Economic Event Initial Claims Units Thousands of Claims Current Period 08/15/2009 Release Date Aug. 20. 09 Reported 576 Consensus for Current Period 558 Number of Forecasts 6 Economic Surprise 18 ( 3.23 % ) Prior Period 08/08/2009 Reported Value for Prior Period 561 Revised From 558 Next Release Date Aug. 27. 09 Next Release Time 8:30 AM Eastern Time Source http://ows.doleta.gov/press/2009/082009.asp Note The 4-week moving average was 570,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week " s revised average of 565,750. Description Initial jobless claims measure the amount of filings for state jobless benefits. This indicator of the direction of the economy can be misleading, with increases in claims potential signaling slowing job growth. Typically a four week moving average provides a better sense of the underlying trend. A move of 30K is necessary to signal a meaningful change in job growth.

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