US initial jobless claims 226K vs. 228K expectations

Continuing claims 1879K vs. 1903K expectations

• Jobless claims 226K versus 228K expectations
• Prior month revised 230K versus 231K
• Four-week average 221.5K vs 222.25K last week
• Continuing claims 1879k vs 1903K expectations
• The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 3 were in New York (+18,249), California (+11,646), Washington (+1,011), Texas (+873), and New Jersey (+804)
• The largest decreases were in Massachusetts (-3,871), Rhode Island (-1,082), Kentucky (-690), Michigan (-637), and Kansas (-463).
• Claims taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal.

The jobs picture continues to impresss.