Jobless claims show U.S. labor market struggling
By Lucia Mutikani
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits was little changed last week, according to government data on Thursday that suggested the labor market was struggling to regain momentum.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 387,000, the Labor Department said. The prior week’s figure was revised up to 389,000 from the previously reported 386,000.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims falling to 380,000 last week. The four-week moving average for new claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends, increased 3,500 to 386,250 – the highest level since early December.
Read more at Yahoo via Reuters.
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NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – JANUARY 07: A job seeker (R) talks to a potential employer (L) holding his resume at a career fair January 7, 2010 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. American workers filing new jobless claims increased at a rate less than analysts expected last week, which some economists see as evidence that the job market is beginning to recover. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
June 21, 2012
World