Washington, DC…In the week ending October 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week’s revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 31, 1973 when it was 222,000. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 243,000 to 244,000. The 4-week moving average was 248,250, a decrease of 9,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 257,500 to 257,750.
Claims taking procedures continue to be severely disrupted in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as a result of power outages and infrastructure damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending October 7, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week’s revised rate. The previous week’s rate was revised up by 0.1 from 1.3 to 1.4 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending October 7 was 1,888,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised level. This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since December 29, 1973 when it was 1,805,000. The previous week’s level was revised up 15,000 from 1,889,000 to 1,904,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,906,000, a decrease of 22,750 from the previous week’s revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since January 12, 1974 when it was 1,881,000. The previous week’s average was revised up by 3,750 from 1,925,000 to 1,928,750.