<H3>• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims – 24 May 2014 </H3>

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In the week ending May 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 300,000, a decrease of 27,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 326,000 to 327,000. The 4-week moving average was 311,500, a decrease of 11,250 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since August 11, 2007 when it was 311,250. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 322,500 to 322,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.0 percent for the week ending May 17, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending May 10 were in Alaska (4.3), Puerto Rico (3.3), California (3.0), New Jersey (3.0), Connecticut (2.8), Pennsylvania (2.8), Nevada (2.6), Illinois (2.5), Massachusetts (2.3), Oregon (2.3), Rhode Island (2.3), and Virgin Island (2.3). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending May 17 were in Michigan (+5,809), California (+4,477), Kansas (+2,492), Missouri (+2,034), and Pennsylvania (+1,181), while the largest decreases were in Wisconsin (-1,870), New York (-1,348), Minnesota (-1,001), Florida (-664), and Tennessee (-620). Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

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