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News Release

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending August 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 366,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 364,000. The 4-week moving average was 363,750, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average of 369,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the week ending August 4, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending August 4, was 3,305,000, a decrease of 31,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,336,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,303,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,306,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 315,776 in the week ending August 11, a decrease of 4,443 from the previous week. There were 346,014 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent during the week ending August 4, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,172,998, a decrease of 69,887 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 2.8 percent and the volume was 3,553,649.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending July 28 was 5,680,545, a decrease of 69,782 from the previous week.

Extended benefits were only available in Idaho during the week ending July 28,

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,246 in the week ending August 4, a decrease of -221 from the prior week. There were 2,538 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, an increase of 121 from the preceding week.

There were 18,115 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending July 28, an increase of 655 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 40,099, an increase of 925 from the prior week.

States reported 2,350,202 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending July 28, a decrease of 62,736 from the prior week. There were 3,130,608 persons claiming EUC in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending July 28 were in theVirgin Islands (4.5), Puerto Rico (4.0), Pennsylvania (3.9), New Jersey (3.8), Connecticut (3.6), Alaska (3.5), California (3.5), Rhode Island (3.3), New York (3.2), and Nevada (3.1).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending August 4 were in California (+3,069), Pennsylvania (+2,534), Illinois (+1,165), Ohio (+1,018), and Missouri (+935), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-4,157), New York (-2,653), Puerto Rico (-1,394), Tennessee (-318), and Florida (-300).

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS

WEEK ENDING

Advance August 11

August 4

Change

July 28

Prior Year1

Initial Claims (SA)

366,000

364,000

+2,000

368,000

408,000

Initial Claims (NSA)

315,776

320,219

-4,443

312,931

346,014

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

363,750

369,250

-5,500

366,250

402,750

WEEK ENDING

Advance August 4

July 28

Change

July 21

Prior Year1

Ins. Unemployment (SA)

3,305,000

3,336,000

-31,000

3,280,000

3,709,000

Ins. Unemployment (NSA)

3,172,998

3,242,885

-69,887

3,246,888

3,553,649

4-Wk Moving Average (SA)

3,303,000

3,306,000

-3,000

3,300,500

3,714,000

Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2

2.6%

2.6%

0.0

2.6%

2.9%

Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2

2.5%

2.5%

0.0

2.5%

2.8%

INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

August 4

July 28

Change

Prior Year1

Federal Employees

1,246

1,467

-221

3,544

Newly Discharged Veterans

2,538

2,417

+121

2,954

PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN ALL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)

WEEK ENDING

July 28

July 21

Change

Prior Year1

Regular State

3,234,841

3,238,790

-3,949

3,570,120

Federal Employees (UCFE)

18,115

17,460

+655

26,134

Newly Discharged Veterans (UCX)

40,099

39,174

+925

37,627

EUC 20083

2,350,202

2,412,938

-62,736

3,130,608

Extended Benefits4

5,223

6,346

-1,123

525,799

State Additional Benefits 5

5,319

5,430

-111

3,577

STC / Workshare 6

26,746

30,189

-3,443

40,622

TOTAL

5,680,545

5,750,327

-69,782

7,334,487

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 127,495,952 as denominator. 3 - EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity. Tier-specific EUC data can be found here: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/docs/persons.xls4 - Information on the EB program can be found here: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/extenben.asp 5 - Some states maintain additional benefit programs for those claimants who exhaust regular, extended and emergency benefits. Information on states that participate, and the extent of benefits paid, can be found starting on page 4-5 of this link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf 6 - Information on STC/Worksharing can be found starting on page 4-9 of the following link: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2010/special.pdf

UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 08/04/2012

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

MI

-4,157

No comment.

NY

-2,653

Fewer layoff in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and retail trade industries.

PR

-1,394

No comment.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000

State

Change

State Supplied Comment

CA

+3,069

Layoffs in the service industry.

PA

+2,534

Layoffs in the construction, health care and social service industries.

IL

+1,165

Layoffs in the construction, administrative support service, and retail trade industries.

OH

+1,018

No comment.

State Detail Prior WeekUI Claims Series 1967 to current

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Agency
Employment and Training Administration
Date
August 16, 2012