Americans applied for fewer unemployment benefits at the end of 2019, the Labor Department announced Thursday. The number dropped by 2,000 to 222,000 in the seven days up until December 28, although the four-week average ticked up by 4,750 to 233,250.
The report beat expectations that had predicted 225,000 new claims, according to Reuters. The result marks the third consecutive weekly decline.
“I think we’re definitely going to see slightly smaller growth month by month than what we saw in 2019 and that’s consistent with economists expectations’ of the macroeconomy weakening slightly,” in the labor market, Beth Akers, Manhattan Institute senior fellow, told Cheddar.
She will be keeping an eye on manufacturing trends and changes in policy regarding trade for indications about how job numbers will grow (or shrink) in 2020.
“If you’re looking to something to be concerned about, you can look at the four-week moving average, which is up from what it’s been over the course of the year,” Akers said. “But, by and large, these are really strong, positive numbers for the labor market.”
Pfizer has entered a $43 billion merger agreement with biotechnology firm Seagen in a deal designed to bolster the pharmaceutical giant's efforts to fight cancer
The second-largest stablecoin — a cryptocurrency that is pegged to a fiat currency — USCD depegged from the dollar, hitting an all-time low of around 88 cents over the weekend.
The Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said all depositors at the failed Silicon Valley Bank could access all their money quickly, even as another major bank was shut down.
The Treasury Secretary, who emphasized that the situation was much different from the financial crisis almost 15 years ago, said the government would help depositors who are concerned about their money.
