Economic Event Initial Claims Units Thousands of Claims Current Period 10/17/2009 Release Date Oct. 22. 09 Reported 531 Consensus for Current Period 513 Number of Forecasts 6 Economic Surprise 18 ( 3.51 % ) Prior Period 10/10/2009 Reported Value for Prior Period 520 Revised From 514 Next Release Date Oct. 29. 09 Next Release Time 8:30 AM Eastern Time Source http://ows.doleta.gov/press/2009/102209.asp Note The 4-week moving average was 532,250, a decrease of 750 from the previous week " s revised average of 533,000. 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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