U.S. Labor Department released last week for the first time jobless claims report, ending December 25 of the week, the number of initial claims were down 34,000, the total fell to a seasonally adjusted 388,000, the latter created in 2008 Since the low in July.
According to Thomson Reuters survey of economists on average expected 41.3 million. The number of initial claims four-week moving average down 12,500 chain, to 41.4 million, also a record in July 2008 the lowest since records. Compared with the weekly data, four-week moving average to reduce the impact of special factors, to better reflect labor market trends.
The number of initial claims to help observers of labor market conditions. Economists generally believe that the number of initial claims to be a long time maintained at 40 million, and the U.S. labor market, the amount of employment it may be significantly increased. Some analysts pointed out that currently the holidays, the number of initial claims adjusted for seasonal factors, is very difficult.
As of December 18 in the week, continuing to receive unemployment benefits rose 57,000 ring, the total increased to a seasonally adjusted 4.13 million. The four-week moving average number of chain down 37,250 to 4.12 million, which hit its lowest level since November 2008.
As of December 11 in the week of the month, totaling about 8.87 million Americans receive at least a certain form of unemployment relief. This figure is not adjusted for seasonal factors, the number of the previous week by about 3.5 million.