**MNI 5 THINGS: US Claims Below Expectations At 207k>

--5 Things We Learned From the July 14 Claims Data

By Kevin Kastner, Shikha Dave, and Harrison Clarke

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

US unemployment insurance claims data for the July 14 survey week 

released by the Labor Department Thursday: 

     - The initial claims data fell by 8,000 to 207,000 in the July 21 

employment survey week, below the 220,000 level expected by analysts in 

an MNI survey, but following an upward revision in the previous 

week. This is the lowest level for initial claims since the week of 

December 6, 1969, when it was 202,000.

     - The level of initial claims was down 11,000 from the 218,000 

level in the June 16 employment survey week, and still represents a very 

tight labor market. The claims data are viewed cautiously in early July 

due to the typical time of auto plant shutdowns for retooling. 

     - The four-week moving average fell by 2,750 to 220,500 this week,  

and it was down 500 from the 221,000 average in the June 16 employment 

survey week. The average could fall next week as the 228,000 level in 

the June 23 week rolls out of the equation. 

     - Continuing claims rose by 8,000 to 1.751m in the July 7 week, 

while the four-week average rose by 6,250 to 1.736m. The insured 

unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.2% in the previous week, down from 

1.4% in the same week a year ago. 

     - Claims data were estimated for Maine.

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

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