Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Oct 28 2004

Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Rose

Summary

Initial claims for unemployment insurance last week recouped most of the prior period's decline with a 20,000 rise to 350,000 following a 25,000 decline that was little revised. The Consensus expectation had been for 340,000 claims. [...]


Initial claims for unemployment insurance last week recouped most of the prior period's decline with a 20,000 rise to 350,000 following a 25,000 decline that was little revised. The Consensus expectation had been for 340,000 claims.

During the last ten years there has been a (negative) 73% correlation between the level of initial claims and the m/m change in payroll employment.

The 4-week moving average of initial claims fell to 343,250 (-11.6% y/y).

Continuing claims for unemployment insurance rose 38,000 after sharp declines during five of the prior six weeks.

The insured rate of unemployment remained at 2.2% for the third week.

Unemployment Insurance (000s) 10/23/04 10/16/04 Y/Y 2003 2002 2001
Initial Claims 350 330 -9.3% 402 404 406
Continuing Claims -- 2,823 -19.5% 3,531 3,570 3,018
  • 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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