–Unadjusted Claims +24,879 to 521,834
–4-Week Moving Average -12,500 to 414,000
By Denny Gulino and Kevin Kastner
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment
benefits fell 34,000 to 388,000 in the December 25 week, more than
expected, as the adjusted “general downward trend” remains clearly
visible, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday.
The adjusted total was the lowest since July 12, 2008.
A Labor Department analyst said that despite the general surge in
layoffs in construction, manufacturing and some other sectors this time
of year, “the general downward” trend in the adjusted figures can be
clearly charted through the weekly ups and downs since the
no-seasonally-adjusted figures began climbing in September.
The week’s claims for Oklahoma and Alaska were estimated, the
analyst said, but otherwise it was “a clean week,” with no special
factors.
Unadjusted claims rose 24,879 to 521,834 compared to the
year ago’s 556,517.
The seasonally adjusted 4-week moving average dropped 12,500 to
414,000.
Adjusted continuing claims were 4,128,000 in the latest week vs.
4,217,000 a month earlier, down 89,000.
The seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate for the
Dec. 18 week was up a tenth to 3.3% adjusted, the same as
unadjusted, compared to 3.9% for both a year earlier.
The unemployment rate among the insured labor force is well below
that reported monthly by the Labor Department because claims are
approved for the most part only for job losers, not the job leavers and
labor force reentrants included in the monthly report.
The Labor Department said that the level of unadjusted Emergency
Unemployment Compensation benefits claims dropped 77,741 to 3,711,288 in
the Dec. 11 week. Extended benefits claims dropped 73,747 to 819,269.
The Labor Department reported that a total of 8,866,924 persons
claimed unemployment benefits in the Dec. 11 week, down by
35,354.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: MAUDS$,MT$$$$,M$U$$$,MAUDR$]
