US: Weekly initial claims was 232,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week

In the week ending May 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 232,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 236,000, said the US Department of Labor on Thursday.

Key highlights:

• The 4-week moving average was 240,750, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 243,500
• The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending May 6 was 1,898,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since November 5, 1988 when it was 1,898,000
• The previous week's level was revised up 2,000 from 1,918,000 to 1,920,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,946,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised average