US: Weekly initial claims was 239,000, a decrease of 13,000 from previous week

"In the week ending November 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 239,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 249,000 to 252,000," the US Department of Labor said announced on Wednesday.

Key highlights

The 4-week moving average was 239,750, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average. 

Claims taking procedures continue to be disrupted in the Virgin Islands. The ability to take claims has improved in Puerto Rico. 

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4 percent for the week ending November 11, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending November 11 was 1,904,000, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The previous week's level was revised up 8,000 from 1,860,000 to 1,868,000.