Boom Doom Economy: USA Weekly Unemployment Claims Rise to 5-Week High (Charts) *4-week average increases to 407,500*

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United States Department of Labor: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

* Updated August 25, 2011 for the week ended August 20, 2011 Claims *

Special Factor: As a result of a labor dispute between Communications Workers of America and Verizon Communications, at least 12,500 initial claims were filed in the week ending 8/13/2011 and at least 8,500 initial claims were filed in the week ending 8/20/2011 .

Trend The current weekly unemployment claims of 417,000 (preliminary) continues the trend above 400,000, 19 of the past 20 weeks. The short-term trend (4-week moving average) of 407,500 (preliminary) has decreased 7 of the past 8 weeks. The intermediate-term trend (26-week moving average) continues increasing, after reaching a Post-Great Recession low the week ending July 30, 2011. The long-term trend (52-week moving average) continues downwards, reaching a new Post-Great Recession low each week. The 2011 average weekly claims of 414,353 year-to-date are lower than 2010 average weekly claims of 457,481. The 2009 average weekly claims were 571,982 and the 2008 average weekly claims were 418,596.

Cycle History USA weekly unemployment claims reached a Great Recession cyclical peak of 651,000 for the week ended March 28, 2009. A Post-Great Recession cyclical low of 371,000 was set for the week ended February 26, 2011.

USA Weekly Unemployment Insurance Claims: 4-Week Moving Average (Chart) The chart below shows the 4-week moving average through the latest week reported. The 4-week moving average is considered a better, smoother measure of short-term trend. The Post-Great Recession cyclical low has been 388,500 for the week ended March 12, 2011. The recent peak has been 440,250 for the week ended May 14, 2011.

USA Weekly Unemployment Insurance Claims (Chart) The chart below shows the total weekly unemployment claims through the latest week reported. The Post-Recession cyclical low has been 371,000 for the week ended February 26, 2011. The recent peak has been 478,000 for the week ended April 30, 2011.

Commentary The current weekly unemployment claims of 417,000 (preliminary) is a 7-week high, but includes an estimated 8,500 additional claims due to the Verizon Communications labor dispute. The prior week, the week ended 8-13-11, included an estimated 12,500 of these claims. Continuing the trend below 400,000 is necessary to impact the unemployment rate. The USA unemployment rate is probably not significantly decreasing and probably continuing at or near the present 9.1% unless the weekly unemployment claims can remain below 400,000 for an extended period. The short-term trend (4-week moving average) decreasing 7 of the past 8 is encouraging.

History Weekly unemployment claims first reached 500,000 in the Great Recession cycle at 508,000 for the week ended November 15, 2008. Weekly claims continued above 500,000 until the week ended November 21, 2009 at 477,000. Weekly claims have been below 500,000 since the week ended November 21, 2009 with only one exception (504,000 for the week ended August 14, 2010). Claims over 500,000 clearly indicate GDP growth is slowing, if not stalling or contracting, while claims less than 400,000 indicate at least a modest economic expansion is underway.

Official Statement by the U.S. Department of Labor (Seasonally Adjusted Data) In the week ending August 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 417,000, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 412,000. The 4-week moving average was 407,500, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average of 403,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending August 13, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the prior week's revised rate of 3.0 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 13 was 3,641,000, a decrease of 80,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,721,250. The 4-week moving average was 3,701,000, a decrease of 19,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,720,750. Special Factor: As a result of a labor dispute between Communications Workers of America and Verizon Communications, at least 12,500 initial claims were filed in the week ending 8/13/2011 and at least 8,500 initial claims were filed in the week ending 8/20/2011.