News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
News Release |
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U.S. Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. | ||
| EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION | USDL 04-280-NAT |
| Program Contact: | TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS |
| Thomas Stengle (202) 693-2991 | RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL |
| Media Contact : | 8:30 A.M. (EST), THURSDAY |
| (202) 693-4676 | February 26, 2004 |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATAIn the week ending Feb. 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 354,750, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 352,000.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent for the week ending Feb. 14, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.5 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending Feb. 14 was 3,102,000, a decrease of 62,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 3,164,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,113,250,
a decrease of 4,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,117,500.
UNADJUSTED DATAThe advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 327,147 in the week ending Feb. 21, a decrease of 14,281 from the previous week. There were 387,068 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the
week ending Feb. 14, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,743,681, a decrease
of 34,390 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.2 percent
and the volume was 4,089,902.
Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending Feb. 7.
53 states reported that 417,609 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Feb. 7.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,256 in the week ending Feb. 14, a decrease of 69 from the prior week. There were 1,653 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 328 from the preceding week.
There were 22,874 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 7, an increase of 1,299 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 28,633, an increase of 376 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 7 were in Alaska (7.0 percent), Idaho (5.1), Michigan (4.6), Pennsylvania (4.6), Oregon (4.5), Wisconsin (4.4), New Jersey (4.1), Rhode Island (4.1), Washington (4.1), Massachusetts (4.0), and Puerto Rico (4.0).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 14 were in
Michigan (+1,423), Alabama (+646), Mississippi (+241), Louisiana (+74), and
Vermont (+25), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-16,139),
California (-12,879), Pennsylvania (-6,931), Illinois (-5,586), and Missouri
(-5,139).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 21 | Feb. 14 | Change | Feb. 7 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 350,000 | 344,000 | +6,000 | 368,000 | 412,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 327,147 | 341,428 | -14,281 | 433,236 | 387,068 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 354,750 | 352,000 | +2,750 | 351,750 | 399,000 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 14 | Feb. 7 | Change | Jan. 31 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 3,102,000 | 3,164,000 | -62,000 | 3,081,000 | 3,369,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,743,681 | 3,778,071 | -34,390 | 3,851,117 | 4,089,902 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 3,113,250 | 3,117,500 | -4,250 | 3,106,250 | 3,386,500 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.0 | 2.4% | 2.7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 | 3.0% | 3.0% | 0.0 | 3.1% | 3.2% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 14 |
Feb. 7 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 1,256 | 1,325 | -69 | 1,243 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,653 | 1,981 | -328 | 1,209 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 7 |
Jan. 31 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 22,874 | 21,575 | +1,299 | 20,947 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 28,633 | 28,257 | +376 | 20,791 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 5,000 | 5,000 | 0 | 7,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 12,892 | 13,731 | -839 | 17,238 |
| Federal (TEUC) | 417,609 | 496,346 | -78,737 | 812,176 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/14/2004
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| NC | -16,139 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, textile, apparel, furniture, and lumber/wood industries. | |
| CA | -12,879 | Fewer layoffs in the service industry. | |
| PA | -6,931 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, wood products, and transportation industries. | |
| IL | -5,586 | Fewer layoffs in the construction and trade industries. | |
| MO | -5,139 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, stone/clay/glass, public administration, transportation, communications, and public utilities industries. | |
| SC | -5,062 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| NY | -3,985 | No comment. | |
| VA | -3,425 | Fewer layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries. | |
| NJ | -3,387 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries. | |
| GA | -3,278 | Fewer layoffs in the textile industry. | |
| OH | -2,593 | No comment. | |
| TX | -2,201 | Fewer layoffs in the finance, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| MN | -1,877 | Fewer layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries. | |
| OR | -1,842 | No comment. | |
| WI | -1,752 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and manufacturing industries. | |
| WA | -1,724 | No comment. | |
| KS | -1,677 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| IN | -1,424 | No comment. | |
| KY | -1,269 | No comment. | |
| MA | -1,091 | No comment. | |
| MD | -1,087 | No comment. | |
| FL | -1,074 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| AR | -1,008 | No comment. |
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| MI | +1,423 | Layoffs in the automobile industry. |