News Release
  
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION USDL 04-336-NAT
   
   
Program Contact: TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
Thomas Stengle (202) 693-2991 RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
Media Contact : 8:30 A.M. (EST), THURSDAY
(202) 693-4676 March 4, 2004
 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending Feb. 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 345,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 352,000. The 4-week moving average was 352,250, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average of 355,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent for the week ending Feb. 21, unchanged from the prior week's revised rate of 2.4 percent.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Feb. 21 was 3,091,000, unchanged from the preceding week's revised level of 3,091,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,106,500, a decrease of 3,750 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,110,250.
 

UNADJUSTED DATA
The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 340,399 in the week ending Feb. 28, an increase of 11,715 from the previous week. There were 429,003 initial claims in the comparable week in 2003.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the week ending Feb. 21, unchanged from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,761,551, an increase of 30,335 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.3 percent and the volume was 4,192,955.

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Extended benefits were available in Alaska during the week ending Feb. 14.

53 states reported that 361,723 individuals filed continued claims under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program during the week ending Feb. 14.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,007 in the week ending Feb. 21, a decrease of 250 from the prior week. There were 1,561 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 99 from the preceding week.

There were 19,834 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending Feb. 14, a decrease of 2,990 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 27,769, a decrease of 869 from the prior week.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Feb. 14 were in Alaska (6.8 percent), Michigan (4.8), Pennsylvania (4.7), Idaho (4.5), Oregon (4.4), Wisconsin (4.3), New Jersey (4.1), Massachusetts (4.0), Montana (3.9), Rhode Island (3.9), and Washington (3.9).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Feb. 21 were in Massachusetts (+4,649), California (+3,838), Connecticut (+1,530), Rhode Island (+1,441), and New Jersey (+1,170), while the largest decreases were in Michigan (-7,498), New York (-2,802), North Carolina (-2,366), Pennsylvania (-2,257), and Ohio (-1,564).

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA FOR REGULAR STATE PROGRAMS
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Feb. 28  Feb. 21 Change Feb. 14  Year
Initial Claims (SA) 345,000 352,000 -7,000 344,000 436,000
Initial Claims (NSA) 340,399 328,684 +11,715 341,632 429,003
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 352,250 355,250 -3,000 352,000 408,500
Advance Prior1
WEEK ENDING Feb. 21 Feb. 14  Change Feb. 7 Year
Ins. Unemployment (SA) 3,091,000 3,091,000 0 3,163,000 3,471,000
Ins. Unemployment (NSA) 3,761,551 3,731,216 +30,335 3,776,347 4,192,955
4-Wk Moving Average (SA) 3,106,500 3,110,250 -3,750 3,117,250 3,395,500
Ins. Unemployment Rate (SA)2 2.4% 2.4% 0.0 2.5% 2.7%
Ins. Unemployment Rate (NSA)2 3.0% 3.0% 0.0 3.0% 3.3%
INITIAL CLAIMS FILED IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
       
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Feb. 21
Feb. 14
Change
Year
Federal Employees 1,007 1,257 -250 974
Newly Discharged Veterans 1,561 1,660 -99 1,077
PERSONS CLAIMING UI BENEFITS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS (UNADJUSTED)
Prior1
WEEK ENDING
Feb. 14
Feb. 7
Change
Year
Federal Employees 19,834 22,824 -2,990 18,260
Newly Discharged Veterans 27,769 28,638 -869 19,792
Railroad Retirement Board 4,000 4,000 0 6,000
Extended Benefits 8,010 12,892 -4,882 17,106
Federal (TEUC) 361,723 417,609 -55,886 689,030
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 126,250,343 as denominator.
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UNADJUSTED INITIAL CLAIMS FOR WEEK ENDED 02/21/2004 

STATES WITH A DECREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
MI -7,498 Fewer layoffs in the automobile industry.
NY -2,802 No comment.
NC -2,366 Fewer layoffs in the construction and service industries.
PA -2,257 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, wood products, transportation, and fabricated metals industries.
OH -1,564 No comment.
TN -1,229 Fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, food, electronic equipment, and fabricated metals industries.

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000 
State Change State Supplied Comment
IL +1,130 Layoffs in the construction, trade, and service industries.
NJ +1,170 Layoffs in the transportation, warehousing, and service industries.
RI +1,441 Layoffs in the trade and service industries.
CT +1,530 No comment.
CA +3,838 Layoffs in the construction industry, and agriculture.
MA +4,649 Increase is school closings related.


State Detail Prior Week
UI Claims Series 1967 to current

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