Como se combate o populismo? "Com eleições", responde Fukuyama

[fiscal]

Como alguns analistas americanos dizem: com estes dados macro-económicos menos bons, esperamos um FED com uma atitude menos agressiva face aos juros. That's good

[Info....]

8:30am 06/02/05 U.S. CONTINUING JOBLESS CLAIMS UP 32,000 TO 2.60 MLN
8:30am 06/02/05 U.S. 4-WEEK AVG. JOBLESS CLAIMS UP 3,500 TO 334,500
8:30am 06/02/05 U.S. WEEKLY JOBLESS CLAIMS UP 25,000 TO 350,000
8:30am 06/02/05 JOBLESS CLAIMS RISE LARGELY DUE TO AUTO SECTOR: LABOR

8:30am 06/02/05 U.S. Q1 FACTORY PRODUCTIVITY REVISED UP 4.4% VS. 3.9%
8:30am 06/02/05 U.S. Q1 PRODUCTIVITY REVISED TO UP 2.9% VS. 2.6% PREV
8:30am 06/02/05 U.S. Q1 UNIT LABOR COSTS REVISED UP 3.3% VS 2.2% PREV


ECONOMIC REPORT: Jobless claims spike on temporary auto layoffs
By Greg Robb, MarketWatch
Last Update: 8:33 AM ET June 2, 2005

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - First-time filings for state unemployment benefits rose sharply in the latest week, largely due to temporary layoffs in the auto sector, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The number of initial claims in the week ending May 28 rose 25,000 to 350,000.

It's the highest level since the week ended March 26.

The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to rise 1,000 to 324,000.

A Labor Department official said "a good portion of the increase in claims was due to temporary layoffs in the auto sector." He said the layoffs were not part of the annual re-tooling of auto plants that can also lead to layoffs. This typically takes place in July, he said.

Jobless benefits are generally available for 26 weeks to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

Claims in the previous week were revised to an increase of 3,000 to 325,000 compared with the initial estimate of a rise of 1,000 to 323,000.

The four-week average of initial claims rose 3,500 to 334,500. The four-week average smoothes out distortions caused by one-time events, such as weather, holidays and strikes .



ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. productivity revised to 2.9% in Q1
By Greg Robb, MarketWatch
Last Update: 8:31 AM ET June 2, 2005

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Productivity growth in the U.S. nonfarm business sector was stronger in the first quarter than previously estimated.

Productivity was revised to a 2.9 percent annual growth rate from the 2.6 percent estimate a month ago, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The increase was in line with economists forecasts, considering the upward revision to first-quarter gross domestic product.

The revisions show more much stronger gains in compensation and wages than previously thought, which could boost the more hawkish members on the Federal Open Market Committee.

Economists were expecting some upward revision to unit labor costs in the first quarter as last weeks GDP report included a huge upward revision to wages and salaries.

Unit labor costs, a key measure of inflationary pressures from compensation, rose a revised 3.3% annualized in the first quarter, up from the initial estimate of 2.2%.

Unit labor costs in the fourth quarter were revised to a 7.7% gain, up sharply from the initial estimate of a 1.7% increase. This is the sharpest increase since the third quarter of 2000.

Real hourly compensation (adjusted for inflation) increased a revised 3.9% in the first quarter, compared with the previous estimate of a 2.4% gain.

In the fourth quarter, real hourly compensation rose 10.2%, compared with the previous estimate of a 3.8% increase.

In the manufacturing sector, productivity increased a revised 4.4%, compared with the previous estimate of a 3.9% gain.

Productivity is measured by units of output per hour worked. It's an essential factor in long-term economic health, but is extremely difficult to measure in the short-run.

In the nonfinancial corporate sector, productivity increased 2.7% in the first quarter after rising 9.0% in the fourth quarter.