Economic Event Initial Claims Units Thousands of Claims Current Period 12/26/2009 Release Date Dec. 31. 09 Reported 432 Consensus for Current Period 461 Number of Forecasts 6 Economic Surprise -29 ( -6.29 % ) Prior Period 12/19/2009 Reported Value for Prior Period 454 Revised From 452 Next Release Date Jan. 07. 10 Next Release Time 8:30 AM Eastern Time Source http://ows.doleta.gov/press/2009/123109.asp Note The 4-week moving average was 460,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week " s revised average of 465,750. 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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