In the week ending May 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 234,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 222,000 to 223,000. The 4-week moving average was 219,750, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 213,250 to 213,500. Claims taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending May 12, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 12 was 1,741,000, an increase of 29,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up 5,000 from 1,707,000 to 1,712,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,751,750, a decrease of 23,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since December 15, 1973 when it was 1,735,750. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 1,773,750 to 1,775,000.