The Department of Labor?s jobs report stated that first-time filings for unemployment rose by 1,000 this past week. The increase is barely noticeable as the total came to 326,000 compared to 325,000 last week. Even given this past week?s increase, the four-week running average fell by 3,750 to 331,500. The downtick is the running average of unemployment claims may suggest that the low number of jobs added in December, 74,000 for nonfarm payrolls, was a fluke and we may expect to see stronger numbers in January. Most economists surveyed said that the unemployment rate for January could fall by as much as another half of a percentage point.
See "U.S. homes sales snap losing streak jobless claims rise", Luscia Mutikani, Reuters, January 23, 2014