U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Fall to 194,000 for Week Ending October 24; Continuing Claims Drop to 1.701 Million
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its weekly unemployment insurance claims report on October 29. In the week ending October 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 194,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level of 195,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000, from 194,000 to 195,000.
The four-week moving average for initial claims was 196,750, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 198,000. The previous week's average was revised up by 250, from 197,750 to 198,000.
For continuing claims, the advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment in the week ending October 17 was 1,701,000, a decrease of 21,000 from the previous week's revised level of 1,722,000. The previous week's level was revised down by 6,000, from 1,728,000 to 1,722,000. The four-week moving average for insured unemployment was 1,710,000, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.1 percent for the week ending October 17, unchanged from the previous week's rate.
According to Reuters, economists polled had forecast 199,000 claims for the latest week. Claims have stayed mostly below 200,000 since mid-September and remain within striking distance of the 189,000 level touched in mid-July, the lowest reading since 1969. Economists described the labor market as remaining in a low-hire, low-fire state, with layoffs hovering near historic lows.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：华盛顿的美国劳工部总部 Frances Perkins Building（美国劳工部，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons），GSM 联邦机构固定图库。 / The Frances Perkins Building, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons), GSM federal agency asset library.
