Initial claims above-expected, +6k to 229k,.>

US DATA: Initial claims above-expected, +6k to 229k, while Feb import 

prices above expected +0.6% and +0.1% ex-petro

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- Initial unemployment claims above expectations in the Mar 9 wk, +6k to 

229k vs 225k expected by MNI survey.

- Jan import price index +0.6% vs +0.3% BBG expected and +0.4% MNI. 

- Ex-petro import prices +0.1% vs -0.1% expected by BBG

- The claims 4-wk moving avg -2,500 to 223,750 in the Mar 9 wk. 

- The 4-wk avg may rise next week as 217k level in Feb 16 wk rolls out. 

- Continuing claims +18k to 1.776m in the Mar 2 wk.

- Y/Y rate for import prices -1.3% vs -1.7% Jan; Ex-petro -0.5% vs 

-0.4%, the largest Y/Y decrease since Sep 2016 (-0.6%).

- Import price gains seen for industrial supplies and materials and 

consumer goods.

- Export prices +0.6% and +0.7% ex. ag, with ag prices +0.3%.

- Import prices from Canada +2.3%, while prices from China flat, from 

Mexico +0.5% and from EU +0.4%.