by Calculated Risk on 11/19/2020 08:37:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending November 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 742,000, an increase of 31,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 709,000 to 711,000. The 4-week moving average was 742,000, a decrease of 13,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 755,250 to 755,750.
emphasis added

This does not include the 320,237 initial claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) that was up from 296,374 the previous week. (There are some questions on PUA numbers).

The 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 decreased to 742,000.

The previous week was revised up.

The second graph shows seasonally adjust continued claims since 1967 (lags initial by one week).

At the worst of the Great Recession, continued claims peaked at 6.635 million, but then steadily declined.

Continued claims decreased to 6,372,000 (SA) from 6,801,000 (SA) last week and will likely stay at a high level until the crisis abates.

Note: There are an additional 8,681,647 receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) that decreased from 9,433,127 the previous week (there are questions about these numbers). This is a special program for business owners, self-employed, independent contractors or gig workers not receiving other unemployment insurance. 

An additional 4,376,847 are receiving Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) that increased from 4,143,389 the previous week. These last two programs are set to expire on December 26th.