- 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. Newly discharged veterans claims were 383, up 12.
Continued claims for former federal civilian employees totaled 7,820, down 850
on the week but still running above the year-ago figure of 6,570.
The highest insured unemployment rates were in Rhode Island
(2.3), Massachusetts (2.2), New Jersey (2.2), Washington (2.1) and California
(2.0).
