US: Weekly initial claims was 261,000, an increase of 10,000 from previous week

"In the week ending January 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 261,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 250,000," the US Department of Labor reported on Thursday.

Key highlights

The 4-week moving average was 250,750, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 241,750. 

Claims taking procedures continue to be disrupted in the Virgin Islands. The claims taking process in Puerto Rico has still not returned to normal. 

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 30 was 1,867,000, a decrease of 35,000 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 4-week moving average was 1,913,250, a decrease of 5,500 from the previous week's revised average.