Posted on 04/08/2010 8:52:05 AM PDT by traumer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits rose last week, a sign that jobs remain scarce even as the economy recovers.
The increase also may result from the difficulty the Labor Department has in seasonally adjusting the claims around the Easter holiday, which falls on different weeks each year.
"This is ... a volatile time when the numbers move around quite a bit," a department analyst said.
The Labor Department said Thursday that first-time claims increased by 18,000 in the week ended April 3, to a seasonally adjusted 460,000. That's worse than economists' estimates of a drop to 435,000, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.
California also closed its state offices for a holiday on March 31, which likely held down the claims figures. On an unadjusted basis, claims rose by 6,500 to nearly 415,000.
Initial claims have dropped four out of the past six weeks and many economists say they are likely to soon resume their decline.
"Not everything goes in a straight line," Jennifer Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a research note. "Definitely not the claims data."
Separately, retail sales jumped last month as warmer weather and the Easter holiday brought out shoppers in droves.
Discounter Target Corp., department store Macy's Inc., clothier Gap Inc. and Victoria's Secret parent Limited Brands Inc. posted double-digit increases that beat Wall Street analysts' expectations.
Overall, sales in stores open at least a year rose 9 percent in March, based on an index of 31 retailers compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers.
The stock market dropped in morning trading. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 28 points while broader indexes also dipped.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
unexpected by who?
“unexpectedly” - there’s that word again.
That’s ok. The Obama administrators can just hire a few more census takers. That’ll take care of the problem.
I just dropped my pen. It unexpectedly fell to the floor.
Keynesian economists.
Does anyone see the contradiction in this statement?
Unexpectedly, I drank my coffee this morning. Suddenly, and without warning, I put a forkful of eggs in my mouth. Without notice, I shaved, showered, and put on my clothes for the day. In a stunning turn of events I walked the dogs. Contrary to expectations I kissed my wife. Shockingly, my daughter hugged me. In a terrific coincidence, my car started when I turned the key.
The unemployement figures, along with the adminstration’s claims that ‘all is well’ are America’s biggest joke. That is, of course, you discount that our first, post-racial president, is the grandest joke of all.
The usual cover for the Obama administration
exactly!
Take away the temporary census jobs, the the job growth rate still lags the population growth. The economy is still in a downward, albeit slower, spiral.
...DRINK...
....they’ll be shocked when their asses are out on the street come November
In a terrific coincidence, my car started when I turned the key. Watch what you say Komrad Worker. Lest this everyday sequence change ‘unexpectedly’ through administration ‘subversion repression’ techniques.
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What, you expect them to alter the standard “shout down/accuse of racism/dredge up something embarrassing/interfere with income and employment” strategy? I figure they’ll go straight to trumping up charges and sending us to gulags when they need more of a power rush.
“...even as the economy recovers”? Do any of you see signs of recovery where you live? I don’t. Everything is getting more expensive, especially gas, which will cause everything to get even more expensive. Jobs are very hard to come by, especially good-paying jobs. Lots of businesses are losing money. I just don’t see the recovery.
I just heard this reported on the radio; they mentioned that it was unexpected and somewhat complicated by the Easter holiday and how it could not be conclusively be compared to previous years because of the fact that Easter falls on different days of the annual calendar.
I nearly had to pull over to figure the explanation out. The statement was full of double negatives and non-qualifiers.
What a load of crap! When will the American people tire of this garbage?
Trumping up charges, needless trials, whether kangaroo or otherwise, won’t be needed. Gulags won’t be needed either. I guess you can figure out what this means to dissenters, can’t you. We are in the midst of the formation of a tyrannic dynasty the world has only seen glimpses of in its prior tyrants.
Plus according to this story - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2489054/posts -
The prior week was adjusted to reflect 442,000 initial claims versus the previously reported 439,000.
Remember when Carter and the Democrats were massaging the unemployment numbers in the run up to the elections after Carter had been in office for a year? Funny how the numbers aways came out lower on the front page of the paper and were always adjusted higher after the fact with little or no fanfare. They’re at it again! When conservatives take control of the House and Senate after the November elections, expect the REAL NUMBERS and state of the economy to be trumpeted from the roof tops by the Democrat controlled media. Like it is somehow all the Republican’s fault just because they were elected.
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