[Wyatt's Torch]

You need to get to about 160,000 to see any significant growth in the economy or a stabilizing labor market.

In the last 50+ years unemployment claims have never once dropped to 160,000 and were only under 200,000 for a period in the late 1960's. Since 1970 they have never been blow 200,000. The average since 1967 is 363,000.

[M Kehoe]

Good morning.

In the last 50+ years unemployment claims have never once dropped to 160,000 and were only under 200,000 for a period in the late 1960's. Since 1970 they have never been blow [sic] 200,000.

True. I get the same data as you from the Fed (St. Louis), but how does that refute what I stated? Have you seen GDP growth rates above 8% in a year for any length of time?

Plus, and "average" of 367,000 over that time period really isn't of much use.

5.56mm