Economic data appeared to back up the Fed's gloomy economic projections, with jobless claims still more than double their peak during the Great Recession and continuing claims at an astoundingly high 20.9 million. A year-on-year drop in core producer prices also reflected the central bank's disinflationary concerns. The CBOE volatility index .VIX, a barometer of investor anxiety, posted its largest one-day point gain since March 16.