Recent Updates
- Bulgaria: Trade by Region & End-Use (Q3), Foreign Trade in Goods (Sep), BOP (Oct)
- UK: Banking Sector Regulatory Capital (Q3)
- Iceland: HICP (Nov)
- Sweden: Outstanding Securities (Nov)
- Norway: Government Debt (Q3), Interest Rates on Loans (Oct), Norway: Central Bank Balance Sheet (Nov)
- Pakistan: IP (Oct)
- Hong Kong: Employment & Job Vacancies by Industry (Q3)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
Empire State Manufacturing Sector Improvement Moderates
The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions declined to 10.9 in December...
EMU Trade Shows Some Trade Flow Rebound
Trade flows are rebounding on differing dynamics in the euro area...
U.S. Retail Sales Start Holiday Season on Solid Ground
Consumers continued to exhibit their inclination to spend as holiday shopping got underway...
U.S. Industrial Production Rebounds
Industrial production jumped a greater-than-expected 0.6% (3.9% year-on-year) during November...
U.S. Business Inventory Accumulation Picks Up
Total business inventories increased 0.6% (5.1% y/y) during October...
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 |
