According to Odaily, the number of initial unemployment claims in the United States for the week ending May 18th was 215,000, lower than the anticipated 220,000 and the previous figure of 222,000. The four-week average for initial unemployment claims up to May 18th was 219,750, slightly higher than the previous average of 217,750. The number of initial unemployment claims for the week ending May 18th marks a new low since the week of April 27th.