Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Feb 10 2005

Initial Claims for Jobless Insurance Fell To Four Year Low

Summary

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell another 13,000 to 303,000 last week, the lowest level since late 2000. Consensus expectations had been for 325,000 claims. The four week moving average of initial claims fell to 315,500 [...]


Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell another 13,000 to 303,000 last week, the lowest level since late 2000. Consensus expectations had been for 325,000 claims.

The four week moving average of initial claims fell to 315,500 (-12.8% y/y).

During the last ten years there has been a (negative) 82% correlation between the level of initial claims and the y/y change in payroll employment.

Continuing claims for unemployment insurance rose 47,000 following a deepened 121,000 drop the prior week.

The insured rate of unemployment ticked up to 2.2%.

The hard hat blues from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is available here.

Unemployment Insurance (000s) 02/05/05 01/29/05 Y/Y 2004 2003 2002
Initial Claims 303 316 -19.8% 343 402 404
Continuing Claims -- 2,737 -13.1% 2,926 3,531 3,570
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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