**MNI: 5 Things We Learned From The Initial Claims Data>

By Kevin Kastner and Holly Stokes

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

unemployment insurance claims data for the November 25 holiday week 

released by the Labor Department Thursday: 

     - Initial jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 238,000, only slightly 

below the 240,000 level expected and keeping claims roughly on trend.

     - The four-week moving average rose 2,250 to 242,250. The average 

could decline next week as the 239,000 level in Nov 4 week rolls out. 

     - Unadjusted claims from Puerto Rico totalled 2,965, down from 

6,972 filings last week, though part of that decline may be due to the 

holiday-shortened week. Filings in Virgin Islands are still disrupted.

     - Continuing claims +42k to 1.957m in the Nov 18 employment survey 

week, up 57k from the 1.900 million level in the Oct 14 survey week. 

     - The data suggest some deterioration from the mid-October survey 

week, both for initial claims and continuing claims, a negative for 

payrolls. 

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

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