New jobless claims post unexpected increase

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New jobless claims unexpectedly rise to 480,000, signaling labor market weakness

By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer , On Thursday December 17, 2009, 8:36 am

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week as the recovery of the nation's battered labor market proceeds in fits and starts.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of new jobless claims rose to 480,000 last week, up 7,000 from the previous week. That was a worse performance than the decline to 465,000 that economists had expected.

The four-week average for claims, which smooths out fluctuations, did fall, dipping to 467,500, the 15th straight decline, viewed as an encouraging sign that the labor market is gradually improving. The four-week average is now at its lowest point since late September 2008, the period when the financial crisis was hitting with full force.

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New jobless claims unexpectedly rise to 480,000, signaling labor market weakness

By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer , On Thursday December 17, 2009, 8:36 am

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number  ...
happylux 发表于 2009-12-17 08:42