Initial Jobless Claims Fell Slightly in April

Washington, DC, May 4, 2017- In the week ending April 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 238,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 257,000, reports the Department of Labor.

The four-week moving average for seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims was 243,000 in April, an increase of 750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 242,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4% for the week ending April 22, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending April 22 was 1,964,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since April 15, 2000 when it was 1,962,000. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 1,988,000 to 1,987,000.

The four-week moving average was 1,989,250, a decrease of 17,750 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since November 26, 1988 when it was 1,978,250. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 2,007,250 to 2,007,000.