by Calculated Risk on 5/09/2013 08:35:00 AM

The DOL reports:

In the week ending May 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 327,000. The 4-week moving average was 336,750, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average of 343,000.

The previous week was revised up from 324,000.

The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since January 2000.

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 decreased to 336,750.

The 4-week average is at the lowest level since the recession started in December 2007. Claims were below the 335,000 consensus forecast.