The 4-week moving average for initial claims was 243,500, an increase of 500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 243,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4 percent for the week ending April 29, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate.
For continuing claims, the previous week's level was revised up 15,000 to 1,979,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,965,500, a decrease of 27,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since February 2, 1974 when it was 1,964,250. The previous week's average was revised up by 3,750 from 1,989,250 to 1,993,000.