Economic news: Unemployment claims at 393,000

In the week ending November 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 393,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 391,000. The 4-week moving average was 394,250, a decrease of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average of 397,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.9 percent for the week ending November 12, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 12 was 3,691,000, an increase of 68,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,623,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,671,500, a decrease of 2,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,673,750.

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Confidence among U.S. consumers rose in November to the highest level in five months.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment rose to 64.1 this month, the highest since June, from 60.9 in October. The median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a reading of 64.5.

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Personal income increased $48.1 billion, or 0.4 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $30.2 billion, or 0.3 percent, in October, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $8.2 billion, or 0.1 percent. In September, personal income increased $15.5 billion, or 0.1 percent, DPI increased $7.8 billion, or 0.1 percent, and PCE increased $74.5 billion, or 0.7 percent, based on revised estimates.

Real disposable income increased 0.3 percent in October, in contrast to a decrease of 0.1 percent in September. Real PCE increased 0.1 percent, compared with an increase of 0.5 percent.

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