The Department of Labor Jobless Claims report out today shows a 6% drop in initial unemployment claims when adjusted for seasonal variations, with 469,000 new claims this week compared to 498,000 last week. The four week rolling average, which is less volatile and susceptible to aberrations showed a less dramatic decline, coming in at under 1% with 470,750 new claims as compared to last week’s 474,250.

Carlton Smith is a Project Manager and Programmer living in Southeast Michigan. He is also the founder and Executive Editor of the web literary magazine Troubadour21.com. His blog can be found at UncleSol.net. Email Carlton at carlton@unclesol.net