WASHINGTON – The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits last week fell to the lowest level in 10 months, evidence that job cuts are easing as the economy slowly heals.

Still, companies are reluctant to hire and economists expect the unemployment rate will tick up to 9.9 percent when October's figure is reported Friday. The jobless rate hit a 26-year high of 9.8 percent in September.

The Labor Department said Thursday that first-time claims for jobless benefits fell by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 512,000. That's better than economists' estimates of 523,000.

Economists closely watch initial claims, which are considered a gauge of the pace of layoffs and an indication of employers' willingness to hire new workers.

The four-week average, which smooths fluctuations, dropped to 523,750, its ninth straight decline. That's 135,000 below the peak for the recession, reached in early April.

I HOPE THE TREND CONTINUES. THIS IS GETTING HARD ON A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND HOW LONG CAN WE CONTINUE EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS?

The figures stated are distorting cause they do not report the number of claimers that have come off of UI. Where did you get this report, sounds like one of your twisted and distorted Liberal, Hippo dung publications...

There are about ten sites reporting this story. Why don't you simply cut and paste the story into your browser to see who posted it, rather than attacking it.

Unless the companies stop shipping work overseras, the unemplpoyment figure will be high indefinitely.

Can't prove it here in the state of Florida, where housing is the main industry and health, the hospitals are laying off due to no patients coming in the doors. Lots here have no insurance and many stay away......the builders in this state are trying to get impact fees reduced for one year to try and stimulate the ecomony, impact fees are paid to each county for infrastruter such as roads, school, libraries, sheriiffs office, anything that a new resident would use. In Tampa the impact fees are close to $10,000 added on to the price of a home, the builders want the county to reduce or do away with these for a least one year to try and jumpstate the building trade and get people back to work. I personally don't think it will help, with so many foreclosures out there, people are better off buying a forclosure for less $$$, then to build new and still have to buy extra's.

quote:

Originally posted by mickeymantle:
There are about ten sites reporting this story. Why don't you simply cut and paste the story into your browser to see who posted it, rather than attacking it.

Just some more of your Liberal jargin, you Primordial Monera...

JOSE, I HAVE 2 NEPHEWS WHO OWN THEIR OWN BUILDING BUSINESS AND THEY ARE STARVING! I FEEL BAD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND JUST CAN'T!

DON'T YOU HAVE SWINE FLU DOWN THERE? IT'S RUNNING WILD UP HERE.THE DOCTOR OFFICES ARE OVER LOADED WITH CASES, AS WELL AS THE ER'S.



HEY I JUST HEARD THAT A CAT TESTED POSITIVE FOR SWINE FLU, NO BALONEY.

Swine Flu is an imaginary disease. It is all about making money for the pharmaceuticals. Anyway, I stopped eating pig food, just in case I am wrong.

WELL YOU HAD BETTER STAY AWAY FROM CATS TOO, AND CAT HOUSES! HAHA

Herb the further you get along in your dementia the funnier you become.

It was announced this morning that the unemployment rate had climbed to 10.2%. So much for the good news from the economy.

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT MATT. IT MAKES YOU WONDER ABOUT THE WAY THEY PREPARE US FOR THE BAD NEWS. DON'T IT?

We have good news and bad news. Let me give you the good news first to soften the blow of the bad news.

I wish there was better news but the unemployment numbers just came out and it's tough.

10.2% and that's not counting, people who gave up lookig for jobs, people working for cash, and the under employed.

So much for spending us out of this reccession.

quote:

Originally posted by miket:
We have good news and bad news. Let me give you the good news first to soften the blow of the bad news.

RIGHT ON MIKE.I'LL TELL YOU THINGS ARE LOOKING BLEAK AND AS SOON AS WE ADMIT THAT THE SOONER WE CAN RECOVER.

quote:

Originally posted by THE BRONX PUNISHER:

quote:

Originally posted by mickeymantle:
There are about ten sites reporting this story. Why don't you simply cut and paste the story into your browser to see who posted it, rather than attacking it.

Just some more of your Liberal jargin, you Primordial Monera...

HAHAHAAH...I was expecting to be called a primordial eukaryote.....apparently I evolved overnight; or is it devolved?