Global| Jun 21 2012U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Slip W/W But Trend Higher
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
There's further evidence that the rate of labor market improvement has slowed. The four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 386,250 last week, their highest since December. Initial claims for [...]
There's further evidence that the rate of labor market improvement has slowed. The four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 386,250 last week, their highest since December. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 387,000 during the week of June 16 from 389,000 in the prior week. However, the prior week's figure was revised up from 386,000 and Consensus expectations were for 380,000 new claims for last week.
The latest claims figure covers the survey week for June nonfarm payrolls. Initial claims rose 15,000 (4.0%) from the May period. During the last ten years there has been a 75% correlation between the level of initial claims and the m/m change in nonfarm employment.
Continuing claims for unemployment insurance were steady w/w at 3.299M during the week of June 9. The insured rate of unemployment held at 2.6% where it's been since March. This particular count covers only "regular" programs and does not include all extended benefit and other specialized jobless insurance programs. In the week of June 2, the latest figure available, the grand total of all benefit recipients fell further to 5.826M, down -22.8% y/y and down 50% from the peak in January 2010.
By state the insured unemployment rate varied greatly with Virginia (1.36%), Texas (1.56%), Ohio (1.73%), Indiana (1.80%), Florida (1.85%) and Georgia (2.09%) at the low end of the range. At the high end were Nevada (3.00%), Illinois (3.08%), Connecticut (3.22%), New Jersey (3.31%), California (3.33%) and Pennsylvania (3.51%).
Data on weekly unemployment insurance programs are contained in Haver's WEEKLY database, including the seasonal factor series, and they are summarized monthly in USECON. Data for individual states, including the unemployment rates that determine individual state eligibility for the extended benefits programs and specific "tiers" of the emergency program, are in REGIONW, a database of weekly data for states and various regional divisions. Action Economics consensus survey estimates are in AS1REPNA.
| Unemployment Insurance (000s) | 06/16/12 | 06/09/12 | 06/02/12 | Y/Y% | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims | 387 | 389 | 380 | -8.7 | 409 | 459 | 574 |
| Continuing Claims | -- | 3,299 | 3,299 | -11.5 | 3,745 | 4,544 | 5,807 |
| Insured Unemployment Rate (%) | -- | 2.6 | 2.6 | 3.0 (6/11) |
3.0 | 3.6 | 4.4 |
| Total "All Programs" (NSA) | -- | -- | 5.826M | -22.8 | 7.750M | 9.850M | 9.163M |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »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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