Market expectations for weekly initial unemployment claims (from Econoday) were 215 K to 218 K (consensus 216,000), and the Department of Labor reported 211,000 new claims. The more important (because of the volatility in the weekly reported claims and seasonality errors in adjusting the data) 4 week moving average moved from 212,750 (reported last week as 213,750) to 214,000. The rolling averages generally have been equal to or under 300,000 since August 2014.
Analyst Opinion of Initial Unemployment Claims
This marks 255 consecutive weeks of initial claims below 300,000, the longest streak since 1970. The general trend of the 4-week rolling average is a slowing rate of improvement year-over-year which history suggests a slowing economy.
It should be pointed out that Econintersect watches the year-over-year change in the 4-week moving average. There is always some seasonality that migrates into the seasonally adjusted data, and year-over-year comparisons help remove some seasonality. The four-week rolling average of initial claims is +2.6 % (versus the +4.0 % last week) than they were in this same week a year ago.
Claim levels are at 40-year lows (with the normal range around 350,000 weekly initial unemployment claims of levels seen historically during times of economic expansion – see chart below).
From the Department of Labor:
In the week ending March 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 211,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 216,000 to 215,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised down by 250 from 213,000 to 212,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending February 29, unchanged from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending February 29 was 1,722,000, a decrease of 11,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up 4,000 from 1,729,000 to 1,733,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,727,500, an increase of 5,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 1,000 from 1,721,250 to 1,722,250.
include(“/home/aleta/public_html/files/ad_openx.htm”); ?>
