Posted on 12/24/2009 5:07:59 PM PST by traumer
WASHINGTON — A fitful economic recovery is drawing strength from a stabilizing job market and signs that manufacturing will contribute to the rebound.
The latest sign was a government report today that the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week. And the four-week average for claims, which smooths out fluctuations, fell for the 16th straight week, to its lowest point since September 2008, when the financial crisis hit with full force.
Further evidence of a gradually healing economy was a report that orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket durable goods rose in November. The overall increase was less than expected. But excluding the volatile transportation category, the gains were twice what economists had forecast.
The Labor Department said the number of new jobless claims fell to a 452,000 last week, down 28,000 from the previous week, on a seasonally adjusted basis. That’s a better performance than the decline to 470,000 that economists had expected.
And the four-week average for claims, which smooths out fluctuations, fell to 465,250 — the 16th straight weekly decline.
Stocks rose after the positive reports on unemployment and durable goods orders. Major indexes all touched new 2009 highs in midmorning trading. The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 40 points, or 0.4 percent.
Unemployment claims have been falling unevenly since summer. That improvement is seen as a sign that jobs cuts are slowing and hiring could pick up early next year. The fall in weekly claims of 28,000 last week, which followed two smaller weekly increases, shows that the halting improvement continues.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
When joblessness claims rise, its Unexpectedly
When joblessness claims fall, its Unexpectedly
What in the heck is going on, is the media that lost?
If I was an idiot, this would be great news.
The word “unexpectedly” has become the most overused in 2009 by reporters describing events affecting the economy.
under half mil file for the first time and this is good.
One is is the season for vacation jobs so it will go up soon again.
two how many more can actually lose their jobs?
I mean I live on a street with 11 houses and two have lost their jobs , one forced to retire early and two others have hours cut.
The media is just as much to blame to me as what the Marxists and obama are.
For the media, do not ever be surprised to see the public now facing you and asking why your so biased and tell lies
I guess if things are really improving, we have George Bush to thank for it.
That’s why they stress the difference between the month to month numbers instead of the actual number of newly unemployed. Soon they’ll be talking about the second derivative, the rate of increase is decreasing don’t you know.
Wait for the “corrections”.....
her husband has been out of work for c. 6 months.
her daughter (unemployed) lives with her.
her son-in-law (unemployed) lives with her.
and her two grandchildren live with her as well.
they all live (barely) because of her paycheck.
thanks 0zero!
(i donated some food to them so they could HAVE a Christmas dinner).
that for the media and for the Govt it’s misinformation.
I swear the media and news channels have lost the plot and need to sort their lives out.
They keep telling this crap and the public sit at home and ask what the hell is going on they’re telling lies.
When you have thousands turning out to protest this spending and the news channel says it’s only 200 then they the news channel have just lost all respect
It’s good that this number came out before Christmas. January and February are going to be disappointing.
Don’t worry, the number will fall to zero when all the jobs are gone.
That is "unprecedented" in itself.
Like I believe. Why don’t we get rid of a lot of government workers?
As if anyone believes anything from the MSM any more.
Remember the clueless clods in your classes?
Politicians and journalists.
(What else can they do?
Are you kidding?
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