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 05-335-NAT |
| Program Contact: | TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS |
| Subri Raman (202) 693-3058 | RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL |
| Tony Sznoluch (202) 693-3176 | 8:30 A.M. (EST), THURSDAY |
| Media Contact : | March 3, 2005 |
| (202) 693-4676 | |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial
claims was 310,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised
figure of 311,000. The 4-week moving average was 307,000, a decrease of 1,500
from the previous week's revised average of 308,500.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.1 percent for the week ending Feb. 19, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 2.1 percent.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during
the week ending Feb. 19 was 2,672,000, an increase of 12,000 from the preceding
week's revised level of 2,660,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,693,750,
a decrease of 4,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 2,698,500.
UNADJUSTED DATAThe advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 290,241 in the week ending Feb. 26, a decrease of 14,203 from the previous week. There were 342,140 initial claims in the comparable week in 2004.
The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the
week ending Feb. 19, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number
for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,105,241, a decrease
of 134,595 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.0 percent
and the volume was 3,738,056.
Extended benefits were not available in any state during the week ending Feb. 12.
Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 975 in the week ending Feb. 19, a decrease of 206 from the prior week. There were 1,756 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 73 from the preceding week.
There were 19,304 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 12, a decrease of 1,227 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 26,995, a decrease of 193 from the prior week.
The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 12 were in Alaska (6.5 percent), Michigan (4.3), Pennsylvania (4.3), Idaho (3.8), Rhode Island (3.8), Wisconsin (3.8), New Jersey (3.7), Massachusetts (3.6), Oregon (3.6), and Puerto Rico (3.5).
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 19 were in Kentucky (+3,181), Illinois (+2,915), New Jersey (+2,074), Missouri (+1,753), and California (+1,321), while the largest decreases were in North Carolina (-2,734), New York (-1,995), Michigan (-1,618), South Carolina (-1,583), and Texas (-1,552).
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 26 | Feb. 19 | Change | Feb. 12 | Year |
| Initial Claims (SA) | 310,000 | 311,000 | -1,000 | 303,000 | 342,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Claims (NSA) | 290,241 | 304,444 | -14,203 | 309,290 | 342,140 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 307,000 | 308,500 | -1,500 | 312,000 | 355,500 |
| Advance | Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING | Feb. 19 | Feb. 12 | Change | Feb. 5 | Year |
| Ins. Unemployment (SA) | 2,672,000 | 2,660,000 | +12,000 | 2,712,000 | 3,120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment (NSA) | 3,105,241 | 3,239,836 | -134,595 | 3,216,436 | 3,738,056 |
| 4-Wk Moving Average (SA) | 2,693,750 | 2,698,500 | -4,750 | 2,736,250 | 3,161,500 |
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.0 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 | 2.5% | 2.6% | -0.1 | 2.5% | 3.0% |
|
Prior1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 19 |
Feb. 12 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 975 | 1,181 | -206 | 1,013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 1,756 | 1,829 | -73 | 1,566 |
|
Prior1 | ||||
| WEEK ENDING |
Feb. 12 |
Feb. 5 |
Change |
Year |
| Federal Employees | 19,304 | 20,531 | -1,227 | 19,860 |
| Newly Discharged Veterans | 26,995 | 27,188 | -193 | 27,723 |
| Railroad Retirement Board | 4,000 | 4,000 | 0 | 5,000 |
| Extended Benefits | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8,008 |
UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/19/2005
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| NC | -2,734 | Fewer layoffs in the construction, textile, and apparel industries. | |
| NY | -1,995 | Fewer layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries. | |
| MI | -1,618 | Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry. | |
| SC | -1,583 | Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry. | |
| TX | -1,552 | Fewer layoffs in the trade and utilities industries. | |
| VA | -1,391 | No comment. | |
| TN | -1,026 | Fewer layoffs in the apparel industry. |
| State | Change | State Supplied Comment | |
| CT | +1,074 | No comment. | |
| CA | +1,321 | Layoffs in the construction industry. | |
| MO | +1,753 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries. | |
| NJ | +2,074 | Layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| IL | +2,915 | Layoffs in the construction, service, and manufacturing industries. | |
| KY | +3,181 | Layoffs in the automobile industry. |
This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-693-4676. TDD Message Phone: 1-800-326-2577. News releases from the U.S. Department of Labor are accessible on the Internet at: http://www.dol.gov/ and https://oui.doleta.gov/