First-time jobless claims decline in week

WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- First-time unemployment claims last week fell by 29,000 to a seasonally adjusted 409,000, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday.

It was the second consecutive week initial claims dropped sharply. In the previous week, 44,000 fewer first-time claims for unemployment benefits were filed.

The four-week revised average for the week ending May 14 was 439,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average of 437,750, the department said.

In March, the unemployment rate rose from 8.8 percent to 9 percent, despite a gain of 244,000 jobs, the most in 11 months.

The rate rose with the number of people counted as unemployed rose to 13.7 million.