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

By Kevin Kastner

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

unemployment insurance claims data for the February 3 released Thursday 

morning: 

     - The claims level was lower than expected, falling by 9,000 to 

221,000, rather than rising slightly to 232,000 as expected. The claims 

data appear to have settled in a low range in recent weeks, averaging in 

the 220k range after hitting a 4-week average of 251k in the period 

covering most of December. 

     - The four-week moving average remains a good tool for determining 

the underlying movement of the data. That measure fell by 10,000 to 

224,500 this week, a fourth straight decline to the lowest point since 

March 1973. The average could rebound modestly next week as the 216,000 

decades-low level in the January 13 week rolls out of the equation, but 

still remain below average a month ago. 

     - Unadjusted claims fell by 27,130 in the current week, while 

seasonal factors had expected a 16,822 decline. This week's level, at 

240,636, is well below the 259,713 level in the comparable week a year 

earlier. 

     - Labor said that claims procedures are still disrupted in the 

Virgin Islands and in Puerto Rico. Claims were again estimated by Maine. 

     - Continuing claims fell by 33,000 to 1.923m in the January 27 week 

after rising in the previous week. Unadjusted continuing claims fell to 

2.306 million, still well below the 2.483 million level a year earlier. 

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

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