<H3>• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims – 23 August 2014 </H3>

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In the week ending August 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 298,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 298,000 to 299,000. The 4-week moving average was 299,750, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 300,750 to 301,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.9 percent for the week ending August 16, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 16 was 2,527,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week's revised level. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending August 9 were in Puerto Rico (4.2), New Jersey (3.3), Connecticut (3.1), Alaska (3.0), Pennsylvania (2.7), California (2.6), Rhode Island (2.6), Massachusetts (2.5), Nevada (2.5), Illinois (2.3). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending August 16 were in Georgia (+874), Alabama (+575), Connecticut (+467), Hawaii (+387), and Iowa (+131), while the largest decreases were in California (-8,771), Florida (- 1,462), Illinois (-1,442), Michigan (-1,401), and Texas (-1,050). 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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