Kriss Sjoblom

State tax collections again exceed forecast

Yesterday’s monthly report from the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) on general fund revenue collections brought good news. For the sales tax, the use tax, the business and occupation tax, the public utility tax, the tobacco products tax, and penalties and interest (collectively the Revenue Act receipts), this report covers payments received between […]

In Washington 34,870 filed initial claims for unemployment insurance last week

This morning the state Employment Security Department (ESD) gave its weekly report on unemployment insurance claims. ESD reported a total of 34,870 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the week ending October 3. Of this total, 22,324 initial claims were under the regular unemployment insurance program; 3,900 claims were under the federal pandemic unemployment assistance […]

Nationwide, 898,000 filed for unemployment insurance last week

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its weekly report on initial claims for unemployment insurance this morning. Nationwide, the number of seasonally adjusted claims was 898,000 last week. This is up from the (upwardly revised) number of claims for the previous week, 845,000. The 4-week moving average of seasonally adjusted claims was 866,250, up […]

Monthly employment report from the state employment security department

The state Employment Security Department released its Monthly Employment Report today. According to preliminary estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the state gained 2,400 jobs, net, seasonally adjusted (SA), from August to September. The private sector is estimated to have gained 12,100 jobs (SA) while the public sector lost 9,700 (SA). Most […]

In Washington 28,858 filed initial claims for unemployment insurance last week

This morning the state Employment Security Department (ESD) gave its weekly report on unemployment insurance claims. ESD reported a total of 28,858 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the week ending October 3. Of this total, 15,496 initial claims were under the regular unemployment insurance program; 54,151 claims were under the federal pandemic unemployment assistance […]

Nationwide, 840,000 filed for unemployment insurance last week

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its weekly report on initial claims for unemployment insurance this morning. Nationwide, the number of seasonally adjusted claims was 840,000 last week. This is down from the (upwardly revised) number of claims for the previous week, 849,000. The 4-week moving average of seasonally adjusted claims was 857,000, down […]

Update on personal income, consumer spending and saving rates during the Covid-19 recession

Here are updates (including just-released data for August) of two charts that I originally posted on September 12 regarding income and consumer spending during the Covid-19 recession. On the first chart, the stacked columns show estimated personal income for the U.S. as a whole, by month, from January 2019 through August 2020. The numbers are […]

In Washington 31,067 filed initial claims for unemployment insurance last week

This morning the state Employment Security Department (ESD) gave its weekly report on unemployment insurance claims. ESD reported a total of 31,067 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the week ending September 26th. Of this total, 17,734 initial claims were under the regular unemployment insurance program; 4,439 claims were under the federal pandemic unemployment assistance […]

Nationwide, 837,000 filed for unemployment insurance last week

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its weekly report on initial claims for unemployment insurance this morning. Nationwide, the number of seasonally adjusted claims was 837,000 last week. This is down from the (upwardly revised) number of claims for the previous week, 873,000. The 4-week moving average of seasonally adjusted claims was 867,250, down […]

In Washington 34,114 filed initial claims for unemployment insurance last week

This morning the state Employment Security Department (ESD) gave its weekly report on unemployment insurance claims. ESD reported a total of 34,114 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the week ending September 19th. Of this total, 19,574 initial claims were under the regular unemployment insurance program; 5,284 claims were under the federal pandemic unemployment assistance […]