[ClearCase_guy]

Is there any logic to any of these numbers? They just say whatever without actually worrying about the economy, how government policy may or may not be affecting businesses, or how people are getting by out in the real world.

I swear they just spin a big wheel and they reveal some number that serves as economic data for the next week or month or whatever.

[edh]

There’s logic.

If Bush is in office, a little less than 300K is terrible and is a sign of pending doom.

If O-ha-ha is in office, a little less than 300K means prosperity for everyone!*

*Prosperity for everyone that doesn’t work. That means that more people are out earning your food stamps and other ‘free’ stuff for you!

All in all, this is a moving average of new jobless claims. It goes up and down. The only time it’s a good/bad indicator is when there are large increases/decreases across a longer period of time. It’s been pretty consistent for a while now.

Don’t confuse this with the monthly unemployment numbers which are a joke anymore with the loss of workers in the workforce. Some enlightened, brilliant, and know-it-all economists (usually of the liberal variety) claim that this loss of workers in the workforce is due to baby boomers retiring. Yes. That’s the ticket ... retirees ...