Advertisement

Jobless claims rise by 15,000 in week

U.S. President Barack Obama signs a two month extension of the payroll tax cuts, unemployment benefits and payments to Medicare providers in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 23, 2011. UPI/Dennis Brack/POOL
U.S. President Barack Obama signs a two month extension of the payroll tax cuts, unemployment benefits and payments to Medicare providers in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 23, 2011. UPI/Dennis Brack/POOL | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Initial unemployment claims rose by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 381,000 for the week ending Dec. 24, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.

The previous week's revised figure was 366,000, the department said in a release.

Advertisement

At 375,000, the four-week moving average held under 400,000 for the seventh consecutive week.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in November, the lowest in 2 1/2 years.

The advance number of actual unadjusted first-time joblessness claims under state programs was 490,364 in the week ending Dec. 24, an increase of 69,261 from the previous week, Labor Department officials said.

Latest Headlines

Advertisement

Trending Stories

Advertisement

Follow Us

Advertisement