US: Weekly initial claims was 239,000, an increase of 10,000 from previous week

"In the week ending November 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 239,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised level," the US Department of Labor said anounced on Thursday.

Key highlights

The 4-week moving average was 231,250, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 232,500.

This is the lowest level for this average since March 31, 1973 when it was 227,750. 

Claims taking procedures continue to be severely disrupted in the Virgin Islands.

The ability to take claims has improved in Puerto Rico and they are now processing backlogged claims. 

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4 percent for the week ending October 28, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending October 28 was 1,901,000, an increase of 17,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 1,884,000.