Initial Claims decreased to 420,000, for the week ending 12/11, against the expected increase to 424,000, after decreasing to 423,000, the revised level for the previous week. The 4-week moving average decreased to 422,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 428,000. Seasonally adjusted insured unemployment from the prior week, ending on 12/04, was 4,135,000, an increase of 22,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 4,113,000. Seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate from the week ending on 12/04, was 3.3%, unchanged from the previous week’s revised figure of 3.3%.
Housing Starts in November increased by 3.9% to an annual pace of 555,000, higher than the expected level of 549,000, from the revised figure of 534,000 in October (originally reported at 519,000). Over the year the figure has decreased by 5.8% from the November 2009 rate of 589,000. Building Permits decreased by 4.0% over the month to 530,000, lower than the expected level of 560,000, following 552,000 permits annualized in October (originally reported at 550,000). Over the year, Building Permits decreased by 4.0% from the 552,000 pace in November 2009.
Upcoming Releases
Leading Indicators (12/17 at 10:00 AM EST)
GDP Q3 Final (12/22 at 8:30 AM EST)
Existing Home Sales (12/22 at 10:00 AM EST)
Personal Consumption Expenditures (12/23 at 8:30 AM EST)
