In the week ending April 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 281,000, an increase of 14,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 268,000 to 267,000. The 4-week moving average was 282,250, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since June 3, 2000 when it was 281,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.7 percent for the week ending March 28, unchanged from the previous week’s unrevised rate.
The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending March 28 was 2,304,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week’s revised level. This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since December 9, 2000 when it was 2,263,000. The previous week’s level was revised up 2,000 from 2,325,000 to 2,327,000.

In a related report, said fewer dismissals indicate companies are optimistic demand will strengthen after the world’s largest economy weakened in
the first quarter under the strain of harsh winter weather, a strengthening dollar and tepid global growth. It also signals employment is likely to rebound after a report last week showed payrolls rose in March at the slowest pace in more than a year, Bloomberg said.

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