"micky" wrote in message
...
In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 8 May 2021 05:05:40 -0700 (PDT), trader_4
wrote:

On Friday, May 7, 2021 at 3:55:13 PM UTC-4, micky wrote:
In alt.home.repair, on Fri, 7 May 2021 12:28:30 -0700 (PDT),
" wrote:

On Friday, May 7, 2021 at 2:11:23 PM UTC-4, micky wrote:
OT Why does the press routinely report the number of new applications
for unemployment insurance for the week (or the day?), and whether
the
number has gone up or down?

It seems to me that the number of NEW cases in any period is almost
random, depending on when employers decide they have to lay people
off,
and that's influenced by a dozen factors. Therefore it can go up or
down
without meaning anything.

If you graph those numbers, they can show a trend even if there's some
jitter in the data.

Cindy Hamilton
But don't they know the total number getting unemployment and if they
reported that it would be a better measure, both on a graph or without a
graph.

Labor dept reports that number too.

Then for some strange reason, the radio never
reports it, only the number of new cases.

Not really a strange reason. If they reported all the official
stats every day or week, it would be like the real Pravda.
They have chosen to be selective and in the case of that
radio have made a stupid choice. Listen to a better one.

Of course the Labor dept. should report both.
I wonder which they consider more important.

They don't, they list them all.