American workers filing for unemployment benefits for the first time in the United States increased for the second consecutive week. In the week ended March 23, initial claims rose by 16 units to 357, well above the 340 units expected by analysts, according to reports from the US Department of Labor. The previous week's reading was revised upwards by 7 thousand units, to 341 thousand.
The four-week average, more reliable as it is not subject to market fluctuations, grew by 2.250 units, to 343. However, the figure remains below 400 units, a threshold which according to analysts signals a stalemate.
The total number of workers receiving unemployment benefits for more than a week - for the week ending March 16 - dropped by 27 to 3.050.000. The unemployment rate for uninsured workers remained unchanged at 2,4%.
As for the entire US economy in the fourth quarter of 2012, the final GDP estimate highlighted higher numbers than the first revision and the reduction of the preliminary estimate. The driving force was corporate expenses, which grew despite the uncertainty in Washington. According to the final revision reported by the Commerce Department, GDP grew by 0,4%.
However, analysts were expecting an increase of 0,5%, after -0,1% in the first estimate and +0,1% in the interim revision. In the third quarter a +3,1% was recorded, while for the whole of 2012 the increase in the economy was equal to 2,2%.
