Jobless Claims Fall to Only 212K for Week Ending August 11

The advance figure for seasonally-adjusted initial jobless claims came in at just 212,000 for the week ending August 11, beating the forecast. The previous week was revised up by 1,000 from 213,000 to 214,000.

The 4-week moving average rose by 1,000 to a still-low 215,500. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 214,250 to 214,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was unchanged at a very low 1.2% for the week ending August 4. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 4 decreased by 39,000 to 1,721,000.

The previous week’s level was revised up 5,000 from 1,755,000 to 1,760,000.

The 4-week moving average decreased by 8,000 to 1,738,500. The previous week’s average was revised up by 1,250 from 1,745,250 to 1,746,500.

No state was triggered “on” the Extended Benefits program during the week ending July 28.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending July 28 were in New Jersey (2.5), Connecticut (2.3), Puerto Rico (2.3), Pennsylvania (2.1), Alaska (1.9), California (1.9), Rhode Island (1.9), the Virgin Islands (1.8), Massachusetts (1.6), the District of Columbia (1.5), Illinois (1.5), and New York (1.5).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending August 4 were in Pennsylvania (+1,333), California (+1,288), Oregon (+682), Washington (+600), and New Jersey (+579), while the largest decreases were in Kentucky (-3,118), Arizona (-325), New Hampshire (-83), Michigan (-77), and Indiana (-55).