by Calculated Risk on 9/25/2014 08:34:00 AM

The DOL reports:

In the week ending September 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 293,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 280,000 to 281,000. The 4-week moving average was 298,500, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 299,500 to 299,750.

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

The previous week was revised up to 281,000.

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 decreased to 298,500.

This was below the consensus forecast of 300,000 and in the normal range for an economic expansion.