US Jobless Claims in Three-Year Low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing initial claims
for jobless aid dropped sharply last week to the lowest in more than
three years, the government said on Thursday in a further sign of a
reviving employment market.

First-time claims for state unemployment insurance fell 14,000 in the
week ended April 3 to 328,000 - the lowest level since just before
President Bush (news - web sites) took office - from 342,000 the prior
week, the Labor Department (news - web sites) said.


The unexpectedly large drop in claims likely will garner close
attention both at the Federal Reserve (news - web sites) and the White
House.


The drop in claims far exceeded forecasts by Wall Street economists
who had predicted a decline of just 2,000. The Labor Department said
last week's weekly level of jobless claims was the smallest since
320,000 in the week of Jan. 13, 2001.


Last week, the government reported a sharp surge in new jobs during
March with 308,000 positions added to payrolls, and the decline in
jobless claims adds to evidence that hiring conditions may be on the
upswing after a long drought.


The apparent pickup in employment may also hasten an end to a long era
of low interest rates, which saw the Federal Reserve cut its key
lending rate for overnight loans between banks to a 1958 low. The Fed
regularly cites its concern about slack labor markets as a reason for
keeping rates low, though the recent jobs data suggest the slack is
being taken up.


Weak hiring has been a hot issue in the campaign for November's
presidential elections, with Democrats highlighting the overall loss
of jobs since Bush took office while administration officials maintain
an economic upswing will soon give rise to job growth.


The Labor Department's four-week moving average of new claims, which
irons out weekly fluctuations, declined 3,250 last week to 336,750 -
the lowest since 335,750 in the week of Nov. 25, 2000.

"pyjamarama" wrote in message
om...
US Jobless Claims in Three-Year Low

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing initial claims
for jobless aid dropped sharply last week to the lowest in more than
three years, the government said on Thursday in a further sign of a
reviving employment market.

First-time claims for state unemployment insurance fell 14,000 in the
week ended April 3 to 328,000 - the lowest level since just before
President Bush (news - web sites) took office - from 342,000 the prior
week, the Labor Department (news - web sites) said.


The unexpectedly large drop in claims likely will garner close
attention both at the Federal Reserve (news - web sites) and the White
House.


The drop in claims far exceeded forecasts by Wall Street economists
who had predicted a decline of just 2,000. The Labor Department said
last week's weekly level of jobless claims was the smallest since
320,000 in the week of Jan. 13, 2001.


Last week, the government reported a sharp surge in new jobs during
March with 308,000 positions added to payrolls, and the decline in
jobless claims adds to evidence that hiring conditions may be on the
upswing after a long drought.


The apparent pickup in employment may also hasten an end to a long era
of low interest rates, which saw the Federal Reserve cut its key
lending rate for overnight loans between banks to a 1958 low. The Fed
regularly cites its concern about slack labor markets as a reason for
keeping rates low, though the recent jobs data suggest the slack is
being taken up.


Weak hiring has been a hot issue in the campaign for November's
presidential elections, with Democrats highlighting the overall loss
of jobs since Bush took office while administration officials maintain
an economic upswing will soon give rise to job growth.


The Labor Department's four-week moving average of new claims, which
irons out weekly fluctuations, declined 3,250 last week to 336,750 -
the lowest since 335,750 in the week of Nov. 25, 2000.

Part of the problem is that American workers are very productive and when
economic slowdowns happen, more output is done with less workers in order to
maximize profits so when recovery hits companies have money in the bank. Of
course this concept scares and annoys the left, since they think the only
place money should go is to the government.

Pyjama Boy and Mikey the Bug think everything is good. Enough said.

"tor b" wrote in message
...
Pyjama Boy and Mikey the Bug think everything is good. Enough said.

Evidence to the contrary where?

Evidence to the contrary where?


Everywhere.
WS

"bernard spilman" wrote in message
.. .
Evidence to the contrary where?


Everywhere.
WS

Then show your data.

Pyjama Boy and Mikey the Bug think everything is good. Enough said.

Business in their line of work, sucking dicks at a truck-stop
mens room, is good.
WS

"bernard spilman" wrote in message
.. .
Pyjama Boy and Mikey the Bug think everything is good. Enough said.

Business in their line of work, sucking dicks at a truck-stop
mens room, is good.
WS

You'll have to flirt somewhere else.

"bernard spilman" wrote in message ...
Pyjama Boy and Mikey the Bug think everything is good. Enough said.

Business in their line of work, sucking dicks at a truck-stop
mens room, is good.
WS

Oh look, the bitter little leftist is projecting his peepee fantasies again...

How bold, how visionary.

Would seem class isn't the only envy you suffer.

"pyjamarama" wrote in message
m...
"bernard spilman" wrote in message
...
Pyjama Boy and Mikey the Bug think everything is good. Enough said.

Business in their line of work, sucking dicks at a truck-stop
mens room, is good.
WS

Oh look, the bitter little leftist is projecting his peepee fantasies
again...

How bold, how visionary.

Would seem class isn't the only envy you suffer.

Seems like that's all they have brain power for. Figuring out how to rip
off those that have been successful in life and fantasies about life if they
had genitals.