Initial unemployment claims were slightly...>

US DATA: Initial unemployment claims were slightly above expectations in 

the Dec 22 wk, -1k to 216k vs 215k expected. Claims were rev up to 

217k in Dec 15 wk from 214k prev. 

- NSA claims +29,985 to 285,180 in the current wk, well below the 

324,958 level a year ago. The drop was smaller than the 31,492 increase 

that seasonal factors expected. 

- The 4-wk moving avg -4,750 to 218,000 in the Dec 22 wk. The avg would 

fall further next week if there is no change from this week's headline 

figure as the 233k level in Dec 1 week rolls out.

- Continuing claims -4,000 to 1.701m in the Dec 15 survey wk, down 

slightly from the 1.705m level in the Nov 17 survey week.

- Claims estimated for California, Kansas, Texas, and Virginia. likely 

due to the short reporting period from the Christmas holiday.