The number of seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims in the United States rose by 22,000 to 242,000 in the week ending February 22, the Department of Labor revealed in its report published on Thursday. The figure came in above analysts' projections. The 4-week moving average increased by 8,500 from the previous week's revised average to 215,500.
The insured unemployment rate for the week ending February 15 was 1.2%, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment in the reported week stood at 1,862,000, a decline of 5,000 compared to the previous week's revised level. The 4-week moving average went up by 3,000 to 1,865,000.
