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US unemployment applications flat at 374,000
AP via Fox News ^ | August 30, 2012 | AP

Posted on 08/30/2012 6:16:33 AM PDT by John W

WASHINGTON – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits was unchanged last week at a seasonally adjusted 374,000, suggesting slow improvement in the job market.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, increased to 370,250.

Applications are a measure of the pace of layoffs. When they fall consistently below 375,000, it generally suggests that hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate.

Unemployment applications have risen slightly over the past three weeks. Last week's number was revised upward to 374,000 from the 372,000 that was reported initially. That was its second straight increase.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
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To: napscoordinator

That’s 374,000 NEWLY unemployed just this week! Not counting all the 360,000 or so from EVERY WEEK PREVIOUS...........


21 posted on 08/30/2012 7:02:39 AM PDT by Red Badger (Anyone who thinks wisdom comes with age is either too young or too stupid to know the difference....)
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To: Maryland Man

...”Lower the standards, that way they can be successfully met.”...

That is exactly how Barack Obama has proceeded through life - on the basis of lowered standards and skin melanin content...


22 posted on 08/30/2012 7:09:42 AM PDT by astounded (Barack Obama is a clear and present danger to the USA)
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To: laconic

“No, they can report that there was no INCREASE because last week’s figures were revised UPWARD by the amount of the increase so they can report claims remained FLAT, week to week.”

Bingo...we have a winner !!!


23 posted on 08/30/2012 7:11:30 AM PDT by IWONDR
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To: John W
The CBS radio news at the top of the hour each week uses some fool economist who always says that this is a good sign that shows jobs are coming back. He's been saying this for the last year, right on cue every Thursday morning. How do these people keep their teaching jobs?
24 posted on 08/30/2012 7:17:37 AM PDT by aegiscg47
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To: Red Badger

Holy cow. I didn’t realize it was new unemployment numbers. Thanks!


25 posted on 08/30/2012 7:19:31 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Paul Ryan/Rick Santorum 2012....That would be the best scenario ever.)
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To: aegiscg47

My AM radio station has the “Wall Street Journal Report” and right before the hour and the news and the reporter is almost always giddy with news that might look favorable for the regime, even if like the unemployment claims come in as “expected” or slightly above or below. And like you said, they seem to find some economists or broker to give them a sound bite saying something along the lines “it’s not to bad, or not to good.” Or, “we are on the right track, albeit to slow.” It’s like these newsreaders at the Journal don’t even read what their paper writes about the economy.

And Fox News radio is just as bad. They are better than AP or ABC radio for sure.


26 posted on 08/30/2012 7:23:36 AM PDT by The South Texan (The Drive By Media is America's worst enemy and American people don't know it.)
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To: EGPWS
Is there shenanigans going on because of the convention or something?

Well, if the Democrat Convention is any indicator you can see why jobs don't improve.

The Democrats can't even organize a 3-day event. Go try to find their schedule. There ain't one. They have a list of shifting (and shifty) speakers, but no indication of when the convention is called to order, who will talk on day one, day 2, day3.

All I can find out is that days 1-2 are in the Arena and day 3 is in the stadium "to reach more voters".

Hey, most of the DEMS are staying home and the re-coronation is being televised. So, how does the Stadium get more people?

Just more smoke and mirrors from the gang that couldn't shoot straight.

27 posted on 08/30/2012 7:26:21 AM PDT by plangent
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To: JaguarXKE

The title is a lie. The number was 372,000 last week. The weekly reported number increased.

And, even if one were to allow them their little games with numbers and words, they are saying that something bad that stays bad is an improvement.

That is deceit.


28 posted on 08/30/2012 7:33:05 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: xzins

Hussein is ALL ABOUT deceit.

As much as possible.


29 posted on 08/30/2012 7:56:31 AM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: John W

I think I’ve figured out their algorithm:

1) Get figures for new unemployment claims.

2) Publish figures a few thousand less than that value.

3) When figures for the next week turn up, revise old figure up so that new figure stays even or looks less.

4) Publish figure for the next set of unemployment claims as given in step (1)

5) Repeat as needed (if Obama is president, “as needed” = “almost every time”).

