In the week ending May 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 232,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 236,000. The 4-week moving average was 240,750, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 243,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4 percent for the week ending May 6, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 6 was 1,898,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest ... (full story)

The U.S. labor market continues to show signs of tightening, with unemployment claims declining for the third straight week and benefit rolls matching the lowest level since 1973, Labor Department data showed Thursday. Highlights of Jobless Claims (Week Ended May 13) • Initial benefit filings decreased by 4k to 232k (est. 240k), the lowest since late February • Continuing claims fell by 22k to 1.898m in week ended May 6 (data reported with one-week lag) • Four-week average of initial claims declined to 240,750 from 243,500 in the prior week. Hiring managers remain more occupied with finding workers than trimming ... (full story)