Updated: 25-Feb-21 09:34 ET
| Initial Claims for the Week Ended Feb 20 |
 |
|
| Updated: 25-Feb-21 09:34 ET |
Highlights
- Initial claims for the week ending February 20 decreased by 111,000 to 730,000 (Briefing.com consensus 820,000).
- Continuing claims for the week ending February 13 decreased by 101,000 to 4.419 million.
Key Factors
- The four-week moving average for initial claims decreased by 20,500 to 807,750. In the same week a year ago, the average stood at 210,000.
- The four-week moving average for continuing claims decreased by 91,500 to 4,547,000. In the same week a year ago, the average stood at 1,713,2500.
- The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending February 6 was 19,042,686, up 701,102 from the prior week and versus 2,103,673 in the same week a year ago.
Big Picture
- The key takeaway from the report is that this is the lowest level of weekly initial claims since early November, which should lend some confidence to the notion that economic activity is picking up again following a late fourth quarter stupor.
| Category | Feb 20 | Feb 13 | Feb 6 | Jan 30 | Jan 23 |
| Initial Claims | 730K | 841K | 848K | 812K | 812K |
| 4-Wk Moving Avg | 808K | 828K | 837K | 857K | 850K |
| Continued Benefits | 4419K | 4520K | 4558K | 4691K | |
| 4-Wk Moving Avg | 4547K | 4639K | 4752K | 4907K |
|
|