Initial Jobless Claims up.
Initial Jobless Claims (week ended 4/30/2016)
– New Claims seasonally adjusted 274,000. Previous was 257,000
– New Claims unadjusted, totaled 243,365 a decrease of 1,675from previous
– 4-week Moving Average seasonally adjusted 258,000. Previous was 256,000
This is the largest week-over-week increase in 16 months. This will be an issue if this keeps increasing.
Challenger Job-Cut Report (April 2016)
– Announced Layoffs 65,141. Previous was 48,207
Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index (week ending 5/1/2016)
– Index 42.0. Previous was 43.4.
This is another of the many survey indices intended to forecast spending in the near future.