US Jobless Claims Jump, Durable Orders Fall

在美国初请失业金人数上升ore than expected in the week ending Jan. 15 as harsh winter weather created a backlog of claims, according toReuters. On Thursday, theLabor Departmentreportedthat initial claims for unemployment benefits jumped 51,000 in the latest week, which is the largest increase in over five years and brought claims to a three-month high, seasonally adjusted level of 454,000. The gain surprised economists who had been expecting a only a minute increase to 405,000.

Separately, theCommerce Departmentreported a 2.5% drop in durable goods orders in December, although with volatile transportation orders stripped out, orders rose 0.5% during the last month of 2010. According toBloomberg, theNational Association of Realtorsfound a 2% gain in its index of pending home sales, which doubled economists forecast for a 1% gain. The mixed economic data comes after theFederal Reservevoted to maintain its planned $600 billion in asset purchases this year to stimulate the economy as the recovery continues to remain somewhat subdued.

Click here to read the story on jobless claims from Reuters.

Click here for coverage of additional economic data from Bloomberg.