- Prior week 200K (revised to 199K)
- Initial jobless claims for the week ending May 9
- Four-week moving average 203.75K vs 203.0K prior (revised
from 203.25K) - Continuing claims 1,782K vs 1,790K expected
- Prior continuing claims 1,766K (revised to 1,758K)
- Four-week moving average continuing claims 1,781K vs
1,787.75K prior (revised to 1,787.75K) - Insured unemployment rate 1.2% vs 1.1% prior (revised down
from 1.2%) - Largest state increases in initial claims (NSA, week
ending May 9): Florida (+2,395), Texas (+2,007), Kentucky (+1,744),
Pennsylvania (+1,166), New York (+1,270) - Largest state decreases: California (-872), Michigan
(-701), New Hampshire (-625), Rhode Island (-189), Missouri (-151)
Initial claims popped 12K off a downward-revised 199K base,
the highest weekly print since early April but still well within the recent
range. The four-week average ticked up only marginally to 203.75K, which is
running below the year-ago comparable of 229.25K.
On the unadjusted side, actual claims rose by 10,258 to
190,571 when the seasonals had only expected a 199 increase, which accounts for
the larger seasonally adjusted jump. Comparable week in 2025 was 203,579, so
the year-over-year comparison remains favorable.
Continuing claims rose 24K to 1.782M, though the prior week
was revised down by 8K. The four-week average actually fell to 1.781M, the
lowest in the recent run. Year-ago continuing claims stood at 1.884M.
Federal employee initial claims were 392 for the week
ending May 2, down 46
