Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims decrease to 312,000

The DOL reports:

In the week ending June 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 312,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 312,000 to 314,000. The 4-week moving average was 314,250, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 311,750 to 312,250.

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

The previous week was revised up from 312,000.

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 314,250.

This was close to the consensus forecast of 313,000.  The 4-week average is now at normal levels for an expansion.