Initial unemployment claims in line with in.>

US DATA: Initial unemployment claims in line with expectations in 

the Oct 20 wk, +5k to 215k as expected, with the effects of 

Hurricane Michael seen in the data. Unadjusted claims in Florida were 

up 3,744, while claims in Georgia rose by 3,440.

- The 4-wk moving avg was unchanged in the Oct 20 wk. The avg would 

rise next week if there is no change to the headline figure as a 207k 

level in Sept 29 week rolls out.

- NSA claims +7,008 to 197,509 in the current wk, below the 216,004 

level a year ago. Comparisons should be less favorable in the coming 

weeks when this year's storms roll into the data.

- No states had to estimate claims in the current week.                                     

- Continuing claims -5k to 1.636m in the Oct 13 wk, while the 4-wk avg 

-6,750 to 1.647m. This is the lowest level for continuing claims since 

the August 4, 1973 week, when it was 1.633m, and the lowest level for 

the 4-wk avg since the August 11, 1973 week, when it was 1.627m.