New jobless claims in the U.S. rise more than expected to 640K

23 April 2009

WASHINGTON - New jobless claims in the United States rose more than expected last week, while the number of workers continuing to filing claims for unemployment benefits topped 6.1 million.

Both figures are fresh evidence that layoffs persist and the job market remains weak. The Labour Department says initial claims for unemployment compensation rose to a seasonally adjusted 640,000, up from a revised 613,000 the previous week.

That was slightly above analysts' expectations of 635,000.

The number of people claiming benefits for more than a week rose to 6.13 million, setting a record for the 12th straight week.

This comes at a time when a US propaganda poll is claiming through US President Barack Obama, that their country is going into the right direction; even more so then it has in years, while hanging over the economic cliff with an untied rope. As to Obama's claim of confidence, he need's to rethink of how the American people are actually living from day to day or does he even taking into consideration their disgruntled voice and protesting.