Times are less volatile... The last 11 (that’s as far back as I went) initial claims reports have averaged missing expectations by a little over 1,000 per week. That’s 99%+ accuracy which is pretty incredible.
That may be the case — you get numb to seeing the term “unexpected” issued on most of these pronouncements.
I guess like pigs at the trough, we’re supposed to be glad to be at a stable, base level of squalor...