US: Initial claims was 221,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week

"In the week ending May 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 221,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 234,000," the U.S. Department of Labor announced on Thursday.

Key takeaways

• The 4-week moving average was 222,250, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 219,750.
• Claims taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal.
• The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 19 was 1,726,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level.
• The 4-week moving average was 1,743,500, a decrease of 8,500 from the previous week's revised average.
  • This is the lowest level for this average since December 15, 1973 when it was 1,735,750.