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

DATE: FRIDAY, April 1, 1994                   TAG: 9404010126
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

JOBLESS CLAIMS DIP

The number of Americans filing the first time for state unemployment benefits continued to slide last week, dropping 10,000, the government reported Thursday. It was the lowest level for the weekly figure in a month. The Labor Department said a seasonally adjusted 330,000 people filed claims, down from 340,000 the previous week and continuing a three-week decline. It was the eighth time in 10 weeks the number has dropped.

The decline was in line with what many analysts had predicted. Most economists expect moderate improvement in the nation's employment picture to continue.

The government said the four-week moving average of initial claims was 341,250, up 4,000 from the previous week. It was the first increase after four weeks of declines. Economists track that number more closely because it smooths out weekly fluctuations.

by CNB