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.”
Officials from Ukraine and Russia have begun meeting along the Belarus border to discuss a potential end to the ongoing invasion, even as the fighting continues to drag on. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas 9th District) joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, what to expect from President Joe Biden's State of The Union Address, and the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson for the Supreme Court. "I'm still hopeful, and I hope that Mr. Putin will understand that he has united the world against him," Green said of the new round of peace talks.
In recent years, rideshare companies Lyft and Uber have been moving into the non-emergency medical transportation business, or NEMT helping low-income patients and Medicaid recipients get to appointments they might otherwise miss. Nicole Wetsman, a health tech reporter for The Verge, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Markets quivered Monday amid worries about how high oil prices will go and how badly the global economy will get hit after the U.S. and allies upped the financial pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
GSK has unveiled its new consumer health unit called Haelon. Haleon will debut as a standalone company later this year. Katie Williams, U.S. chief marketing officer at GSK, joined Cheddar News to discuss.
Jeffrey Kleintop, Chief Global Investment Strategist for Charles Schwab, says clarity on sanctions is driving the markets higher despite the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Primit Parikh, Founder and COO of Transphorm, discusses how his company's utilization of gallium nitride semiconductors will prove to be a difference-maker in various sectors ranging from EVs to 5G.
Gino LoPinto, Operating Partner at E11EVEN Partners, discusses what E11EVEN Residences Beyond will have in store for potential buyers, and says his company has seen great success accepting crypto at both the E11EVEN Hotel & Residences and the E11EVEN nightclub so far.
