Why do these two artistic graphs give professional analysts something to worry about? Because they represent the correlation of initial and continuing claims figures with the employment conditions, and this correlation is pointing in an unfavorable direction (more on this at the end of the article). Just as with every other Thursday, the Department of Labor released its advanced estimate of the number of individuals applying for initial and continuing unemployment insurance benefits. Whether overdone or not, initial claims are considered an important leading indicator of the direction of the economy, and markets generally pay close attention to the weekly…
Initial Jobless Claims Increase as Employers Slow Down on Hiring
Harrison Roger
Roger is an economic adviser and active angel investor. He owns various economics firms. His work allows him a diverse group of clients across the globe, including the United States, Europe, and Asia. He holds a Ph.D. in business economics.