Jobless Claims Slip 6,000 to 271,000 in Aug. 22 Week

WASHINGTON — Initial unemployment claims were down 6,000 to 271,000 in the August 22 week, continuing to skate around the recent lows.

There were no special factors.

Unadjusted weekly data showed the largest drops in Kansas and Michigan, offset by gains in Pennsylvania and New York.

Claims averaged 268,000 in July and the current reading is not far off this level, suggesting that prior to markets melting down the labor situation remained strong.

Continuing claims were up 13,000 to 2.269 million in the August 15 week. These were in the 2.5 million area at this time last year.

Market News International is a real-time global news service for fixed-income and foreign exchange market professionals. See www.marketnews.com.

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