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Economy in Brief
U.S. Energy Prices Are Mixed
Retail gasoline prices slipped to $2.88 per gallon last week (+24.2% y/y)...
U.S. Home Builder Index Backpedals
The Composite Housing Market Index from the NAHB-Wells Fargo fell 2.9% (+3.0% y/y) to 68 during June ...
Japan's Loses Its Trade Surplus
In May, Japan has logged its second trade deficit in 13 months and only its third in the last 28 months...
U.S. Industrial Production Slips Unexpectedly
The Federal Reserve reported that industrial production eased 0.1% (+3.5% y/y) during May...
Empire State Manufacturing Index Continues to Strengthen
The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions rose to 25.0 during June, the highest level in eight months...
by Tom Moeller October 27, 2005
Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 28,000 to 328,000 last week versus a little revised 35,000 decline during the prior period. Consensus expectations had been for 340,000 claims.
The four-week moving average of initial claims fell to 366,500 (+7.8% y/y).
Continuing claims for unemployment insurance rose 42,000 following a downwardly revised 4,000 gain during the prior week.
The insured rate of unemployment rose to 2.3% from 2.2% during the prior four weeks. The low in early September was 2.0%.
| Unemployment Insurance (000s) | 10/22/05 | 10/15/05 | Y/Y | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims | 328 | 356 | -3.5% | 343 | 402 | 404 |
| Hurricane Related Claims (000, NSA) | 40 | 75 | ||||
| Continuing Claims | -- | 2,904 | 3.2% | 2,926 | 3,531 | 3,570 |
