How will BLS issue statistics on plant closings and layoffs attributed either directly or indirectly to Hurricane Katrina?
Because of the need to assess the impacts of Katrina on the mass layoff data on a timely basis, two interim reports of quarterly extended mass layoff data from the States to BLS are planned. The first will include layoff events identified through October 15 and where there was subsequent contact with the employer. Information on these events will be issued by BLS in December with the publication of monthly MLS data for November. The second interim report will include layoff events identified through November 12 and where there was subsequent contact with the employer. This information will be issued by BLS in January with the publication of monthly MLS data for December. SEASONAL ADJUSTMENT • Will the MLS seasonal adjustment procedure be affected by Katrina? Large, unexpected, rare events such as Hurricane Katrina can cause a time series to deviate from its expected patterns. Changes will be made to the MLS seasonal adjustment procedure through the use of intervention variables to keep
