In the week ending July 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 217,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 221,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,500, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 229,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.3 percent for the week ending July 12, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending July 12 was 1,955,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous ... (full story)

The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits unexpectedly fell last week, pointing to stable labor market conditions, though sluggish hiring is making it harder for many laid-off workers to land new opportunities. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 217,000 for the week ended July 19, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 226,000 claims for the latest week. Claims have pulled back after surging to an eight-month high in June. Though there have been some layoffs, employers have been mostly reluctant to ... (full story)