Daily News

View All News

US jobless claims average falls to lowest level since 2000

October 23, 2014

The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance last week fell by 3,000 to a total of 281,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 284,000, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. This is the lowest level for this average since May 6, 2000, when it was 279,250.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Oct. 18 rose by 17,000 to a total of 283,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 266,000.

No special factors impacted this week’s initial claims, according to the US Department of Labor.

MarketWatch reports the near historically low levels of initial claims reflect the small number of layoffs taking place in the economy.