**MNI 5 THINGS: US Claims Below Expected 225k>

--5 Things We Learned From the December 15 Claims Data

By Harrison Clarke and Shikha Dave

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

US unemployment insurance claims data for the December 15 survey week 

released by the Labor Department Thursday: 

     - The initial claims data rose by 8,000 to 214,000 in the December 

15 employment survey week, well below expectations for a 225,000 level 

in an MNI survey. There was no revision in the December 8 week from the 

previously reported 206,000 level. 

     - Initial claims in California rose by 922, showing the impact of 

the recent wildfires. Overall, the unexpectedly low reading suggests 

seasonal adjustment difficulties. However, it will remain to be seen if 

claims hold at this level. Noise from the holidays and the wildfires in 

California will make the true claims trend hard to interpret. 

     - The level of initial claims was down 11,000 from the 225,000 

level in the November 17 employment survey week, and still represents a 

tight labor market. The claims data do not directly translate into 

stronger payrolls gains, but are certainly a positive factor. 

     - The four-week moving average fell by 2,750 to 222,000 this week. 

The average was up 3,250 from the 218,750 average in the November 17 

employment survey week and would be expected to fall further next week 

as the 235,000 level in the November 24 week rolls out of the equation. 

     - Continuing claims rose by 27,000 to 1.688m in the December 8 

week, while the four-week average rose by 6,750 to 1.673m. The insured 

unemployment rate was 1.2%, unchanged from the previous week, but still 

down from 1.4% in the same week a year ago. 

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

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