The 4-week moving average was 250,750, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 241,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending December 30, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate.
On an unadjusted basis, the biggest increases in initial claims were recorded in NY (27,170), California (12,459), Georgia (11,678), Pennsylvania (5,408), Texas (4,812) and Alabama (3,055). Also, claims taking procedures continue to be disrupted in the Virgin Islands while those in Puerto Rico still have not returned to normal.
Continuing claims during the week ending December 30 were at 1,867,000, a decrease of 35,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since December 29, 1973 when it was 1,805,000. The previous week's level was revised down by 12,000 from 1,914,000 to 1,902,000.
The 4-week moving average was 1,913,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 3,750 from 1,922,500 to 1,918,750.