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March 18, 2010 10:31 AM

Jobless Claims Dip Slightly for 3rd Week

By
CBSNews
(AP)  The number of newly laid-off workers requesting jobless benefits in the U.S. fell slightly last week for the third straight time. But initial claims remain above levels that would signal net job gains.

New claims for unemployment insurance fell 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 457,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That nearly matched analysts' estimates of 455,000, according to Thomson Reuters.

The four-week average, which smoothes out volatility, dropped to 471,250. Still, the average has risen by 30,000 since the start of this year. That's raised concerns among economists that persistent unemployment could weaken the recovery.

The average number of weekly jobless claims remains above the 400,000-to-425,000 level that many economists say it must fall below before widespread new hiring is likely.

Initial claims are considered a gauge of the pace of layoffs and an indication of companies' willingness to hire new workers. High unemployment has persisted even though the economy grew in the second half of last year.

The nation's gross domestic product, the broadest measure of output, rose 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter, the fastest pace in six years. But much of that growth reflected a one-time gain from companies restocking their inventories. Many economists expect the growth rate to drop to about 3 percent in the current January-to-March quarter.

(AP/Department of Labor)
The unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in February, the same as the previous month, down from a peak of 10.1 percent last October. Still, the Federal Reserve and most private economists expect it to remain well above 9 percent throughout this year.

The Fed said Tuesday that "the labor market is stabilizing." That's an improvement from its previous diagnosis in January, when it said its deterioration "is abating."

The number of people continuing to claim unemployment benefits, meanwhile, rose slightly to 4.58 million. That was similar to what economists expected. But that doesn't include millions of people who are receiving extended benefits for up to 73 extra weeks, on top of the 26 weeks customarily provided by the states.

More than 6 million people were on the extended benefit rolls for the week that ended Feb. 27, the latest data available. That is about 300,000 more than in the previous week.

AP
Add a Comment
by hateisafourletterword March 20, 2010 12:15 PM EDT
Harry, Barry, Nancy, Christopher, Barney and fellow idiots. You all claim to be superior to conservatives, yet you idiots cannot seem to read reports very well.

Keep up the great work. I expect the BK of America 2011 mantra you are working so feverishly on is right on course. It took 70 years, but you democrats really finally achieved BK. Thank you morons.
Reply to this comment
by usaguy2010 March 19, 2010 9:06 AM EDT
Pathetic... Obama is doing a bang up job.. Thanks to all the libs who voted for this clown. Nice work.
Reply to this comment
by inketolstoy March 18, 2010 3:08 PM EDT
"Jobless Claims Dip Slightly for 3rd Week"
and
"More than 6 million people were on the extended benefit rolls for the week that ended Feb. 27, the latest data available. That is about 300,000 more than in the previous week."

Anyone else confused?
Reply to this comment
by cleantheDCcesspool March 18, 2010 9:37 AM EDT
It has been awhile since Obama loudly proclaimed how many jobs he has "created or saved", some in none-existent places. Yoo Hoo, Mr. Prez, where are you? Too busy cooking the books on health care to cook the books on job creation?
Reply to this comment
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