OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

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.

OTOH what matters is the total number of people collecting unemployment.
That's the measure of how many are unemployed.


Say the number of applications for unemployment drops 50% from the
previous week, or 90%. So what, if 90+% of those who were unemployed
last week still are.

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

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?

Mine doesn't, but its one bit of data on the state of the economy.

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.

But is dominated by the state of the economy when its not a pandemic.

Therefore it can go up or down without meaning anything.

It does mean something about the state of the economy
for the country as a whole absent policy changes.

OTOH what matters is the total number of people collecting
unemployment. That's the measure of how many are unemployed.

Trouble is that it includes those who choose not to work
and out their hand out to the state for benefits instead.

And the other problem is that plenty don't need to
collect unemployment when they are unemployed.

Say the number of applications for unemployment drops
50% from the previous week, or 90%. So what, if 90+%
of those who were unemployed last week still are.

They also list the total receiving unemployment
and the total unemployed, separately.

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

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

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OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

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.

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemploymentinsurance
 

On 5/7/2021 12:55 PM, 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.


New applications lead actual unemployment numbers, and includes people
not accepted for unemployment for various reasons.

And, they do report unemployment numbers.

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

On Friday, May 7, 2021 at 4:15:42 PM UTC-4, Bob F wrote:
On 5/7/2021 12:55 PM, 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.

New applications lead actual unemployment numbers, and includes people
not accepted for unemployment for various reasons.

And, they do report unemployment numbers.

+1

The total number receiving unemployment is also affected not only by new
applications, but also by people leaving because they found work or they
gave up looking. So new applications is the best indicator of how many just
lost their jobs. The numbers for the whole country taken together are not
random either. It's looked at as one important indicator, by investors,
business economists, the FED, etc

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

"micky" wrote in message
...
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.

But don't they know the total number getting unemployment

Yes they do.

and if they reported that

The govt does. The media doesn't bother to report that.

it would be a better measure, both on a graph or without a graph.

In fact the best is all 3 numbers, including the number looking for
work but who arent getting unemployment and that is reported too.

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OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

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.

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

In alt.home.repair, on Fri, 7 May 2021 14:08:57 -0700 (PDT), trader_4
wrote:

On Friday, May 7, 2021 at 4:15:42 PM UTC-4, Bob F wrote:
On 5/7/2021 12:55 PM, 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.

New applications lead actual unemployment numbers, and includes people
not accepted for unemployment for various reasons.

And, they do report unemployment numbers.

+1

The total number receiving unemployment is also affected not only by new
applications, but also by people leaving because they found work or they
gave up looking. So new applications is the best indicator of how many just
lost their jobs. The numbers for the whole country taken together are not
random either. It's looked at as one important indicator, by investors,
business economists, the FED, etc



I'm not convinced, but I'm pleased that you all have answers to the
question.

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

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.

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

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemploymentinsurance
 

On 5/8/2021 8:53 AM, micky wrote:
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.

Just like the radio always reports the Dow is down X points, but never
tells you what the actual value is.


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

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 8 May 2021 09:22:29 -0700, Bob F
wrote:

On 5/8/2021 8:53 AM, micky wrote:
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.

Just like the radio always reports the Dow is down X points, but never
tells you what the actual value is.

I've wondered about the DJ reports too. Of course they woudl be on
Bloomberg Radio, or Wall Street Week, but they include this in the
regular news on regular radio. Are there really that many listeners who
care about average stock prices? If they hear it dropped a lot, will
they rush to sell before it goes down more, or rush to buy to make a
profit? They still won't know which stock has gone down.

I thoughty potential investors might watch one or two stocks, and maybe
buy when the price dips. Or sell when it's comparitively high, but I
can't imagine how the DJ report on the radio news helps them do
anything, plus how many people are actively involved in the stock market
anyhow?

They report high percentages but clarify that that's only because they
have pension funds that buy stocks.


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

OT Why report the number of new applications for unemployment insurance
 

"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.

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