Jobless Claims Released On 1/8/2015 8:30:00 AM For wk1/3, 2015 Prior Prior Revised Consensus Consensus Range Actual New Claims - Level 298 K 298 K 290 K 280 K to 297 K 294 K 4-week Moving Average - Level 290.75 K 290.75 K 290.50 K New Claims - Change 17 K 17 K -4 K Highlights Initial jobless claims fell 4,000 in the January 3 week to 294,000, helping to pull down the 4-week average slightly to 290,500. The average is trending about 10,000 lower than the month-ago comparison which points to steady improvement underway in the labor market.
Data on continuing claims, which are reported with a 1-week lag, are mixed. Continuing claims in the December 27 week rose a sizable 101,000 to 2.452 million but the 4-week average fell 17,000 to 2.397 million. This average has been steady around the 2.400 million mark since late November. The unemployment rate for insured workers is unchanged for a fourth week at a recovery low of 1.8 percent.
There are no special factors in today's report, one that should firm confidence for healthy readings in tomorrow's monthly employment report.
Weekly series fluctuate more dramatically than monthly series even when the series are adjusted for seasonal variation. The 4-week moving average gives a better perspective on the underlying trend. Data Source: Haver Analytics
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