Last week the initial claims for unemployment benefits in the United States they fell by 3 to 336, slightly more than analysts had estimated (335). The previous week's figure remained unchanged at 339. The US Department of Labor announced it today.
The four-week average, more reliable as it is not subject to market fluctuations, rose from 336.750 to 338.500 units. The figure remains below 400 units, a threshold which according to analysts signals a stalemate.
The total number of workers who received unemployment benefits for more than one week – relating to the week ending 8 February, the last for which data is available – rose by 37 to 2.981.000.
For consumer prices in the United States, grew slightly in January, a sign that inflationary pressures continue to be low: an element that will be taken into consideration by the Federal Reserve in its decisions on the progressive withdrawal of the economic stimulus programme.
Last month, the US consumer price index rose by 0,1%, in line with analysts' forecasts. The core data, i.e. the one excluding the food and energy prices component, grew by 0,1%, less than the 0,2% expected by analysts.
On an annual basis, the figure increased by 1,6% compared to January 2013, the maximum increase since July, but still below the 2% considered optimal by the Federal Reserve. Since July 2011, the core annual figure has fluctuated between 1,6 and 2,3%.
The rise in energy prices had an impact on the general data: electricity rose by 1,8% last month, the most sustained increase since March 2010, while those of natural gas increased by 3,6%. %.
