News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 04-1224-NAT
   
   
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) 693-4676 July 8, 2004
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending July 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 310,000, a decrease of 39,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 349,000. The 4-week moving average was 336,000, a decrease of 10,250 from the previous week's revised average of 346,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending June 26, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 2.3 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending June 26 was 2,872,000, a decrease of 85,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,957,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,918,250, an increase of 2,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,916,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 351,137 in the week ending July 3, an increase of 32,751 from the previous week. There were 483,401 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent during the week ending June 26, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,754,453, an increase of 33,841 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.6 percent and the volume was 3,330,105.

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Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending June 19.

7,990 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending June 19.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,471 in the week ending June 26, a decrease of 229 from the prior week. There were 1,940 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 11 from the preceding week.

There were 13,674 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending June 19, a decrease of 1,062 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 25,685, an increase of 269 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending June 19 were in Puerto Rico (4.5 percent), Alaska (3.7), Oregon (3.2), Pennsylvania (3.2), Michigan (3.0), New Jersey (2.9), California (2.7), Arkansas (2.6), Illinois (2.6), Massachusetts (2.6), and Washington (2.6).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending June 26 were in New Jersey (+4,764), Massachusetts (+4,241), Georgia (+2,750), Oklahoma (+2,222), and Connecticut (+2,060), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-4,012), California (-3,732), Pennsylvania (-3,424), Wisconsin
(-2,032), and Texas (-1,080).

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING July 3  June 26 Change June 19  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 310,000 349,000 -39,000 349,000 427,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 351,137 318,386 +32,751 322,481 483,401
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 336,000 346,250 -10,250 344,250 420,000
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING June 26 June 19  Change June 12 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 2,872,000 2,957,000 -85,000 2,952,000 3,700,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 2,754,453 2,720,612 +33,841 2,733,297 3,330,105
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 2,918,250 2,916,250 +2,000 2,923,750 3,677,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.3% 2.3% 0.0 2.3% 2.9%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.2% 2.2% 0.0 2.2% 2.6%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
June 26
June 19
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,471 1,700 -229 1,773
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,940 1,951 -11 1,201
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
June 19
June 12
Change
Year
Federal Employees 13,674 14,736 -1,062 14,115
Newly Discharged Veterans 25,685 25,416 +269 16,113
Railroad Retirement Board 2,000 2,000 0 2,000
Extended Benefits 1,300 1,800 -500 14,827
Federal (TEUC) 7,990 8,336 -346 854,406
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 126,084,041 as denominator.
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UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 06/26/2004 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -4,012 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
CA -3,732 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
PA -3,424 Fewer layoffs in the construction, service, and transportation industries.
WI -2,032 Fewer layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
TX -1,080 Fewer layoffs in the public administration, service, and manufacturing industries.
AZ -1,062 No comment.
KS -1,062 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
CT +2,060 Layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.
OK +2,222 Layoffs in the automobile industry.
GA +2,750 Layoffs in the automobile, transportation equipment, and carpets/rugs industries.
MA +4,241 Increase due to school closings for summer break.
NJ +4,764 Layoffs in the service, transportation, warehousing, and public administration industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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