Jobless Claims in U.S. Climb for Second Week to One-Month High

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits climbed last week to a one-month high, showing little progress in the labor market.

Jobless claims rose by 4,000 for a second week to reach 372,000 in the period ended Aug. 18, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 41 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 365,000. The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, increased to 368,000.

Companies may be keeping payrolls lean after slashing headcounts during the recession while waiting for further assurances that economic growth will pick up. The European debt crisis and slowdown in Asia remain headwinds to investor and business confidence.

“It’s still very sluggish, and growth itself is implying we should not see any acceleration in hiring at this point,” Yelena Shulyatyeva, a U.S. economist at BNP Paribas in New York, said before the report. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-23/jobless-claims-in-u-s-climb-for-second-week-to-one-month-high.html

[Johonny]

1. I'm sure the Republican house will pass that jobs bill any day now

as we all know 2010 election was about jobs, jobs, jobs. Nothing creates jobs like bills to rename post offices.

[glacierbay]

2. Yes

I'm sure any day now.
But, just to be on the safe side, I'm not holding my breath.