Two other measurements were released as well. To smooth out the numbers, the four-week average was flat at 375,000. Continuing jobless claims, the army of unemployed, was also flat at 3,281,000.
All in all, today’s report was just not enough to change the expectations for tomorrow and nor will it move the market in any major way.
Friday will be the day to watch news from the Labor Department. Bloomberg is looking for the following: 8.1% unemployment (flat), 113,000 in nonfarm payrolls and 130,000 in private sector payrolls.
Yesterday’s ADP payrolls data was better than expected, but it did not exactly move the barometer of expectations after having been way off of estimates a month ago.
JON C. OGG