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.