Jobs Healthy. Rest of Economy Flat.

Jobless Claims (week ended 3/14/2015)

 

– New Claims (seasonally adjusted) 291,000. Previous was 290,000
– New Claims unadjusted were 259,671  a decrease of 18,254 from the previous week
– 4-week Moving Average 304,750. Previous was 302,500.

These numbers continue to show a healthy jobs market.

 

Current Account (4thQ2014)

 

– Current Account Deficit $113.5 billion. Previous was $98.9 billion.

The Current Account is the trade deficit plus earnings from foreign investments plus net cash transfers.  The increase in the deficit is mostly due to declining equity value of foreign investments.  This is an example of how problems in the EU affect the US economy.

 

Philadelphia Federal Reserve Business Outlook Survey  (March 2015)

– General Business Conditions Index  5.0. Previous was 5.2.

 

Leading Indicators (February 2015)

– Leading Indicators month/month +0.2%. Previous was +0.2%