U.S. jobless claims up more than expected

[southern_belle]

Source: Associated Press

Highest level in nearly two months; evidence of a weak economy

The number of newly laid off workers filing for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level in nearly two months, providing more evidence that the weak economy is having an adverse impact on the labor market.

The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for jobless benefits totaled 378,000 last week. That was an increase of 22,000 from the previous week and was a far bigger jump than had been expected.

The four-week average for new claims rose to 365,250, which was the highest level since a flood of claims caused by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.

The current economic slowdown, which many economists believe has already turned into a full-blown recession, is starting to show up in the labor market in terms of higher layoffs and weaker hiring numbers.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23723179/

[fasttense]

1. The economy is in the tanker and they are surprised jobless

claims are high. Exactly who expected them to be lower? Was it the Labor Department as the article implies but does not come out and say? Just who was dumb enough to expect lower jobless claims?

[tanyev]

2. I know. I must have missed when GWB appointed Pollyanna to run the Labor Dept.

[Zynx]

4. Whenever they refer to expectations they are usually referring to economist expectations.

[mac2]

9. Not our representatives who want us to compete with

cheap imported labor. They want international corporations to profit not us.

What happened to "bring them up to us". Seems it's bring us down to them...way down. How can we compete with slave and prison labor?

Soon we won't have any manuafacturing in this country. They have allowed all of them to leave for cheaper labor.

Other countries protect themselves regardless of NAFTA. We need tariffs since the WTO always allows others to win to destroy us. What kind of trade representative is she? I saw her on CSPAN one day claiming she's doing a great jobs. She was so upset and insulted that any Congress person would say differently! They let her get away with it instead of demanding her resignation.

[fascisthunter]

3. "expected".... surrre (nt)

[xchrom]

5. i'll be 'surprised' when they stop being 'surprised'

by events that can only be expected.

[mac2]

10. Liars all of them...compulsive liars.

What did America ever do to them that they hate her so much? No group of citizens in the world were ever given such opportunity and freedom yet it is not enough to hand it down to other generations.

[Javaman]

6. Seems as if $200 billion doesn't go as far as it once did, huh?

down 240+ points yesterday.

Now with more unemployment claims that "normal", I'm curious to see what piece of propaganda is thrown at the public in an effort to falsely inflate the market.

Strange times indeed.

[Speciesamused]

7. If you are presently cushioned.....

the actual number of people unemployed/underemployed
is mind numbing and the worst is yet to come. I am
one of these people. At this rate, Americans are truly
destined to become the next boat people; rowing
themselves overseas to find a job. Soon theres not
gonna be any Summer of Peace and Love free-loading going on;
not anywhere. There will be no buffets at bars/bistros to get
free eats at. All you will have is what you have when it all
comes down. Food is going ballistic as we speak. Peace:eyes:

[Supersedeas]

8. nothing to see here -- feed them more JLo babies and Heather Mills $$

[scarface2004]

11. what do you expect?

the tidal wave of bankruptcy is coming soon

[Thepricebreaker]

12. The sky is falling......

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[TheWatcher]

14. So why come here with your sophmoric taunts?

Keep buying that Strong Dollar and keep buying worthless paper in the Casino.

It's become pretty clear you haven't got a clue what's going on in the economy.

[Doctor_J]

13. Yeah, but the fundamentals are strong

according to the Harvard MBA in the White House. AKA Miserable Failure.

[sarcasmo]

15. A kick back to the main page.