NPR News 2011-09-02 加文本

NPR News 2011-09-02

The number of Americans to file new unemployment claim is down again for the first time in three weeks. NPR Giles Snyder has the latest from the Labor Department which says first time the applications fell by 12,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 409,000.

Claims were elevated in prior two weeks by thousands of striking Verizon workers. But now that strike is over, that’s not the case anymore. Analyst Linda Disiena of Federated Investors says these latest numbers are evidence of the job market at a soft patch, she’d rather see them below 400,000.

"We can say not at a deteriorating labor market, but we really wanna see those claims go through 400,000 to the downside to evidence that we are saying growing jobs here in the country."

The Verizon strike is likely to have some effect on tomorrow’s closely-watched job report for August. But Disiena says most investors will bear that in mind. Giles Snyder, NPR news, Washington.

US retailers appeared to be weathering the latest storm of economic worries better than initially thought. The international counselor of shopping center tracked 26 retailers in Aug. and found that overall, revenue jumped 4.6% at stores that open at least a year. The upbeat report is a boost to retailers that were hoping to rake in solid sale during the back-to-school season.

Individuals and businesses most severely affected by Hurricane Irene will get more time to make tax payments. The Internal Revenue Service says it’s extending deadlines, initially those eligible includes certain counties in North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and the US Commonwealth Puerto Rico. But the IRS says more people could be added to the list as federal inspectors make further damage assessments along the east coasts.

While the northeast is recovering from the hurricane Irene, forecasters are watching two other tropical systems concerned. NPR Debbie Elliott reports one threatens the Gulf Coast.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says a low pressure system is the Gulf of Mexico has a high chance of becoming the…