ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 18, 1993                   TAG: 9306180114
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

1ST-TIME CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS HOLD STEADY

The number of first-time claims for jobless benefits was unchanged last week, leaving analysts differing over prospects for job growth.

New applications for unemployment insurance totaled 344,000 last week for the second straight week, the Labor Department said Thursday. Claims for the week ended June 5 were revised down from 347,000 in an initial estimate.

"The claims statistics continue to depict a stagnant labor market," said economist Marilyn Schaja of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. "The data suggest that future employment reports may not be as strong as the past few reports have been."

While the weekly claims were flat, the four-week moving average edged up to 343,250 from 342,500 a week earlier. Analysts prefer to track the less-volatile average because they say it more accurately reflects the labor situation. - Associated Press 


 by CNB