Jobless claims jump to nine-month high

[Hannah Bell]

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- First-time filings for state unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week to reclaim the highest level for this key economic benchmark since the middle of last November, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

For the week ended Aug. 14, initial claims rose 12,000 to 500,000. This is the highest level since the week ended Nov. 14, 2009.

Claims had fallen as low as the 427,000 level in mid-July but have worsened steadily since and now have increased for three straight weeks. Read the full government report.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-rise-to-500000-a-nine-month-high-2010-08-19

[fogonthelake]

1. Not good. Not good at all.

[Imajika]

2. Ahhh, recovery summer!

Wonder what Autumn will be called?

[prolesunited]

3. I think stalling the unemployment benefits also stalled the economy

Hundreds of thousands were left without their unemployment checks -- some for more than two months if they were between tiers. Extended benefits were cut immediately and there is another three-week gap for new applications.

No big surprise that foreclosures tick up and retail sales go down. The GOP is so set on seeing Obama fail that they'll take the country with them to accomplish their goals.

[ProSense]

4. Not only that,

the GOP is blocking small business aid.

[piratefish08]

5. I'm feeling overwhelmed with all this recovery going on.......

[madrchsod]

6. my daughter went back to work and my son was hired full time.

my other son is on a 14 day press run. my wife is working full time.i`m living large on social security...ya right.

crossing our fingers...right now we are feeling pretty dam lucky...

[prolesunited]

7. Sounds like things are looking up for your family

May not be much but better than a lot.