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Economic indicators - U

List of indicators - U:

  • Unemployment Insurance Claims
  • Unemployment rate
  • Unit Auto and Truck Sales
  • Unit labour cost
  • U.S. Treasury Borrowing Schedule

Unemployment Insurance Claims

What it is: The weekly amount of demands for state unemployment insurance along with the whole number of people who received their insurance for the previous week.

Why we care: Indicates the increasing or reducing unemployment. The condition on the labor market may be understood through the layoff rapidity suggested by the initial claims.

The Unemployment Rate

The household survey does not give much reliable information because of its smaller research sample. This is unlike the establishment survey as it was mentioned above. However, this survey worth mentioning as far it gives the daily figures of unemployment rate. It is worthless of much explanation but still you should be attentive as it can change considerably each month because of the data uncertainty. This rate is calculated by dividing the amount of unemployed people (of the labor force) by the total amount of the labor force.

The figures of labor force and unemployment fluctuate due to the small sample size even more than non-farm payrolls, which is an important problem. Nevertheless, these figures show whether the unemployment changes are caused by the abnormal moves of both indicators or by the only one.

Unit Auto and Truck Sales

What it is: The data provided by largest auto and truck manufacturers each month adjusted in accordance with any seasonal factors.

Why we care: This information monthly describes demand trends existing and occurring in this sector along with other important conclusions.

Unit labor costs (ULCs)

This measure calculates the unit labor costs through the output labor cost and productivity. The background information of the KLIM measures and its methodologies are presented in this document, published by Groningen Growth and Development Centre researchers of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. 31 countries are supposed to contain the while economy series whether 23 countries are its manufacturing part. The research plan for KILM's work concerning the measures towards productivity is posed in this document. It measures the cost factors pressing the labor market. The result is calculated by dividing average labor costs ration by output per worker at the hours worked (his or her productivity). Price levels are highly affected by the price of one production unit (or item) paid for its producing. Such models of macroeconomic wage-price sector as the national income forecasting model uses the unit labor costs concept widely. Both nominal and real terms are used if unit labor cost measurement.

The labor cost of the output production is closely connected with the productivity that is represented by ULCs (Unit labor costs). In case the unit labor cost increases then the labor part in the production cost rises as well. The threat to the macroeconomics may occur when the labor costs rise exceed the productivity rise while any other costs are not adjusted in return.

ULSs are supposed to be understood as the indicator of the goods cost competitiveness but not of its general competitiveness. When dealing with advanced economies, unit labor cost, as an ultimate measure of the labor price, should be monitored referring to the cost of capital changes.

U.S. Treasury Borrowing Schedule

What it is: The figures of the planned U.S. Treasury securities emission to the market.

Why we care: This indicator influences the prices of bond and yields as well when this measure of supply is compared to demand.