First-time claims for unemployment insurance rose 8,000 for the week ended July 28 to 365,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected 370,000 initial claims. The prior week's total was revised up to 357,000 from the originally reported 353,000.
Read More »Case Shiller Index and Employment – Another Look
While the month-month Case Shiller Home Price Index shot up in May a record high increase (2.2 percent) in the 20-city index and a near-record (2.2 percent increase) in the narrower 10-city index it also suggested employment has less to do with the change in home prices than might otherwise have been thought.
Read More »Initial Jobless Claims Plunge on Auto Industry and Holiday Adjustments
First-time claims for unemployment insurance fell 35,000 for the week ended July 21 to 353,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected 380,000 initial claims. The prior week’s total was revised up to 388,000 from the originally reported 386,000.
Read More »Foreclosures Wane in Bay State as Economy Mends: Report
Foreclosure petitions fell by nearly 30 percent last month in Massachusetts, reaching their lowest level this year as jobs crawl back to life and the economy at large continues to mend. The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, recorded some 1,254 petitions in June, a decline by as much as 29.5 percent from May.
Read More »Initial Jobless Claims Rebound to 4-Week High
First-time claims for unemployment insurance rose 34,000 for the week ended July 14 to 386,000 - the highest level in four weeks - the Labor Department reported Thursday. The prior week's total was revised up to 352,000 from the originally reported 350,000.
Read More »Economy Continues ‘Modest to Moderate Expansion’ Per Beige Book
The U.S. economy continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace in June and early July the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in its periodic Beige Book. The national summary, based on reports from each of the 12 Federal Reserve districts, noted modest growth in the Atlanta, St.
Read More »Weak Jobs Report Sends Mortgage Rates Tumbling Again
The 30-year fixed averaged 3.56 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending July 12, down from 3.62 percent the previous week. At the same time in 2011, the 30-year fixed averaged 4.51 percent. This week marks the 16th straight week that the 30-year average has stayed below 4 percent. The 15-year fixed also fell, averaging 2.86 percent (0.7 point), a drop from 2.89 percent last week. A year ago, the 15-year fixed averaged 3.65 percent.
Read More »Seasonal Factors Drive Initial Claims to 4-Year Low
First-time claims for unemployment insurance fell 26,000 for the week ended July 6 to 350,000 the lowest level since March 2008, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The prior week's total was revised up to 376,000 from the originally reported 374,000.
Read More »Nation Adds a Weak 80,000 Jobs in June, Unemployment Rate Flat
The nation added 80,000 jobs in June, making job growth in the second quarter 225,000 - the weakest quarterly gain in jobs since the third quarter of 2010 when the economy lost 136,000 jobs. The closely watched unemployment rate remained at 8.2 percent, unchanged from May.
Read More »Initial Jobless Claims in Steepest Drop in 9 Weeks
First time claims for unemployment insurance fell a sharp 14,000 to 374,000 for the week ended June 30, the Labor Department the largest drop in nine weeks, reported Thursday. The prior week's total was revised up to 388,000 from the originally reported 386,000.
Read More »