Initial weekly jobless claims increased by 5,000 to 215,000

"In the week ending October 20, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, an increase of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 210,000," the U.S. Department of Labor announced on Thursday.

•  The 4-week moving average was 211,750, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised average of 211,750. 
• The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending October 13 was 1,636,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. 
  • This is the lowest level for insured unemployment since August 4, 1973 when it was 1,633,000. 
•  The 4-week moving average was 1,646,500, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average.