Recent Updates
- Japan: Japan: CPI, Government Bond Trading Volume by Category of Investors (Apr)
- New Zealand: Overseas Merchandise Trade (Apr)
- UK: Consumer Confidence Barometer (May)
- UK Regional: Regional Consumer Confidence Barometer (May)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
U.S. Index of Leading Indicators Fell in April
Five of the index's components fell in April, one was unchanged and four increased...
U.S. Unemployment Claims Rose in the Latest Week
The state insured rates of unemployment in regular programs vary widely...
U.S. Housing Starts Dip in April but Remain Elevated
The pattern of housing construction activity seems to be shifting toward multifamily...
U.S. Mortgage Applications Continued to Slide Amid Higher Rates
The biggest declines have been in refinancing activity, while applications for purchase are just starting to crack...
UK Inflation Jumps
Inflation is at the highest rate since the series began in January of 1989...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
Profits and Margins Plunge In Q1: Expect More Margin Contraction As Fed Squeezes Inflation
The Many Links of Inflation Cycle: Hard Landing Is Needed to Crack Them
Peak Inflation & Fed Policy: A Relationship Which Should Worry The Fed And Scare Investors
Why Have the Yields on TIPS Been Negative in the Past Two Years?
by Carol Stone, CBE September 27, 2018
Initial unemployment insurance applications rose to 214,000 (-17.1% y/y) during the week ended September 22 from 202,000 in the prior week, which was revised up by 1,000. A smaller increase to 206,000 was anticipated in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The four-week moving average of initial claims was 206,250, almost equal to the previous week's 206,000. The latest individual week's rise may be related to the resumption of business activity in the states impacted by Hurricane Florence, for the simple fact that the closure of Labor Department offices during the storm had prevented people from filing during the prior week.
In the week ending September 15, continuing claims for unemployment insurance rose 16,000 to 1.661 million (-13.6% y/y) from 1.645 million a week earlier; that earlier number was unrevised. The four-week moving average of claimants declined to 1.679 million. This is the lowest four-week average since November 10, 1973 -- almost 45 years -- when it was 1.673 million.
The insured rate of unemployment remained at its record low of 1.2%, where it's been since early May.
Insured rates of unemployment varied widely by state. During the week ended September 8, the lowest rates were in South Dakota (0.19%), Nebraska (0.35%), North Dakota (0.35%), Indiana (0.43%), North Carolina (0.43%) and Utah (0.46%). The highest rates were in Pennsylvania (1.63%), Connecticut (1.67%), California (1.71%), Alaska (1.72%), and New Jersey (2.16%). Among other of the largest states by population, the rate was 1.30% in New York, 0.96% in Texas and 0.49% in Florida. These state data are not seasonally adjusted.
Data on weekly unemployment insurance are contained in Haver's WEEKLY database, and they are summarized monthly in USECON. Data for individual states are in REGIONW. The expectations figure is from the Action Economics Forecast Survey, carried in the AS1REPNA database.
Unemployment Insurance (SA, 000s) | 09/22/18 | 09/15/18 | 09/08/18 | Y/Y % | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Claims | 214 | 202 | 204 | -17.1 | 245 | 262 | 278 |
Continuing Claims | -- | 1,661 | 1,645 | -13.6 | 1,961 | 2,135 | 2,266 |
Insured Unemployment Rate (%) | -- | 1.2 | 1.2 |
1.4 |
1.4 | 1.6 | 1.7 |