WASHINGTON - Initial jobless claims increased by 17,000 to 551,000 in the week ending Sept. 26, the Labor Department reported today.
Continuing claims declined by 70,000 to 6.09 million for the week ending Sept. 19. Continuing claims have declined in three of the past four weeks.
Last week was the first week in September to record an increase in initial jobless claims. Initial claims have fallen in three of the last four weeks.
The four-week moving average for initial claims, a more stable measure, declined to 548,000 from 554,000. The four-week average has declined for four consecutive weeks and is at the lowest level since January.
The four-week moving average for continuing claims declined to 6.154 million from 6.193 million for the week ending Sept. 19. The continuing claims four-week average is at the lowest level since April.
