News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 04-1523-NAT
   
   
Program Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Thomas Stengle (202) 693-2991 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176 8:30 A.M. (EDT), THURSDAY
Media Contact : August 12, 2004
(202) 693-4676  
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending Aug. 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 333,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 337,000. The 4-week moving average was 339,250, a decrease of 4,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 343,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending July 31, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.3 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 31 was 2,896,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,901,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,883,250, a decrease of 14,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,897,750.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 290,226 in the week ending Aug. 7, an increase of 8,312 from the previous week. There were 348,207 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.2 percent during the week ending July 31, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,771,143, a decrease of 43,161 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.7 percent and the volume was 3,417,741.

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Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending July 24.

4,919 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending July 24.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,899 in the week ending July 31, an increase of 445 from the prior week. There were 2,079 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 24 from the preceding week.

There were 17,586 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending July 24, an increase of 974 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 26,034, a decrease of 22 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending July 24 were in Michigan (3.5 percent), Alaska (3.4), New Jersey (3.3), Pennsylvania (3.2), Oregon (3.1), Rhode Island (3.1), Puerto Rico (3.0), Connecticut (2.8), Massachusetts (2.8), and California (2.7).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending July 31 were in Washington (+610), Ohio (+434), Kansas (+433), Missouri (+250), and New Jersey (+159), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-7,853), Tennessee (-3,345), Georgia (-2,787), Florida (-2,131), and North Carolina (-2,065).

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Aug. 7  July 31 Change July 24 Year
Initial Claims (SA) 333,000 337,000 -4,000 346,000 399,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 290,226 281,914 +8,312 315,672 348,207
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 339,250 343,500 -4,250 336,500 396,500
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING July 31 July 24  Change July 17 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 2,896,000 2,901,000 -5,000 2,947,000 3,594,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 2,771,143 2,814,304 -43,161 2,938,264 3,417,741
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 2,883,250 2,897,750 -14,500 2,887,250 3,592,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.3% 2.3% 0.0 2.3% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.2% 2.2% 0.0 2.3% 2.7%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
July 31
July 24
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,899 1,454 +445 1,401
Newly Discharged Veterans 2,079 2,103 -24 1,474
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
July 24
July 17
Change
Year
Federal Employees 17,586 16,612 +974 18,874
Newly Discharged Veterans 26,034 26,056 -22 17,744
Railroad Retirement Board 2,000 2,000 0 3,000
Extended Benefits 0 5 -5 13,127
Federal (TEUC) 4,919 5,105 -186 851,421
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 126,088,081 as denominator.
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UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 07/31/2004 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -7,853 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
TN -3,345 Fewer layoffs in the rubber/plastics, electronic equipment, transportation equipment, primary metals, and apparel industries.
GA -2,787 Fewer layoffs in the textile industry.
FL -2,131 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries, and agriculture.
NC -2,065 Fewer layoffs in the rubber/plastics, furniture, food, and transportation equipment industries.
SC -1,892 Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
KY -1,694 No comment.
NY -1,398 No comment.
TX -1,300 Fewer layoffs in the public administration and service industries.
CA -1,249 Fewer layoffs in the trade and service industries.
DE -1,123 No comment.
IL -1,032 Fewer layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
None    


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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