Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509150053
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The Labor Department said Thursday that new applications for unemployment insurance totaled a seasonally adjusted 362,000, up from a revised 341,000 during the week ended Sept. 2. The Sept. 2 total originally was estimated to be 339,000.
Many analysts had expected new claims to edge up only by about 1,000 last week after falling by 7,000 a week earlier, the first decline in five weeks. Still, they remained below the 375,000 range that existed from May through July.
But despite a week that included the Labor Day holiday and thus fewer days in which to file applications, last week's advance was the largest since a 32,000 gain during the week ended Aug. 8. It marked the highest level of initial claims since 372,000 were filed during the week ended July 22.
The four-week moving average of new weekly jobless claims rose by 6,000 during the period ended Sept. 2, to 349,750 from 343,750. It was the highest since the average reached 360,250 during the period ended Aug. 5.
Many analysts prefer to track the less-volatile four-week average because it smooths out the spikes in the weekly reports.
In the state data, 33 states and territories reported increases in initial claims during the week ended Sept. 2 and 19 recorded declines. State figures are reported one week later than national totals.
States with the biggest gains in new claims for unemployment benefits were were Michigan, 3,796; Arkansas, 1,706; Virginia, 1,078; Wisconsin, 924; and Delaware, 817.
by CNB