EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 02-606
   
   
Program Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Thomas Stengle (202) 693-2991 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Media Contact : 8:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY
(202) 693-3900 October 24, 2002
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Oct. 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 389,000, a decrease of 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 414,000. The 4-week moving average was 404,000, a decrease of  5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 409,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.8 percent for the week ending Oct. 12, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.9 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Oct. 12 was 3,577,000, a decrease of 115,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,692,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,632,500, a decrease of 17,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,650,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 345,127 in the week ending Oct. 19, a decrease of 40,320 from the previous week. There were 429,541 initial claims in the comparable week in 2001.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent during the week ending Oct. 12, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,997,308, an increase of 21,950 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.3 percent and the volume was 2,964,722.  

Extended benefits were available in North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington during the week ending Oct. 5.

53 states reported that 858,396 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Oct. 5.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,894 in the week ending Oct. 12, a decrease of 289 from the prior week. There were 1,721 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 17 from the preceding week.

There were 19,310 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Oct. 5, an increase of 1,147 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 17,440, an increase of 273 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Oct. 5 were in Puerto Rico (5.7 percent), Alaska (3.7), Oregon (3.6), Washington (3.4), California (3.2), the Virgin Islands (3.2), Pennsylvania (3.1), New Jersey (3.0), Massachusetts (2.9), and Arkansas (2.8).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Oct. 12 were in North Carolina (+3,791), Missouri (+3,594), Michigan (+2,156), Louisiana (+1,976), and Washington (+1,160), while the largest decreases were in Arkansas (-1,729), California (-1,299), Illinois (-965), Mississippi (-512), and Tennessee (-436).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Oct. 19  Oct. 12 Change Oct. 5  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 389,000 414,000 -25,000 389,000 476,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 345,127 385,447 -40,320 365,691 429,541
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 404,000 409,500 -5,500 413,500 482,000
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Oct. 12 Oct. 5  Change Sept. 28 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,577,000 3,692,000 -115,000 3,612,000 3,513,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 2,997,308 2,975,358 +21,950 2,954,225 2,964,722
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,632,500 3,650,250 -17,750 3,623,500 3,438,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.8% 2.9% -0.1 2.8% 2.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.4% 2.3% +0.1 2.3% 2.3%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Oct. 12 

Oct. 5 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,894 2,183 -289 2,134
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,721 1,738 -17 1,276
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING

Oct. 5  

Sept. 28 

Change
Year
Federal Employees 19,310 18,163 +1,147 16,222
Newly Discharged Veterans 17,440 17,167 +273 14,729
Railroad Retirement Board 3,000 3,000 0 4,000
Extended Benefits 12,814 12,606 +208 2
Federal (TEUC) 858,396 851,857 +6,539 0
FOOTNOTES
SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data
NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data
1 - Prior year is comparable to most recent data.
2 - Most recent week used covered employment of 127,388,117 as denominator.
 
 

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 10/12/2002

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
State Change State Supplied Comment
AR -1,729 No comment.
CA -1,299 No comment.
STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000
IN +1,079 Layoffs in the rubber/plastics and mobile homes industries.
OH +1,142 No comment.
WA +1,160 No comment.
LA +1,976 Claims activity increased due to Hurricane Lili.
MI +2,156 Layoffs in the industrial machinery and computer equipment industries.
MO +3,594 Layoffs in the service industry.
NC +3,791 Layoffs in the textile and lumber/wood industries.

UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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