US: Weekly initial claims was 243,000, a decrease of 15,000 from previous week

"In the week ending October 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 243,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level," the US Department of Labor said anounced on Thursday.

Key highlights:

• The previous week's level was revised down by 2,000 from 260,000 to 258,000.
• The 4-week moving average was 257,500, a decrease of 9,500 from the previous week's revised average.
• The previous week's average was revised down by 1,250 from 268,250 to 267,000.
• Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria impacted this week's claims.
• The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending September 30, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate.
• The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending September 30 was 1,889,000, a decrease of 32,000 from the previous week's revised level.
• This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since December 29, 1973 when it was 1,805,000
• The previous week's level was revised down by 17,000 from 1,938,000 to 1,921,000.
• The 4-week moving average was 1,925,000, a decrease of 11,500 from the previous week's revised average.
• The previous week's average was revised down by 10,500 from 1,947,000 to 1,936,500.