[Moonman62]

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected an initial claims level of 450,000.

This was unexpected (as always).

[50mm]

Actually, the number was within the range this time. The "expected" number mentioned was the consensus (read mean) of the polled economists.

The stock futures hardly budged and indicate a positive market open, so investors see the jobless claims number as "expected."

Futures