The DOL reported:
In the week ending July 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 228,000, a decrease of 9,000
from the previous week’s unrevised level of 237,000. The 4-week moving average was 237,500, a decrease of 9,250 from
the previous week’s unrevised average of 246,750.
emphasis added
The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.
Click on graph for larger image.
The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims decreased to 237,500.
The previous week was unrevised.
Weekly claims were below the consensus forecast.