In last week’s update on jobless claims, we described the trend in weekly jobless claims as doing the limbo. Taking the analogy one step further, this week we ask, “How low can they go?” First-time jobless claims came in at 211K this week versus estimates for a level of 225K. Last week’s print of 209K was the lowest weekly reading since 1969, and this week is the second lowest! With another week of sub-300K readings, the record streak has been extended to 165, while the streak of sub 250K readings is now up to 24, which is the longest since 1973.
With the second straight week of sub-225K readings, the four-week moving average also made a new low this week falling from 229.25K down to 221.5K. The last time the four-week moving average was this low was back in 1973. Barring a pretty big uptick in weekly claims next week, the four-week moving average should drop again, likely bringing it down to its lowest level since 1969.
On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, jobless claims also fell back below 200K to 186K. For the current week of the year, that was the lowest print since 1969, and 135K below the average reading for the current week of the year dating back to 2000.
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