US: Initial jobless claims declined 25,000 to a seasonally adjusted 234,000

New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits was 234,000, a decrease of 25,000 from the previous week's revised level, reported the US Department of Labor. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 258,000 to 259,000. The 4-week moving average was 250,000, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 254,250 to 254,500.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.5 percent for the week ending March 25, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending March 25 was 2,028,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 2,052,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,023,000, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 2,030,750. This is the lowest level for this average since June 17, 2000, when it was 2,016,750.