by Calculated Risk on 11/26/2014 08:30:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending November 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 313,000, an increase of 21,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 291,000 to 292,000. The 4-week moving average was 294,000, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 287,500 to 287,750.

There were no special factors impacting this week's initial claims

The previous week was revised up to 292,000

The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since January 1971.

Click on graph for larger image.


The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims increased to 294,000.

This was higher than the consensus forecast of 288,000, but the level suggests few layoffs.