Bailout

Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims at 456,000

By Anonymous

In the week ending April 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 456,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 480,000. The 4-week moving average was 460,250, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 457,500.
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The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending April 10 was 4,646,000, a decrease of 40,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,686,000.

This graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.

The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims increased this week by 2,750 to 460,250.

The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The current level of 456,000 (and 4-week average of 460,250) is still high, and suggests continuing weakness in the jobs market.

The 4-week average fell to this level in December 2009 following the worst of the recession, and has essentially moved sideways for four months.

Full post as published by Calculated Risk on April 22, 2010 (boomark / email).