News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 04-1873-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 : September 23, 2004
(202) 693-4676  
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending Sept. 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 350,000, an increase of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 336,000. The 4-week moving average was 341,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average of 339,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending Sept. 11, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.3 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Sept. 11 was 2,883,000, an increase of 5,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 2,878,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,881,500, a decrease of 1,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,882,500.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 275,103 in the week ending Sept. 18, an increase of 24,374 from the previous week. There were 301,217 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.0 percent during the week ending Sept.11, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 2,479,663, an increase of 13,617 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.4 percent and the volume was 3,034,012.

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Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending Sept. 4.

2,043 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Sept. 4.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,340 in the week ending Sept. 11, an increase of 188 from the prior week. There were 1,965 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 252 from the preceding week.

There were 16,577 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Sept. 4, an increase of 270 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 25,887, a decrease of 755 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Sept. 4 were in Puerto Rico (3.8 percent), Alaska (3.1), New Jersey (3.1), Pennsylvania (2.8), Oregon (2.7), Michigan (2.6), Massachusetts (2.5), New York (2.4), Rhode Island (2.4), and Washington (2.4).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Sept. 11 were in North Carolina (+2,046), Kentucky (+1,203), Indiana (+543), Oklahoma (+325), and Vermont (+123), while the largest decreases were in California (-5,367), Texas (-2,627), Michigan (-2,156), Florida (-1,883), and Missouri (-1,451).

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Sept. 18 Sept. 11 Change Sept. 4 Year
Initial Claims (SA) 350,000 336,000 +14,000 318,000 387,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 275,103 250,729 +24,374 273,682 301,217
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 341,000 339,000 +2,000 338,250 403,750
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Sept. 11 Sept. 4  Change Aug. 28 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 2,883,000 2,878,000 +5,000 2,887,000 3,569,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 2,479,663 2,466,046 +13,617 2,595,487 3,034,012
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 2,881,500 2,882,500 -1,000 2,886,000 3,586,250
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.3% 2.3% 0.0 2.3% 2.8%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 2.0% 2.0% 0.0 2.1% 2.4%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Sept. 11
Sept. 4
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,340 1,152 +188 2,413
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,965 2,217 -252 1,841
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Sept. 4
Aug. 28
Change
Year
Federal Employees 16,577 16,307 270 18,149
Newly Discharged Veterans 25,887 26,642 -755 19,509
Railroad Retirement Board 2,000 2,000 0 3,000
Extended Benefits 0 0 0 25,192
Federal (TEUC) 2,043 2,398 -355 839,247
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 09/11/2004 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
CA -5,367 Fewer layoffs in the service industry.
TX -2,627 Fewer layoffs in the information, trade, and manufacturing industries.
MI -2,156 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
FL -1,883 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries, and agriculture. There was a combined total of 3,808 claims filed as a result of Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
MO -1,451 Fewer layoffs in the construction and service industries.
IL -1,317 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
WI -1,241 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.
NY -1,022 No comment.
WA -1,013 No comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
KY +1,203 No comment.
NC +2,046 Layoffs in the construction, textile, and furniture industries.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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