Research >> Economics
Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease 12,000 to 201,000
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In the week ending February 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 201,000, a decrease of
12,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 212,000 to
213,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,250, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average. The
previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 218,500 to 218,750.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending February 10, a
decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted
insured unemployment during the week ending February 10 was 1,862,000, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous
week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 6,000 from 1,895,000 to 1,889,000. The 4-week
moving average was 1,877,500, an increase of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the highest level
for this average since December 11, 2021 when it was 1,888,250. The previous week's average was revised down by
1,500 from 1,870,500 to 1,869,000.
UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 197,932 in the week ending
February 17, a decrease of 26,053 (or -11.6 percent) from the previous week. The seasonal factors had expected a
decrease of 13,439 (or -6.0 percent) from the previous week. There were 211,007 initial claims in the comparable week
in 2023.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4 percent during the week ending February 10, unchanged
from the prior week. The advance unadjusted level of insured unemployment in state programs totaled 2,095,174, a
decrease of 44,791 (or -2.1 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors had expected a decrease of 15,110 (or
-0.7 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.3 percent and the volume was 1,928,688.
The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending February 3 was 2,171,213,
an increase of 10,995 from the previous week. There were 1,979,314 weekly claims filed for benefits in all programs in
the comparable week in 2023.
No state was triggered "on" the Extended Benefits program during the week ending February 3.
Initial claims for UI benefits filed by former Federal civilian employees totaled 382 in the week ending February 10, a
decrease of 29 from the prior week. There were 392 initial claims filed by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 12
from the preceding week.
There were 6,893 continued weeks claimed filed by former Federal civilian employees the week ending February 3, a
decrease of 60 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 4,377, an increase of 101
from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending February 3 were in New Jersey (2.9), Rhode Island (2.7),
California (2.5), Minnesota (2.5), Massachusetts (2.4), Illinois (2.2), Alaska (2.1), Montana (2.1), Connecticut (2.0), New
York (2.0), Pennsylvania (2.0), and Washington (2.0).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending February 10 were in Kentucky (+3,264), California (+2,053),
Nevada (+364), Maryland (+290), and Washington (+91), while the largest decreases were in Missouri (-3,519),
Pennsylvania (-1,477), Texas (-1,431), Illinois (-1,213), and Oregon (-941)
Posted: February 22, 2024 Thursday 08:30 AM