Applications for US jobless aid rise, but growth looks solid

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JOSH BOAK

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, but the number of applications continues to be at historically low levels that suggest solid economic growth will continue.

The Labor Department said Wednesday that applications for unemployment benefits climbed 17,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 298,000.

The four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose 250 to 290,750. That average has plummeted 17.5 percent in the past 12 months.

"The claims data still point to relatively upbeat conditions in the labor market," said Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan Chase, noting that there are routinely ups and downs in the weekly figures.

FULL story at link.



FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2014, file photo, people sign up for unemployment and other benefits in Atlantic City, N.J. The U.S. Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits during the last full week of 2014, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141231/us--unemployment_benefits-c518d65130.html

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. They're a day early this week.

I hadn't been looking for the release so early. Thank you.

ETA News Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report (12/31/2014)

Source: Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration

Read More: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/eta20142337.pdf

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending December 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 298,000, an increase of 17,000 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 290,750, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 290,250 to 290,500.

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

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.8 percent for the week ending December 20, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 20 was 2,353,000, a decrease of 53,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up 3,000 from 2,403,000 to 2,406,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,414,250, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 2,418,250 to 2,419,000.
....

UNADJUSTED DATA
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The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending December 13 was 2,540,575, an increase of 126,960 from the previous week. There were 4,470,098 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2013.