Done judiciously, these figures can appear to hold steady or trend down each week, even if they are actually increasing from week-to-week (and if you doubt me, just see what the article downplays as the four-week running average, an approach which washes out these magical “revisions”).


30 posted on 08/30/2012 8:11:10 AM PDT by Stosh
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To: xzins

Oh goodie - instead of my competing with 50+ other employees for one job opening, we can make it 75...

It is hard out there. Yes, there are jobs to be had but the competition is fierce. I am more than willing to take something with lower pay out of my field but have consistently run into the “you are over qualified”, “we have concerns you will quit for something with more pay”, etc. Hubby has it worse - he is 52 and is getting hit with age concerns by prospective employers. Sure, they are not supposed to talk about that stuff but you get their subtle point fast enough.

I’ve been trying to be upbeat, networking, sending resumes, etc. knowing something will break but this past week has seen me slipping mentally and emotionally.

To see these statistics and NO light at the end of the tunnel is frightening.


31 posted on 08/30/2012 8:25:05 AM PDT by nurees (Oh...there is a NEW Mexico (Homer Simpson))
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To: John W

Until next Thursday... When they will be revised upwards for the 80th week in a row.


32 posted on 08/30/2012 8:39:18 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (If romney is our only chance... we have less of a chance than a Massachusetts fetus.)
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To: Night Hides Not

No... It was 120,000 jobs created a month just to keep up with immigration. Do not let them lie!


33 posted on 08/30/2012 8:40:55 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (If romney is our only chance... we have less of a chance than a Massachusetts fetus.)
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To: laconic

Exactly. Suppose next week the numbers are 377,000, but the previous week (this week) is revised upward to 377,000 - “flat” again! We can go from 372 to 374 to 377 all the while the numbers are flat. The press may as well just run the headline “It’s not my boyfriend’s fault.”


34 posted on 08/30/2012 8:50:44 AM PDT by lawdvd
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To: John W

What a pantload.


35 posted on 08/30/2012 9:04:34 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (Liberalism: Carrying adolescent values and behavior into adult life.)
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To: nurees
I feel your pain, nurees. I don't have any easy answers for you. I'll be 60 YO in 18 months, and I saw the same age discrimination in jobs I applied for. My "favorite" memory was when an interviewer said to me 45 minutes into my interview, "I'm sorry, but your resume is too strong for this position".

The young lady didn't like my response, although I had a smile on my face: "I'd like to use your guidance and knowledge. Where should I dumb it down?"

It got to the point that I asked, "is this an actual job interview, or are you trying to fulfill your quota for the month?"

Perhaps a brief comment about my 60 YO sister may be of help. She was laid off from a major bank after 30+ years. When she moved to NV a few years ago, she needed a job to bring in extra cash. She went to work at a local supermarket, and they started her in the deli section. A few months later, she was moved to bookkeeping. Fast forward a year, she's now the head bookkeeper. The pay's not great, but the company covers 100% of health insurance.

Best wishes to you and your husband.

36 posted on 08/30/2012 9:04:52 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (The Tea Party was the earthquake, and Chick Fil A the tsunami...100's of aftershocks to come.)
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To: aegiscg47
"How do these people keep their teaching jobs?"

Tenure.

37 posted on 08/30/2012 9:15:08 AM PDT by In Maryland (Our rights come from nature and God, not government. - Paul Ryan)
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To: John W

Local Reno channels have not even reported the unemployment figures since about early July.

They are trying to hide it from the voters, IMO.


38 posted on 08/30/2012 9:47:35 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: napscoordinator

Please tell us you were trying to be funny.

These weekly numbers are the NEW applications filed for those freshly unemployed.

When you run that number times 4+, you are looking at over 1 million, 500 thousand new applicaitons per month.


39 posted on 08/30/2012 9:50:04 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: ridesthemiles

I wasn’t being funny. However a nice FREEPER explained it to me and now I am in the know.


40 posted on 08/30/2012 9:58:17 AM PDT by napscoordinator (Paul Ryan/Rick Santorum 2012....That would be the best scenario ever.)
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