Initial jobless claims remain below 300,000; PPI misses forecasts; Retail sales fall more than expected in August

According to the Labor Department, the number of Americans filing for unemployment aid rose to a seasonally adjusted 260,000 in the week ended September 10, slightly up from the preceding week's 259,000 claims, while market analysts anticipated an increase to 262,000 during the reported week. It was the 80th consecutive week initial jobless claims remained below the 300,000 level, the longest streak since 1973. The four-moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends, fell 500 to 260,750 during the same week. Separate data released by the Labor Department revealed that the PPI came in at 0.0% in August, up from July's decline of 0.4%. However, markets expected the Index to increase 0.3%. The so-called core PPI advanced 0.1% last month, also up from July's 0.3% fall and in line with economists' projections. Other Thursday's data showed that US retail sales declined 0.3% month-over-month in August, compared to July upwardly revised 0.1% rise, whereas economic desks penciled in a slight drop of 0.1% in the reported month. Excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, retail sales slipped 0.1% last month, following the previous month downwardly revised fall of 0.4% and falling behind the 0.3% growth forecast.