internet data and government surveys

Monster.com jobs are down 6%
Monster is the US version of SEEK
US Initial Jobless Claims is out tonight
I wonder how well the figures tally.

Is the market expecting a 6% drop?

Oh well we can wait and see

by the way seek has recorded a 4.9% drop here in Australia




Monster U.S. online jobs index rises in April
Thu May 1, 2008 12:29am EDT .
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An online gauge of U.S. labor demand rose in April, reflecting more job offerings in the accommodation and food services industry from heavy seasonal hiring, a private research group said on Thursday.

Monster, an online careers and recruiting firm, said its Employment Index rose to 174 points in April from 167 in March. The index measured 186 in the same month a year ago.

Weakness in the financial and insurance sector, which has been hobbled by the credit crisis, has contributed to the year-on-year drop in the index, it said.

"While the Monster Employment Index registered its strongest single month gain in over 12 months, the increase was largely seasonal in nature and U.S. online recruitment activity remains softer compared to a year ago," said Jesse Harriott, Vice President of Research at Monster Worldwide Inc.

(Editing by Gary Crosse)