WASHINGTON — Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 4,000 to 558,000 in the Aug. 8 week, according to data released by the Labor Department yesterday.
A Market News International survey had expected the initial claims level to fall to 543,000 in the Aug. 8 week from the originally reported 550,000 in the Aug. 1 week. The expectations ranged from 535,000 to 550,000.
Initial claims for the Aug. 1 week were revised up 4,000 to 554,000. Initial claims from the July 25 week were revised up slightly to 589,000.
In the Aug. 1 week, continuing claims fell 141,000 to 6.202 million, while for the prior July 25 week, continuing claims were revised from 6.310 million to 6.343 million. Continuing claims were 3.396 million in the comparable week a year ago.
— Market News International
