The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell sharply by 41,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 410,000, though the figure was elevated for the second straight week by Superstorm Sandy. But employment should rebound after the impact of the storm passes.
The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits surged by 78,000 to a seasonally adjusted 439,000 last week, a 1.5-year high and a sign that superstorm Sandy dented the U.S. economy by leaving tens of thousands of people out of work.
U.S. stock futures are recovering a day after the largest drop on the Dow Jones industrial average this year. Trading is light ahead of the Labor Department's report on claims for unemployment benefits.
For the US, the week may not really begin until Tuesday, but starting Monday night it's going to be an epic week for the entire globe. Here's why.
A gauge of future U.S. economic activity improved in July on a drop in new claims for jobless benefits and an increase in housing permits, although the reading still pointed to sluggish growth ahead.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 361,000, a level consistent with modest gains in hiring.
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits last fell sharply to the lowest level in four years, a hopeful sign for the struggling labor market, government data showed on Thursday.
More Americans sought unemployment aid last week, suggesting hiring remains sluggish. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly unemployment benefit applications rose 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 386,000.
The number of Americans lining up for new jobless benefits fell last week by 12,000, dropping for the first time since April and hinting that last month's slowdown in hiring may have been temporary.
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to a five-week high, evidence that the job market remains sluggish. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment aid rose 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 383,000.
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits was unchanged last week at 370,000, a number low enough to suggest steady gains in the job market. Applications for benefits are near the lowest levels in four years.
The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits suggests hiring is slowing. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for initial jobless benefits dipped last week by 2,000, but that was only after it revised the previous week's number upward by 8,000.
The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell to a four-year low last week, suggesting employers kept hiring in March at a healthy pace. Weekly applications dropped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 357,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.
Slightly more people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week. But the overall initial jobless claims level stayed near last week's rate, which was the lowest in four years -- and low enough to suggest the job market is strengthening.
Companies with strong balance sheets and high dividends will be among the few safe investment harbors if the economy continues to cool -- and given today's conditions, it's hard to imagine how the recent stock market rally could last much longer. Here are five dividend stocks that should keep paying strong returns.