Good News for the Economy as Jobless Claims Fall
Thursday, December 15, 12:08 PM ET

Initial jobless claims decline by 19,000, to a seasonally adjusted 366,000, compared to economist expectations for an increase in claims.

The Labor Department also reported on the producer price index today.

Wholesale costs to manufacturers rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in November, a greater increase than was expected.

Food prices were largely to blame for the increases.

Excluding food and energy costs, the core producer price index rose 0.1%, less than economists expected.

Stocks appear poised for gains Thursday, and the SPDR S&P 500 (AMEX:SPY) is trading up about .8%.

Gold is trading higher, leading the SPDR Gold Shares (AMEX:GLD) to trade up .3%, and the iShares Gold Trust (AMEX:IAU) to trade up over .3%.

Crude oil, meanwhile, is trading higher, leading the DB Oil Fund (AMEX:DBO) to trade up about .6%.