The Good News Economist

Unemployment Claims Drop by 20%

Very nice and timely article Califia Beach Pundit, your graph tells the story quite nicely.

notsosmart, so sorry that you see a bonified leading economic indicator as a joke. Go study the 10 *leading* economic indicators and you will see that this is no riddle. Laugh all you want... the data is right there on the chart. That signature is a classic leading indicator of a job market on the mend. Perhaps you just need correctional lenses to make it say what you want.

chinooking, you are right this indicator is not meant to count those folks out of work, only those filing new claims. The filing of new claims is the "leading indicator," not the number to which you refer.

paultaut, looks a though your understanding is quite limited. I suggest you study the definition of "initial claims for unemployment." You might need that some day.

And bs_o_meter, do what you want with the data and your personal trash can. That's usually what folks do when they don't want to read valid data... they just ignore it. I would expect no less of you. There is no doubt however, that when the conference board files its report of leading indicators on the economy later this month, this one has just turned from negative in their last report to positive in their January compilation. Don't worry you need not go back to your circular file. The conference board can find and report the data just fine without your lost copy.

Pundit, looking forward to more indicators from the Beach! I am sure that the end of the recession will not catch you by surprise.

GNE
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