Jobless Claims Fall 21,000 To 301,000 in Jan. 12 Week

WASHINGTON — Initial claims for state unemployment decreased 21,000 to 301,000 in the Jan. 12 week, the Labor Department reported yesterday, the lowest level since the Sept. 12, 2007, week, when the level stood at 300,000.

Analysts expected initial jobless claims to rise 18,000 to 340,000 in the Jan. 12 mid-month week following declines in the previous two weeks.

A mid-month comparison shows the initial claims dropped 47,000 in the Jan. 12 week compared to the 348,000 level reported in the Dec. 15 week.

The level of continuing claims increased 66,000 to 2.751 million in the Jan. 5 week. The seasonally adjusted four-week moving average for insured unemployment was 2.726 million in the Jan. 5 week, the highest level since the Nov. 12, 2005, week when the level was 2.738 million.

-Market News International

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