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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Feb. 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 496,000, an increase of 22,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 474,000. The 4-week moving average was 473,750, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average of 467,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending Feb. 13, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.5 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 13 was 4,617,000, an increase of 6,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 4,611,000. The 4-week moving average was 4,600,750, an increase of 4,250 from the preceding week's revised average of 4,596,500.

The fiscal year-to-date average for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment for all programs is 5.209 million.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 452,468 in the week ending Feb. 20, a decrease of 25,767 from the previous week. There were 605,668 initial claims in the comparable week in 2009.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.2 percent during the week ending Feb. 13, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 5,527,142, a decrease of 70,546 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 4.6 percent and the volume was 6,108,398.

Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending Feb. 6.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,196 in the week ending Feb. 13, a decrease of 240 from the prior week. There were 2,174 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 108 from the preceding week.

There were 24,095 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 6, a decrease of 2,215 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 36,429 a decrease of 18 from the prior week.

States reported 5,479,942 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Feb. 6, a decrease of 317,933 from the prior week. There were 1,847,439 claimants in the comparable week in 2009. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 6 were in Alaska (7.5 percent), Oregon (6.5), Idaho (6.4), Montana (6.2), Wisconsin (6.2), Michigan (5.9), Puerto Rico (5.9), Nevada (5.8), Pennsylvania (5.7), and North Carolina (5.5).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 13 were in North Carolina (+5,897), Pennsylvania (+2,813), Kentucky (+2,510), Virginia (+559), and Puerto Rico (+468), while the largest decreases were in California (-5,540), Illinois (-3,858), New York (-2,747), Texas (-2,636), and Missouri (-2,534).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Feb. 20

Feb. 13

Change

Feb. 6

Year

Initial Claims (SA)

496,000

474,000

+22,000

442,000

656,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

452,468

478,235

-25,767

507,634

605,668

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

473,750

467,750

+6,000

469,000

632,000

Advance

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Feb. 13

Feb. 6

Change

Jan. 30

Year

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

4,617,000

4,611,000

+6,000

4,558,000

5,065,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

5,527,142

5,597,688

-70,546

5,683,530

6,108,398

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

4,600,750

4,596,500

+4,250

4,608,500

4,879,000

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

3.5%

3.5%

0.0

3.5%

3.8%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

4.2%

4.3%

-0.1

4.4%

4.6%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Feb. 13

Feb. 6

Change

Year

Federal Employees

1,196

1,436

-240

1,244

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,174

2,282

-108

1,941

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

Prior1

WEEK ENDING

Feb. 6

Jan. 30

Change

Year

Federal Employees

24,095

26,310

-2,215

19,556

Newly Discharged Veterans

36,429

36,447

-18

28,092

Railroad Retirement Board

12,000

12,000

0

9,000

Extended Benefits

203,612

206,017

-2,405

2,710

EUC 20083

5,479,942

5,797,875

-317,933

1,847,439

FOOTNOTES SA - Seasonally Adjusted Data NSA - Not Seasonally Adjusted Data 1 - Prior year is comparable to most recent data. 2 - Most recent week used covered employment of 130,128,328 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/13/2010

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

CA

-5,540

Fewer layoffs in the service industry.

IL

-3,858

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.

NY

-2,747

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.

TX

-2,636

Fewer layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.

MO

-2,534

Fewer layoffs in the service and manufacturing industries.

IA

-2,339

Fewer layoffs in the manufacturing industry.

NJ

-2,130

Decrease primarily due to a shorter workweek because of office closures caused by inclement weather, and a mandatory state furlough day.

MA

-2,087

No comment.

GA

-2,027

Fewer layoffs in the trade, service, and manufacturing industries.

WI

-1,826

Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, information, and manufacturing industries.

MI

-1,621

No comment.

OH

-1,513

Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.

LA

-1,225

No comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

KY

+2,510

Layoffs in the automobile and manufacturing industries.

PA

+2,813

Layoffs in the construction, service, transportation, and food industries.

NC

+5,897

Layoffs in the construction, furniture, stone/clay/glass, and mining industries.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
February 25, 2010