The 4-week moving average was 298,000, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 290,500 to 291,250.
There were no special factors impacting this week's initial claims.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.8 percent for the week ending January 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's revised rate. The previous week's rate was revised up by 0.1 from 1.8 to 1.9 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 3 was 2,424,000, a decrease of 51,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up 23,000 from 2,452,000 to 2,475,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,414,500, an increase of 11,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 6,000 from 2,397,000 to 2,403,000.