by Calculated Risk on 12/03/2015 08:34:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending November 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 269,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 260,000. The 4-week moving average was 269,250, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 271,000.

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

The previous week was unrevised at 260,000.

The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 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 declined to 269,250.

This was at the consensus forecast of 270,000, and the low level of the 4-week average suggests few layoffs.