Jobless Claims Decline by 34K in Second Week of May

Washington, DC, May 20, 2021-In the week ending May 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week's revised level, according to the Department of Labor. 

This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. 

The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 473,000 to 478,000. The four-week moving average was 504,750, a decrease of 30,500 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,250 from 534,000 to 535,250.