Prior Prior Revised Consensus Actual
New Claims - Level 244 K 243 K 244 K 257 K
4-week Moving Average - Level 243 K 242.75 K 242.25 K
New Claims - Change 10 K 9 K 14 K
Initial jobless claims rose 14,000 in the April 22 week to a higher-than-expected 257,000. Yet, at 242,250, the 4-week average is now slightly lower and compares well with the 250,000 levels of late March. Continuing claims, in lagging data for the April 15 week, rose slightly to 1.988 million and with this 4-week average also moving lower, to 2.007 million and a new 17-year low. The unemployment rate for insured workers (excludes job leavers and re-entrants) remains at a very low 1.4 percent.
Claims data can be uneven during holiday periods such as Easter. But the 4-week averages are solid evidence that the labor market has remained very healthy this month in what is a positive indication for tomorrow's employment report. There are no special factors in today's report though Louisiana once again had to be estimated.
No comments:
Post a Comment