Economic Event Initial Claims Units Thousands of Claims Current Period 02/19/2011 Release Date Feb. 24. 11 Reported 391 Consensus for Current Period 401 Number of Forecasts 8 Economic Surprise -10 ( -2.49 % ) Prior Period 02/12/2011 Reported Value for Prior Period 413 Revised From 410 Next Release Date Mar. 03. 11 Next Release Time 8:30 AM Eastern Time Source https://ows.doleta.gov/press/2011/022411.asp Note The 4-week moving average was 402,000, a decrease of 16,500 from the previous week " s revised average of 418,500. 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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