Jobless Claims Fall Unexpectedly as Layoffs Ease - lowest level since July 2008 in sign of recovery

[jefferson_dem]

Jobless Claims Fall Unexpectedly as Layoffs Ease
New jobless claims fall unexpectedly to lowest level since July 2008 in sign of recovery

WASHINGTON December 31, 2009 (AP)

The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week, a sign the job market is healing as the economy slowly recovers.

The Labor Department says that new claims for unemployment insurance fell by 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 432,000, the lowest since July 2008. That's much better than the rise to 460,000 that Wall Street economists expected.

The number of jobless workers continuing to claim benefits dropped by 57,000 to 4.9 million, also better than the increase that analysts expected.

Economists closely monitor initial claims, which are considered a gauge of the pace of layoffs and an indication of companies' willingness to hire new workers.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9454580

[lazer47]

1. What's to shout about,,Unemployment is still 10%

[jefferson_dem]

2. I simply posted the news without comment.

Seems you think the positive trajectory on employment is not good news. Gotcha.

[Peacetrain]

5. When new applies for unemployment drop below 450,000 that acutally means job growth

to the positive.

This is very good news..

[Clio the Leo]

6. Ask again in a week....

.... when the quarterly numbers come out.

[phleshdef]

10. If you cared to do simple math, you would realize that an ease in layoffs is a step towards...

...improved unemployment numbers. Layoffs have to ease first, THEN hiring. Thats how it always fucking works. But don't let sound, mathematical logic get in the way of your willful ignorance.

[Kdillard]

3. Good news. Hope this trajectory continues and that the unemployment number

Will fall as well .

[Peacetrain]

4. oops I posted the same op.. will go and delete mine.. good news for sure

[Kingofalldems]

7. Another Democratic recovery--read it and weep freepers

We always have to clean up your repub Masters' messes.

[Teaser]

8. This sucks. I blame Obama.

This isn't change I can believe in.

[Ikonoklast]

11. Well played, good sir and/or madame.

How dare the economy show signs of improvemebt?

[Phx_Dem]

9. Republicans hoping for America to fail must be very upset at this good news.

They don't care if every person in their state/district is out of work as long as they have a club with which to beat Democrats.