Investopedia

Continue to Site »

Jobless Claims

Filed Under » , , , , , ,
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Jobless Claims'

The number of people who are filing or have filed to receive unemployment insurance benefits, as reported weekly by the U.S. Department of Labor. There are two categories of jobless claims - initial, which comprises people filing for the first time, and continuing, which consists of unemployed people who have been receiving unemployment benefits for a while. Jobless claims are an important leading indicator on the state of the employment situation and the health of the economy. Average weekly initial jobless claims are one of the 10 components of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Jobless Claims'

Initial jobless claims, rather than continuing claims, are closely watched by financial market participants, since a sustained increase would indicate rising unemployment and a challenging economic environment. Since initial jobless claims may be volatile from week to week, the four-week moving average of jobless claims is also observed to get a better indication of the underlying trend.

Articles Of Interest

  1.

    Leading Economic Indicators Predict Market Trends

    Leading indicators help investors to predict and react to where the market is headed.

  2. How To Read The Market's Psychological State

    Discover what on-balance volume, accumulation/distribution and open interest can tell you about the market mood.

  3. Jobless Recovery: The New Normal Since 1990

    Just because the economy rebounds from a recession does not mean the unemployment rate will follow.

  4. Consumer Confidence: A Killer Statistic

    It's the key to any market economy, so investors need to learn the measures and how to analyze them.

  5. Leading Indicators Of Behavioral Finance

    Discover how put-call ratios and moving averages can be used to analyze investor behavior.

  6. Why The Consumer Price Index Is Controversial

    Find out why economists are torn about how to calculate inflation.

  7. Predict Inflation With The Producer Price Index

    Find out how the PPI can be used to gauge the overall health of the economy.

  8. Consumer Spending As A Market Indicator

    What people buy and where they shop can provide valuable information about the economy.

  9. Introduction To The Continuing Claims Report

    This weekly economic release contains important information concerning unemployment levels and insurance.

  10. Austerity: When The Government Tightens Its Belt

    When a government tightens its belt in tough economic times the entire nation feels the squeeze.
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions

  1. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.

  2. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.

  3. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.

  4. Happiness Economics

    The formal academic study of the relationship between individual satisfaction and economic issues, such as employment and wealth.

  5. Affluenza

    A social condition arising from the desire to be more wealthy, successful or to "keep up with the Joneses." Affluenza is symptomatic of a culture that holds up financial success as one of the highest achievements.

  6. Icarus Factor

    The term Icarus factor describes a situation where managers or executives initiate an overly ambitious project which then fails. Fueled by excitement for the project, the executives are unable to reign in their misguided enthusiasm before it is too late to avoid the failure.
Trading Center