Updated: 13-Dec-18 09:32 ET

Initial Claims for the Week Ended Dec 08

Updated: 13-Dec-18 09:32 ET

Highlights

• Initial jobless claims for the week ending December 8 dropped by 27,000 to 206,000 (Briefing.com consensus 228,000).
• Continuing claims for the week ending December 1 increased by 25,000 to 1.661 million.

Key Factors

• The four-week moving average for initial claims declined by 3,750 to 224,750.
• The four-week moving average for continuing claims decreased by 2,500 to 1,665,750.
• Initial claims have held below 300,000 for 197 straight weeks.

Big Picture

• The key takeaway from the report is that it helped quell for the time being burgeoning concerns about the rising trend in initial jobless claims.

Category	Dec 8	Dec 1	Nov 24	Nov 17	Nov 10
Initial Claims	206K	233K	235K	225K	221K
4-Wk Moving Avg	225K	229K	224K	219K	217K
Continued Benefits		1661K	1636K	1705K	1661K
4-Wk Moving Avg		1666K	1668K	1667K	1648K