US DATA: Initial jobless claims +5k to 417k in August 20 wk, above the
405k level expected. Labor said “As a result of a labor dispute between
Communication Workers of America and Verizon Communication, at least
12,500 initial claims were filed in the week ending 8/13/2011 and at
least 8,500 intial claims were filed in the week ending 8/20/2011.”
Labor noted that these claims are not seasonally adjusted. Total overall
unadjusted claims -4,536 to 341,436 vs seas factors expect of -8,600.
The 4-wk moving avg +4k to 407,500 in August 20 wk. Continuing claims
-80k to 3.641m in the August 13 wk, lowest since the Sept. 20, 2008 wk.