Updated: 19-May-22 09:18 ET
| Initial Claims for the Week Ended May 14 |
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| Updated: 19-May-22 09:18 ET |
Highlights
- Initial claims for the week ending May 14 increased by 21,000 to 218,000 (Briefing.com consensus 200,000). That remains a low number historically, but relative to expectations it was a disappointment.
- Continuing claims for the week ending May 7, however, decreased by 25,000 to 1.317 million.
Key Factors
- The four-week moving average for initial claims increased by 8,250 to 199,500.
- The four-week moving average for continuing claims decreased by 22,500 to 1,362,250. That is the lowest level since January 24, 1970.
- The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending April 30 was 1,371,448, a decrease of 68,885 from the previous week. In the same week a year ago, there were 15,970,923 weekly claims filed for benefits in all programs.
Big Picture
- The key takeaway from the report is that it covers the week in which the survey for the May employment report was conducted. The relatively low number of initial claims will support an outlook for another strong month of nonfarm payroll gains.
| Category | May 14 | May 7 | Apr 30 | Apr 23 | Apr 16 |
| Initial Claims | 218K | 197K | 202K | 181K | 185K |
| 4-Wk Moving Avg | 200K | 191K | 189K | 180K | 178K |
| Continued Benefits | 1317K | 1342K | 1387K | 1403K | |
| 4-Wk Moving Avg | 1362K | 1385K | 1418K | 1453K |
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