1982 and counting...

jobless rolls at 26-yr high, retail sales weak

The surge in workers drawing benefits reflects a deepening of the recession that started in December 2007, a downturn many economists think could turn into the longest since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Jobless rolls at 26-year high

Unemployment benefit rolls swelled to a 26-year high in the last week of December
jumped 101,000 to 4.61 million in the week ended December 27,
beat analysts' expectations of 4.50 million

the unemployment rate jumping to 7 percent from November's 6.7 percent.

the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank said on Thursday the pullback in factory activity in the country's Mid-Atlantic region was more severe in December than originally reported.