13:30 Dados States
Enviado: 8/2/2007 15:07U.S. 4-week avg. continuing jobless claims up to 2.50 mln
U.S. continuing jobless claims fall 54,000 to 2.49 mln
U.S. 4-wk. avg. initial jobless claims up 3,250 to 308,250
U.S. weekly initial jobless claims up 3,000 to 311,000
ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. weekly initial jobless claims up 3,000 to 311,000
By Robert Schroeder, MarketWatch Last Update: 8:39 AM ET Feb 8, 2007
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose by a modest 3,000 to 311,000 in the week ending Feb. 3, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
The four-week average of new claims, meanwhile, rose by 3,250 to 308,250.
Both the initial claims and four-week average of new claims were the highest since Jan. 20, the Labor Department said. Economists consider the four-week average of new claims a better indicator of the job market because it smoothes out one-time events like strikes or holidays.
The number of workers continuing to collect unemployment benefits, meanwhile, fell by 54,000 to 2.49 million, the lowest since Jan. 13. The four-week moving average of continuing claims rose by 20,000 to 2.50 million, the highest since Dec. 16.
Initial claims represent job destruction, while the level of continuing claims indicates how hard or easy it is for displaced workers to find new jobs.
The insured unemployment rate -- the percentage of those covered by unemployment insurance who are collecting benefits -- remained at 1.9%.
Typically, unemployment benefits run out after 26 weeks for those who are eligible.
Those who exhaust their unemployment benefits are still counted as unemployed if they are looking for work.
U.S. continuing jobless claims fall 54,000 to 2.49 mln
U.S. 4-wk. avg. initial jobless claims up 3,250 to 308,250
U.S. weekly initial jobless claims up 3,000 to 311,000
ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. weekly initial jobless claims up 3,000 to 311,000
By Robert Schroeder, MarketWatch Last Update: 8:39 AM ET Feb 8, 2007
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose by a modest 3,000 to 311,000 in the week ending Feb. 3, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
The four-week average of new claims, meanwhile, rose by 3,250 to 308,250.
Both the initial claims and four-week average of new claims were the highest since Jan. 20, the Labor Department said. Economists consider the four-week average of new claims a better indicator of the job market because it smoothes out one-time events like strikes or holidays.
The number of workers continuing to collect unemployment benefits, meanwhile, fell by 54,000 to 2.49 million, the lowest since Jan. 13. The four-week moving average of continuing claims rose by 20,000 to 2.50 million, the highest since Dec. 16.
Initial claims represent job destruction, while the level of continuing claims indicates how hard or easy it is for displaced workers to find new jobs.
The insured unemployment rate -- the percentage of those covered by unemployment insurance who are collecting benefits -- remained at 1.9%.
Typically, unemployment benefits run out after 26 weeks for those who are eligible.
Those who exhaust their unemployment benefits are still counted as unemployed if they are looking for work.