The 4-week moving average was 222,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 224,750.
According to unadjusted data, the biggest increases were seen in Massachusetts (+1,020); California (+922); Virginia (+412) and Connecticut (286) while the largest declines were recorded in Illinois (-1,911); Michigan (-1,423); Georgia (-845) and Texas (-672).
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending December 8, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 8 was 1,688,000, an increase of 27,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 1,661,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,672,500, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 1,665,750.