Initial Jobless up but still Low.

Challenger Job-Cut Report (March 2016)

– Announced Layoffs 48,207. Previous was 61,599

 

 

Initial Jobless Claims (week ended 3/26/2016)

– New Claims seasonally adjusted 276,000. Previous was 265,000
– New Claims unadjusted, totaled 235,839 an increase of 4,957 from  previous week
– 4-week Moving Average seasonally adjusted  263,250   Previous was 259,750

This is high for the past 2 months but is also 56 consecutive weeks of initial claims below 300,000, the longest streak since 1973.

 

 

Chicago PMI (March 2016)

– Business Barometer Index  53.6. Previous was 47.6.

This month has seen mostly positive fundamentals on the supply side and an end to the brief manufacturing recession.