Jobless claims jump to highest level since mid-November
Jobless claims jump to highest level since mid-November
By Greg Robb
格雷格·羅布(Greg Robb)著
Continued claims fall to lowest level since 1973
持續申領失業救濟金人數降至1973年以來的最低水平
The numbers: Initial jobless claims rose by 23,000 to 230,000 in the week ended Jan. 8, the Labor Department said Thursday. It's the highest level since mid-November.
數據：美國勞工部週四表示，截至1月8日的一週，首次申領失業救濟金人數增加2.3萬人，至23萬人。這是自11月中旬以來的最高水平。
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had estimated new claims would slip to 200,000.
接受《華爾街日報》調查的經濟學家曾估計，新申領失業救濟金人數將下滑至20萬人。
Key details: The number of people already collecting jobless benefits plunged by 194,000 to 1.56 million. This is the lowest level of so-called continuing claims since June 1973.
關鍵細節：已經領取失業救濟金的人數暴跌19.4萬人，至156萬人。這是1973年6月以來所謂持續申領失業救濟金人數的最低水平。
Big picture: Even with the gain in claims in the latest week, economists said a downward trend remains intact. With workers scarce, companies are simply not laying off their staff.
大局：儘管最近一週申領失業救濟金人數有所增加，但經濟學家表示，下降趨勢依然完好無損。由於工人稀缺，公司根本不會裁員。
Market reaction: Stocks were expected to open higher on Thursday as investors turn their focus to corporate earnings.
市場反應：預計股市週四開盤走高，因投資者將焦點轉向企業財報。
-Greg Robb
--格雷格·羅布(Greg Robb)