A new report found that jobless claims fell last week, while indications of consumer spending rose. The four-week average for new unemployment claims fell by 27,000. The changes lead economists to think that the labor movement is continuing its slow recovery. Economists also say that concerns about the fiscal cliff and negotiations in Washington D.C. are having a negative effect on both consumers and companies.
See "Retail Sales Rebound, Jobless Claims Fall Sharply", Reuters, The New York Times, December 12, 2012