Recent Updates
- India: Stock of Food Grains (Nov)
- Thailand: Rural CPI (Nov)
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- Malaysia: Manufacturing Sales & Wages (Oct), IP, Rubber Supply & Demand (Oct)
- Mongolia: Employment and Unemployment, Trade (Nov)
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Economy in Brief
U.S. Financial Accounts Show Moderate Borrowing, Average Ratio to GDP
rowing in U.S. financial markets slowed in Q2 2018, according to the Federal Reserve's Financial Accounts data...
U.S. Small Business Optimism Diminishes
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined to 104.8 during November...
U.S. Gasoline Prices Fall; Crude Oil Costs Rise
Gasoline prices declined to an average $2.42 per gallon (-2.6% y/y)...
ZEW Assessments Shift and Weaken in December
The economic situation has worsened everywhere...
U.S. JOLTS: Job Openings and Hires Rates Improve
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the total job openings rate improved to 4.5% during October...
by Tom Moeller June 30, 2005
Initial claims for unemployment insurance dropped another 6,000 to 310,000 last week following a 19,000 decline the week prior that was revised slightly shallower. Consensus expectations had been for an increase to 325,000 claims.
During the last ten years there has been a (negative) 75% correlation between the level of initial claims for unemployment insurance and the monthly change in payroll employment. There has been a (negative) 65% correlation with the level of continuing claims.
The four week moving average of initial claims fell to 323,500 (-6.4% y/y).
Continuing claims for unemployment insurance rose a slight 4,000 following a deepened 42,000 drop the week prior.
The insured unemployment rate remained at 2.0%, the low for this cycle.
| Unemployment Insurance (000s) | 06/25/05 | 06/18/05 | Y/Y | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims | 310 | 316 | -10.7% | 343 | 402 | 404 |
| Continuing Claims | -- | 2,600 | -11.7% | 2,926 | 3,531 | 3,570 |
