by Calculated Risk on 7/27/2017 08:33:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending July 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 244,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 233,000 to 234,000. The 4-week moving average was 244,000, unchanged from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 243,750 to 244,000.
emphasis added

The previous week was revised up.

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 was unchanged at 244,000.

This was higher than the consensus forecast.

The low level of claims suggests relatively few layoffs.