Cont. Claims (May 9): 6.66M, pr. 6.58M, 6.35M, 6.27M, 6.13M, 6.02M,
5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M, 5.47M, 5.31M, 5.10M, 5.11M, 4.98M, 4.81M, 4.80M

The number of US workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell 12K to a seasonally adjusted 631K, though the previous week's figure was revised down to show a higher number of claims. The total number of people with continuing claims, those workers collecting benefits for more than one week in the week ending May 9th, rose 75K to 6.66 million

For Week Ending May 9th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (May 9): 630.5K, pr. 623.5K, 637.2, 646.7K, 651K, 657.2K,
656.7K, 649K, 654.7K, 650K, 642K, 639K, 619K, 607K, 582K, 542.5K,  519K,
Cont. Claims (May 2): 6.58M, pr. 6.35M, 6.27M, 6.13M, 6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M,
5.56M, 5.47M, 5.31M, 5.10M, 5.11M, 4.98M, 4.81M, 4.80M, 4.77M, 4.61M

The number of Americans filing first time claims for unemployment benefits climbed more than expected for the week ending May 9th. Jobless claims rose by 32K to 637K, when expectations were for a 10K increase. The news is a disappointment to those watching the US labor market for signs that sharp layoffs are ebbing. The most recent nonfarm payroll data came in better than expected and jobless claims hit their lowest level since January the previous week. Instead the focus will undoubtedly be on the fresh record high number of total continuing claims which reached 6.58 million for the week ending May 2nd. Though a rebound in employment is usually a lagging indicator to a recovery, consumer confidence and spending will not return until unemployment numbers stabilize.

For Week Ending May 2nd
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (May 2): 623.5K,  pr. 637.2, 646.7K, 651K, 657.2K, 656.7K,
649K, 654.7K, 650K, 642K, 639K, 619K, 607K, 582K, 542.5K,  519K, 518K
Cont. Claims (Apr 25): 6.35M, pr. 6.27M, 6.13M, 6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M,
5.47M, 5.31M, 5.10M, 5.11M, 4.98M, 4.81M, 4.80M, 4.77M, 4.61M, 4.49M

The labor market in the US got a second bit of good news following yesterday's better than expected ADP report. First time claims for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level since late January, a sign that perhaps the worst of the layoffs as a result of the recession could be behind the US. Initial claims fell by 34K to 601K. The smoothed-out 4-week moving average declined to 623K. The report did show that the total number of people continuing to receive benefits kept on rising, hitting a fresh record high of 6.35 million. Tomorrow, the US will post its nonfarm payroll report for April, and economists are looking for a drop of around 580K.

For Week Ending April 25th
Current Release: The Department of Labor

4-Week M.A. (Apr 25): 637.2, pr. 646.7K, 651K, 657.2K, 656.7K, 649K,
654.7K, 650K, 642K, 639K, 619K, 607K, 582K, 542.5K,  519K, 518K, 525.7K
Cont. Claims (Apr 18): 6.27M, 6.13M, 6.02M, 5.84M, 5.72M, 5.56M, 5.47M,
5.31M, 5.10M, 5.11M, 4.98M, 4.81M, 4.80M, 4.77M, 4.61M, 4.49M, 4.61M

The number of Americans filing for first-time claims for unemployment benefits fell by 14K to 631K, a result that beat forecasts. A slower pace of unemployment claims suggests the recession may be easing and could foreshadow the revival in consumer spending that would be essential to any recovery. On a darker note, the total number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits rose to 6.27M, meaning its hard for the newly laid off to find new jobs.