<H3>• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims – 16 August 2014 </H3>

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In the week ending August 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 298,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 311,000 to 312,000. The 4-week moving average was 300,750, an increase of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 295,750 to 296,000. Click on chart to enlarge The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.9 percent for the week ending August 9, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 9 was 2,500,000, a decrease of 49,000 from the previous week's revised level. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending August 2 were in Puerto Rico (4.3), New Jersey (3.3), Alaska (3.1), Connecticut (3.1), Pennsylvania (2.9), California (2.8), Rhode Island (2.6), Massachusetts (2.5), Nevada (2.5), and the Virgin Islands (2.3). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending August 9 were in California (+10,107), New York (+1,928), Massachusetts (+1,451), Michigan (+1,423), and Florida (+1,236), while the largest decreases were in Connecticut (- 397), Kansas (-305), South Carolina (-225), Arkansas (-206), and Hawaii (-188). 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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