Posted on 12/19/2013 5:54:16 AM PST by John W
(Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level in nearly nine months, casting a shadow on the labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 379,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. That was the highest level since March and marked the second straight week that claims have risen.
Claims for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 more applications received than previously reported.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected first-time applications to fall to 334,000 last week.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Color me shocked - NOT.
Usually, jobs increase during the holiday season. Either most people are now shopping on line, or no one dares to spend any money this year (think obomacare).
I would have thought the increased seasonal employment would result in improved stats.
Yeah. It's not pretty out there.
The stores are unusually empty. They used to be packed this time of year.
I’m not as convinced as you are.
I think as more part timers are hired to supplement newly demoted 29ers the numbers really are getting “better”.
Of course as Dave Stockman has written, the number of “breadwinner” jobs peaked in 1998.
for later
Not Harbor Freight. It was a mob scene yesterday. People are climbing on each other's back to grab low end Chinese tools. (Why didn't I go there a month before?)
Just saying.
Buy American.
Good store. Tools are almost half the price they are everywhere else. My husband gets his stuff there (likes to build his own bee hives).
Sounds like a lot of people are being wisely frugal.
Tru dat.
My barometer is traffic. My office is near the mall and other stores. There have been years in the past where I could hardly get out and eat lunch. And leaving in the evening was a nightmare with the traffic.
Not this year (its been really light for several years now). The mall is a freaking ghost town.
So based on the administrations accountability department, unemployment drops to 6.2%.
Hubby and I were watching the news the other night and I said...uh oh. They were saying 2 long established businesses here were closing. One a uniform shop that catered to cops and firemen. The other a bookstore in one of the busiest malls in town. Both had been here over 20 years.
I think it has begun.
It is easier for the Obama Administration and Dems to pay out unemployment benefits than provide an atmosphere that encourages job creation.
More of their ‘share the weath’ philosophy.
Wait until the numbers start reflecting the jobs lost due to Obamacare implementation next year. The BLS will really have to BS the numbers to make them tangible.
He’s for the little people.
Something like 20,000 showed up to apply for 600 jobs at the 2 new Walmart stores opening in Washington DC.
That is endemic of the problem that Congress, Obama and the Obama Administration are ignoring.
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