Unemployment claims in the US have risen for the first time in nearly four months in the clearest sign yet that the new surge in coronavirus cases is stalling America’s economic recovery.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased to 1.42 million for the week to July 18 from 1.31 million the week before,
On the other hand:
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 1,370,947 in the week ending July 18, a decrease of 141,816 (or -9.4 percent) from the previous week.
The difference is with – for the first numbers – or without seasonal adjustment. Which to use is a matter of personal taste but both are entirely correct…..