**MNI 5 Things:Claims Fall Below Expectations In Survey Week>

By Sara Haire and Holly Stokes

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are the key points from the weekly 

unemployment insurance claims data for the February 17 week released by 

the Labor Department Thursday: 

     - The initial claims data showed a 7,000 decrease to 222,000 in 

the February 17 employment survey week. It came in below the 230,000 

level expected by analysts in an MNI survey, as well as lower than 

both the 247,000 seen last year and recent levels. 

     - Claims data tends to be volatile, so it is better to watch the 

four-week moving average for a more accurate measure. That measure 

fell this week by 2,250 to 226,000. The average could fall further 

next week as the 230,000 level in January 27 week rolls out. 

     - The level of initial claims is only up 6,000 from the 216,000 

level in the January 13 employment survey week, lending no real 

indication of what payrolls for February will be when released March 

9.

     - Continuing claims fell by 73,000 to 1.875m in the February 10 

week, well below the 2.052m last year. The previous week's level was 

revised up to 1.948m. The insured unemployment rate dropped back down to 

1.3%, after hovering at 1.4% for the last five weeks.

     - Claims data were estimated in California, Hawaii, Maine, Puerto 

Rico, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming - suggesting the possibility 

of large revisions to the data in the weeks to come. 

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 ** 

[TOPICS: MAUDS$,M$U$$$,MAUDR$]