Last weeks claims #: + 10,000 @ 249,000
4-Week Average of Claims: 237,500
Prior Weeks 4-Week Average: 230,750
Comments: For the second week in a row and for the third in the last four weeks, weekly jobless claims in the US rose. This weeks number actually forced the 4-week average to rise for the first time since late September. For the 4-week average to continue to rise, we would need to see a weekly number come in above 234,000.