Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease to 239,000

The DOL reported:

In the week ending August 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 239,000, a decrease of
11,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 2,000 from 248,000 to
250,000. The 4-week moving average was 234,250, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The
previous week’s average was revised up by 500 from 231,000 to 231,500.
emphasis addedThe following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.

Click on graph for larger image.

The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims increased to 234,250.

The previous week was revised up.

Weekly claims were below the consensus forecast.